1 M.S. Degree in Health Studies with a focus in Dental Hygiene The goal of the online M.S. Degree in Health Studies with a focus in Dental Hygiene is to prepare leaders in dental hygiene and health education. That provides students with the knowledge and skills to: • • • • • • • Engage and interact with individuals and groups across and within diverse communities and cultures in an effective and respectful manner. Display understanding of policy and its development, the value of collegiality and interprofessional collaboration, and advocacy related to the promotion of health, education, and the profession of dental hygiene. Recognize and utilize technology to advance research, health care, teaching, and education. Inspire, create and communicate a shared vision, and successfully manage change to attain an organization’s strategic ends and successful performance. Demonstrate professionalism through knowledge and behavior, a commitment to the highest standards of competence, ethics, integrity, responsibility, and accountability in all professional endeavors. Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate programs and systems related to an area of emphasis such as teaching, education, community outreach, or other area. Utilize scientific theory, research methodology, and research findings, as well as critical and reflective thinking for clinical and/or organizational evidence-based decision making. Common professional environments: Public health departments Academic settings Worksite health/corporate wellness Community-based organizations Hospital based clinic Non-profit organizations Corporations Potential employment opportunities: Dental health administration/management Dental health marketing Practice consultant Dental careers educator Wellness coordinator Health teacher Epidemiologist Department of Health Studies, P.O. Box 425499, Denton, TX 76204-5499 940/898-2860 Fax: 940/898-2859 September 2014 2 Department of Health Studies Texas Woman’s University ~ Graduate Admission Criteria ~ M.S. Degree in Health Studies Unconditional Admission Applicants will be evaluated for unconditional admission based on the following criteria: 1. A preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of bachelor's degree coursework as evidenced by official transcripts. 2. A preferred minimum of 150 on the verbal portion and 140 on the quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); and 4.5 on the analytic portion of the GRE; and for international students, a preferred minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). 3. Appropriate academic background and professional and volunteer experience for study in health education as evidenced by a professional vita or resume. 4. Two acceptable recommendations with letter (using the departmental recommendation forms) completed by faculty members, academic advisors, or employers and in a sealed envelope. 5. Ability to express concepts and ideas in writing as evidenced in a 400-500 word essay that addresses the question: "What are your career goals, and how would you use the education you receive from your Health Studies master’s degree to pursue those goals?" 6. Graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program and current licensure in dental hygiene. Provisional Admission* For applicants who do not meet the preferred minimum requirements for unconditional admission to the master’s degree program, provisional admission will be considered, (dependent upon the relative strength of their undergraduate GPA, GRE (/150 to 141 Verbal and 140 to 136 Quantitative) or TOEFL test score, academic background and professional and volunteer experience, and written essay). Applicants will not be considered with a bachelor's GPA below 2.0. Conditions of Provisional Admission: 1) Student must maintain an A or B in all classes during the first 12 hours of acceptance to the Department of Health Studies, and 2) must successfully complete other coursework as specified by the Health Studies Graduate Admissions Committee. When the student has met these conditions, her/his admission status will be converted to “unconditional.” Students who do not meet the provisional conditions will be removed from the program. September 2014 3 Department of Health Studies Texas Woman’s University M.S. Degree in Health Studies ~ Admission Checklist ~ Step 1: Please submit the following Graduate School materials to: □ □ □ □ A completed Texas Common Application form which is available online at: http://www.applytexas.org Graduate School Application Fee (if applicable) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores Official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) from every college/university attended. TWU Office of Admissions Processing – Student Records P.O. Box 425649, Denton, TX 76204-5649 Step 2: Please submit ALL of the Health Studies Department materials at the same time in ONE large envelope to the address below: Priority Deadlines for Submission to Health Studies: October 1 for Spring Semester or April 1 for Fall and Summer Semester (must be postmarked no later than) We strongly recommend starting the application process at least 60 days prior to the deadline. □ Admissions Checklist □ Two recommendations with letters completed by recent faculty members, academic advisors, or employers (form may be printed from http://www.twu.edu/healthstudies/handbook-worksheets.asp). Recommendations must