In brief, the MHS program is a master’s degree program in the broad field of health, and is intended to broadly train professionals to make substantive contributions to the health of individuals, communities, and the environment. The MHS program has been deliberately structured to help facilitate the career success of professionals who are currently working in health agencies, health care institutions, and in private practice, but also has a great deal to offer to students who have recently completed their undergraduate degrees and wish to further prepare themselves before entering the workforce. Students in the degree program receive an excellent background on important health issues and essential skills through the completion of the core courses and then complete a specialization in one of the four emphasis areas. Coursework and training in these emphasis areas allow students to develop a strong, focused understanding and skill set to excel in addressing specific types of public health concerns. The emphasis areas include: Evaluation and Research, Health Policy, Health Promotion, and Health Services Leadership. In addition to completing all required core and emphasis area coursework, students may choose to complete elective coursework or do a master’s thesis or project. The program also offers graduate certificates in important areas such as Addiction Studies, Gerontological Studies, and Health Services Leadership.
The MHS program is by design diverse and interdisciplinary, in order to address health issues across a variety of domains. We consider ourselves fortunate to have an outstanding advisory board, with representation from state and local agencies and organizations, including hospitals, health clinics, the state legislature, and consulting and research firms. The faculty who teach courses in our program represent numerous academic disciplines, including biology, communications, economics, education, engineering, nursing, psychology, public administration, public affairs, and sociology. The diverse, interdisciplinary nature of our program not only offers our students a broadly engaging curriculum, but also research opportunities in many different areas of health.
We encourage you to explore this site further to learn more about our program and the opportunities it offers. Prospective students can learn more about where a MHS degree might take them, about the education and background required for admission to the MHS program, and about how to apply to the MHS program.
Please feel free to contact us to learn more about the MHS program and what it offers. To arrange an appointment with Dr. Tedd McDonald, director of the MHS program, please contact Angela Garcia at 208-426-3929 or agarcia@boisestate.edu.
Dr. Tedd McDonald
Director of the Master of Health Science Program