Program Overview Enhancing the career opportunities for health care professionals is the goal of this program. To meet the workforce needs of New Jersey, the programs of the Department have been created to meet the demands of the global workforce. Therefore, enrolled students come not only from New Jersey but from many regions of the United States. Regardless of a student s chosen program, the benefits are numerous. While learning valuable new career enhancement skills, students have the opportunity to interact on a one-on-one basis with faculty and colleagues from all over the world. In addition to this global networking opportunity, students have the opportunity to: participate in flexible programming and diverse opportunities to earn degrees; apply coursework and course projects directly to the work environment; enhance information technology skills; pay in-state tuition no matter where a student lives. In addition, tuition reimbursements from a student s employer may apply; and, earn academic credits or a degree from the largest, fully accredited health sciences center of its kind in the nation. This program has a superb reputation for helping graduates be effective leaders in many facets of health care. This is made possible through the faculty s content expertise and commitment to excellence in education. Coupled with affordability of state university tuition, this translates into an outstanding value for health care professionals seeking to advance their careers.
Program Description The Rutgers, School of Health-Related Professions (SHRP) Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) degree is a Web-based Program designed for healthrelated professionals who wish to expand their career opportunities in select health professions specialization areas. The MSHS requires 30-33 credits beyond the B.S. degree. Students select a track and develop a program plan in consultation with an academic advisor. Current specialization areas include the following: Aging Disease Management (Certified Medical Representatives Institute (CMRI) only) Health Professions Education Tailored Specialization For current information regarding the specializations listed above please refer to the Educational Programs website. Student Expectations To accommodate the individual needs of busy professionals, the MSHS Program offers maximum flexibility in both content and delivery. The specialization category allows students to tailor an individualized plan of study to meet their personal needs and interests. The Program culminates in a faculty-guided, selfdirected graduate project designed to address a particular health sciences issue or problem of interest to the student. Unique to the Program are the multiple options available for meeting the specialization/elective course requirements. These flexible approaches include (1) pre-approved registration at other regionally accredited colleges or universities (including on-line courses), (2) portfolio assessment and (3) credit by examination (for selected courses). In addition, students may apply existing post-baccalaureate professional certificates (equivalent to 9 or more semester hour credits awarded by an accredited educational provider) to fulfill their specialization requirements. The number of certificate credits that apply is determined by the applicable faculty. Pre-approved Rutgers-SHRP certificates that can be applied to fulfill the specialization category requirements include Health Care Informatics, Dietetics, Health Professions Education, and Aging. In addition, up to 15 credits of ACEapproved Certified Medical Representatives Institute Disease Management coursework can be applied to the Disease Management track.
Complementing the Program s flexible credit options is its innovative delivery approach. With some track-specific exceptions, all MSHS courses are Webbased, providing students with significant control over when and where their learning takes place. In addition, the graduate project requirement can be completed off-campus under faculty guidance. This means that most students can expect to complete all their Program requirements via the Internet. Note: Because the Program makes extensive use of information technologies, all matriculants are required to have and maintain remote (off-campus) access to Internet services, to include at least Web browsing capability and an e-mail client. The University does not provide these services, but does provide all matriculants with an e-mail address and access to its network, including the Rutgers Virtual Library with full-text research databases and the student Bannerweb system. Full-time and Part-time status The Program can be pursued on either a full or part-time basis, with up to five (5) years allowed for completion. To maintain matriculation status, students must register for coursework during each regular semester. Should a student choose not to register for a course during a fall or spring semester, the student must complete a Change in Student Status form indicating Matriculation Continued and submit the form to Enrollment Services. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program. Department Faculty Please see the department faculty under Interdisciplinary Studies department/all campus. Primary Campus Location The program is web-based. Curriculum See database for program requirements and course descriptions and select your program. Note: Program of Study Subject to Change, total credits varies by specialization track
Mission/Goals/Objectives The Program promotes the general outcomes established for masters prepared graduates of the School of Health Related Professions. In addition, graduates of the program are able to identify and systematically investigate research questions pertinent to the delivery of heath care, synthesize and apply knowledge to help resolve health-care related issues or problems, and disseminate this knowledge to applicable audiences and interests groups. Specific objectives targeted by the Program include graduates abilities to: apply the advanced clinical, technical, administrative and/or teaching skills needed to serve as leaders in the delivery of health services; use information technologies to address both theoretical and practical problems, enhance communication and disseminate knowledge; critically review, appraise and synthesize the health sciences literature; identify and investigate research questions pertinent to the delivery of health care; synthesize new concepts, models and theories of practice through the appropriate application of empirical knowledge and the scientific method; and demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written communication, using both scholarly and technical formats. Admissions Requirements Eligibility: The program is designed for health-related professionals who have earned a bachelor s degree with an overall G.P.A. of at least 3.0, and are licensed or certified to practice in their field (where applicable). Application: Applications to the program are accepted throughout the year. Priority is given to applications received by June 1 for the Fall term, October 1 for the Spring term and March 1 for the Summer term. Applicants may take up to 12 credits as a non-matriculant. Upon admission, these credits may be applied to fulfill the Program s requirements. All applicants must submit the following: 1. a completed Rutgers SHRP application and all applicable fees 2. official transcript of highest degree 3. two recommendations, preferably from professional colleagues/supervisors or from course instructors (using forms provided by and returned separately to the Office of Enrollment Services). Letters from relatives, friends, or peers are not acceptable. 4. a personal statement of how the applicant expects to apply the degree to his/her professional career goals 5. a current resume or curriculum vita
6. a copy of one s current state license and/or professional certification, if applicable (please note that some courses or activities if conducted in NJ may require that students in licensed professions hold a valid NJ license) International students must comply with the applicable University and School guidelines, which include the following: (1) achieving a score of 550 or higher on the written Test of English as a Foreign Language (or 213 on the computerbased version), and (2) providing an external evaluation of all foreign transcripts from an agency approved by the Office of Enrollment Services that verifies US baccalaureate equivalency. Selection: 1. All applications will be reviewed for completeness (see submission requirements, above). 2. Program faculty review all complete applications and recommend the best qualified candidates for admission 3. Applicants will be notified of their application status by mail; those accepted into the Program will be mailed an official notification of admission, including all required admissions materials 4. Matriculation as a student in the Program is contingent on return and receipt of all required materials, including the signed acceptance of admission, health and immunization forms, approval to conduct a background check, and any requisite fees. For more information For more information contact the Office of Enrollment Services at (973) 972-5336 or via e-mail. For more specific information contact the program at: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey RBHS - School of Health Related Professions MS in Health Sciences Ann Tucker, D.Ed., Department Chair and Program Director Suite 2105 UEC 40 Laurel Road Stratford, NJ 08084 Phone: (856) 566-7187 E-mail: tuckeraw@shrp.rutgers.edu FAX: 856-566-6458