be in a sealed envelope with the recommender’s signature across the seal. □ Your current professional vita/resume □ A typed, double-spaced essay of no more than 400 to 500 words that addresses the following question: "What are your career goals, and how would you use the education you receive from your Health Studies master’s degree to pursue those goals?" □ Applicants for the dental hygiene focal track will need to have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program and provide a copy of their dental hygiene license. Program Director – TWU Department of Health Studies P.O. Box 425499, Denton, TX 76204-5499 IMPORTANT: Departmental materials that do not arrive in ONE package or are incomplete will be discarded. If you would like to verify that we have received your packet, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. September 2014 4 If you still have questions after reviewing this packet please contact: Ann Rathbun, Ph.D. Program Director Office: CFO 1005 (940) 898-2857 Email: arathbun@twu.edu We are on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/TWUHealthStudies or search for TWU Health Studies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After You Apply To inquire about the status of your Graduate School application materials (GRE, transcripts, application), contact: Office of Admissions Processing Re: Graduate School Materials Toll Free (866) 809-6130 or (940) 898-3076 Email: oap@twu.edu September 2014 5 Department of Health Studies MS in Health Studies Degree Program Worksheet (Non-Thesis) Focal Area Dental Hygiene Semester Semester Offered Taken Core Curriculum (Complete all 18 hours) Fall or Summer HS 5413 Current Issues in Health Studies HS 5353 Epidemiology (prerequisite a disease process Spring ONLY course) HS 6443 Foundations of Health Science Spring ONLY HS 5423 Ethnic & Cultural Factors in Health Decisions HS 6453 Strategies in Health Education Delivery Spring ONLY Summer ONLY (prerequisite HS 5423) HS 5383 Program Development & Coordination Spring ONLY (prerequisite HS 5423) Focal Area (Complete all 12 Hours) Dental Hygiene HS 5903.01 Dental Hygiene Advocacy and Leadership HS 5903.02 Global Oral Health HS 5903.03 Alternative Dental Hygiene Careers HS 5903.04 Dental Hygiene Educational Methodology Research Tools (6 Hours ) HS 5013 Data Collection & Analysis (required) HS 5703 Statistics for Health Education Total Hours Required – 36 Hours September 2014 Fall Fall Summer Spring Fall ONLY Fall or Spring Cumulative GPA Grade Assigned 6 Suggested Order of Courses Dental Hygiene Track for MS in Health Studies First Year Fall Spring Summer HS 5903.01 Dental Hygiene Advocacy and Leadership (As needed) HS 5413 Current Issues (Fall or Summer) HS 5903.04 Dental Hygiene Educational Methodology (As needed) HS 5423 Ethnic and Cultural Factors in Health Decisions (Spring only) HS 6443 Foundations of Health Science (Spring only) HS 6453 Strategies in Health Education Delivery (Summer only) HS 5903.02 Global Oral Health (As needed) HS 5013 Data Collection (Fall only) HS 5353 Epidemiology (Spring only) HS 5383 Program Development (Spring only) HS 5703 Statistics for Health Education (Fall or Spring) HS 5903.03 Alternative Dental Hygiene Careers (As needed) Second Year Fall Spring Summer (Summer: HS 5903 Writing for Health Sciences; if admitted provisionally or can take it the summer prior) September 2014 8 Health Studies Master of Science GRE Minimum Requirements - TWU’s institution code is 6826 Verbal 150 (450) Quant. 140 (400) Application Deadline Information Fall - April 1 Master’s degree Fall - February 1 Ph.D. degree Spring - October 1 Master’s only Submit the following in ONE packet to the department: Professional vita with evidence of academic background, professional and volunteer experience. a typed, double-spaced, 400-500 word essay. The essay should be a response to the following writing prompt: "What are your career goals, and how would you use the education you receive from your Health Studies Master’s degree to pursue those goals?" Sw Two recommendations (following departmental instructions), completed within the past 12 months by faculty members, academic advisors, or employers. Please, no personal references by friends, family members or coworkers (unless they supervise you directly). 8 Recommendation Form 1 Master’s Degree in Health Studies Department of Health Studies Texas Woman’s University Applicant: Please fill out this section, then have the Recommender complete the form and letter and return it to YOU! Applicant’s Name: Address: Email Address: Phone: I waive my right to review this recommendation. I grant permission to contact this person. [ ] Yes OR [ ] No [ ] Yes OR [ ] No The rest of this form should be completed by a College/University Academic faculty member who has been the instructor of a course(s) taken by this applicant or should be an Employer/Supervisor. No relatives or personal friends of the applicant should complete this form. The recommender must have taught at least one course in your prior educational experience or must be a current or former supervisor. RECOMMENDER: Complete this form, rate each item and attach a letter recommending the applicant. Return all documents to the applicant in a sealed envelope and sign your name across the seal. I have instructed the applicant in a college course. I have employed/supervised the applicant. I certify that I am not a relative