General Program Information
Graduate School Contact:
Mary Duncan; duncanm@etsu.edu; 423-439-4302
Ester L. Verhovsek, Graduate Coordinator
143 Nave Center
Box 70573
(423) 547-0235
e-mail: verhovse@etsu.edu
Charles C. Faust, Department Chair
143 Nave Center
Box 70573
(423) 547-4905
e-mail: faust@etsu.edu
Faculty:
Randy L. Byington; Shirley J. Cherry; Deborah L. Dotson; Charles C. Faust; K. Shane Keene; Donald A. Samples; Constance R. Sharuga; Ester L. Verhovsek.
Purpose
The purpose of the Master of Science in Allied Health (MSAH) degree program is to prepare allied health professionals for positions in education and administration in their respective health care discipline. The goals of the Master of Science Degree in Allied Health program are as follows:
- enable allied health practitioners to be sensitive to the health care environment in which they work in order to analyze, interpret, and respond to the major factors influencing health care;
- prepare allied health practitioners to function in a professional manner as a member and representative of the health care team;
- prepare allied health practitioners to have a basic understanding of administration/management skills as related to their discipline;
- enable graduates to function as educators in the academic, clinical, and community settings;
- prepare allied health practitioners to be critical thinkers able to analyze concepts, principles, research, and clinical findings, technologies, and outcomes and apply them to the professional practice as appropriate;
- provide a quality education in the allied health sciences for the preparation of health professionals for advanced positions or leadership roles.
Program Admission Requirements
Students who apply to the Master of Science Degree in Allied Health must meet all of the requirements of the master’s degree as established by the School of Graduate Studies at East Tennessee State University.
They must also meet the following program specific requirements:
- Attain a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or equivalent.)
- Hold a professional license in an allied health discipline.
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale or complete the GRE exam with a minimum of 2400 points based on the following formula; sum of the GRE aptitude score (V+Q+A) and the GPA x 500.
- Completed GRE exam.
- Three professional letters of recommendation.
Admission is based on the GPA, GRE scores, quality of reference letters, strength of background, and available space in the program. The department can grant conditional admission to candidates not meeting all of the minimum requirements. All applicants must submit an official transcript, GRE scores, and letters of reference before their application will be reviewed.
Curriculum
The program of study in the Master of Science in Allied Health consists of 18 hours of major field core, 12 hours of guided electives, and a 6-hour thesis or non-thesis capstone project. The student will work with their advisor to select courses from the guided electives that meet their professional needs and career aspirations. Students have the option of guided electives in allied health administration and education, and public health.
Additional Information
The advanced practice seminar option is designed as a culminating clinical experience to provide an alternative to the thesis option. Students will be required to present an advance practice plan and identify a clinical preceptor to their graduate committee prior to beginning their project. Advanced practice seminars include a minimum of 120 clock hours of clinical practice per three hour course in the approved area. Upon completion of the experience, the student will be required to provide a written evaluation on the project. Additionally, the student will be required to perform an oral defense of the findings to their committee.
The thesis option constitutes a significant part of the work toward a master’s degree. The thesis must represent a high standard of scholarly inquiry, methodology, techniques, statistics, and literature review. Candidates for degrees are required to present findings to their graduate committee in the form of an oral defense. Students must meet additional thesis requirements as stated in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.
Retention Standards
Students in the Master of Science Degree in Allied Health program must meet the retention standards as set forth for graduate students by the School of Graduate Studies. Grades shall be based on the 4.0 scale as set forth in the Graduate Catalog. A student will be considered deficient for any course grade less than a “C” (2.0), or when their overall grade average is less than a “B” (3.0.) No more than 6 semester hours of “C” grades in the program of study can be applied toward the degree. Students with an overall grade average of less than a “B” (3.0) will be placed on probation for one semester. If their overall grade average does not improve to a “B” (3.0) the following semester, the student will be dismissed from the program. Students must have a cumulative grade point of 3.0 or better in order to register for thesis or advance practice seminar credit.
Graduation Requirements
Students accepted into the Master of Science Degree in Allied Health may select between the thesis and non-thesis option. All students must successfully complete 18 credit hours of allied health core and 12 credit hours in the selected electives. Upon completion of the required coursework, a comprehensive evaluation of the student’s performance will be administered in the form of a written examination to determine the level of mastery of their discipline.
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is necessary prior to enrolling in thesis or advance practice courses. A culminating experience is required of all candidates in the form of 6 credit hours of ALHE 5800 Advance Practice Seminar or ALHE 5960 Thesis. All course work and other requirements for the Master of Science degree in Allied Health must be completed within 6 years from the date of initial enrollment. Students are required to meet additional graduation requirements as stated in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.
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