or personal friend of the applicant named above. I acknowledge that by completing this form I may be contacted further in reference to this applicant. _____________________________________ Faculty Name, Supervisor (Please Print) ___________________________________ ____ College/University, Organization, Company ___________________________________ SIGNATURE ___________________________________ ____ Street or P.O. Box mailing address ____________________________________ Email ___________________________________ ____ City, State -Zip Code ____________________________________ Date Sw ____________________________________ Phone number 8 PART 2 Based on your time with this applicant use your best judgment and please rate the applicant on each attribute below. Rate all 10 attributes according to expectations for success as a graduate student. Please indicate the degree to which you believe each characteristic/ability applies to the Applicant Characteristics & Abilities Below Expected 1 Expected Exceptional 2 3 Comments Organization Skills Writing Skills Verbal Communication Interpersonal Skills Initiative Dependability Information Technology Skills Adaptability Professional Demeanor Potential for Professional Growth Please write a letter that addresses the following areas: 1. What do you consider to be the Applicant’s strongest assets in terms of potential for successful performance in the master’s degree program in Health Studies? 2. What do you consider to be the Applicant’s limitations, if any, in terms of potential for successful performance in the master’s degree program in Health Studies? 3. Please provide any additional information that you believe may be helpful in considering this Applicant for admission to the master’s degree program in Health Studies. Overall Evaluation (Check one) I recommend this applicant for the TWU Health Studies graduate program I recommend this applicant for the TWU Health Studies graduate program with reservations Comments: ____________________________________________________________________ I do NOT recommend this applicant for the TWU Health Studies graduate program Sw 8 Recommendation Form 2 Master’s Degree in Health Studies Department of Health Studies Texas Woman’s University Applicant: Please fill out this section, then have the Recommender complete the form and letter and return it to YOU! Applicant’s Name: Address: Email Address: Phone: I waive my right to review this recommendation. I grant permission to contact this person. [ ] Yes OR [ ] No [ ] Yes OR [ ] No The rest of this form should be completed by a College/University Academic faculty member who has been the instructor of a course(s) taken by this applicant or should be an Employer/Supervisor. No relatives or personal friends of the applicant should complete this form. The recommender must have taught at least one course in your prior educational experience or must be a current or former supervisor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDER: Complete this form, rate each item and attach a letter recommending the applicant. Return all documents to the applicant in a sealed envelope and sign your name across the seal. I have instructed the applicant in a college course. I have employed/supervised the applicant. I certify that I am not a relative or personal friend of the applicant named above. I acknowledge that by completing this form I may be contacted further in reference to this applicant. _____________________________________ Faculty Name, Supervisor (Please Print) ___________________________________ ____ College/University, Organization, Company ___________________________________ SIGNATURE ___________________________________ ____ Street or P.O. Box mailing address ____________________________________ Email ___________________________________ ____ City, State -Zip Code ____________________________________ Date Sw ____________________________________ Phone number 8 PART 2 Based on your time with this applicant use your best judgment and please rate the applicant on each attribute below. Rate all 10 attributes according to expectations for success as a graduate student. Please indicate the degree to which you believe each characteristic/ability applies to the Applicant Characteristics & Abilities Below Expected 1 Expected Exceptional 2 3 Comments Organization Skills Writing Skills Verbal Communication Interpersonal Skills Initiative Dependability Information Technology Skills Adaptability Professional Demeanor Potential for Professional Growth Please write a letter that addresses the following areas: 1. What do you consider to be the Applicant’s strongest assets in terms of potential for successful performance in the master’s degree program in Health Studies? 2. What do you consider to be the Applicant’s limitations, if any, in terms of potential for successful performance in the master’s degree program in Health Studies? 3. Please provide any additional information that you believe may be helpful in considering this Applicant for admission to the master’s degree program in Health Studies. Overall Evaluation (Check one) I recommend this applicant for the TWU Health Studies graduate program I recommend this applicant for the TWU Health Studies graduate program with reservations Comments: ____________________________________________________________________ I do NOT recommend this applicant for the TWU Health Studies graduate program Sw