College of Health Science and Human Service : Health and Rehabilitative Services

Undergraduate and graduate programs related to health/wellness and rehabilitation pro­fessions are found in this department. Programs include academic course work and practical experiences designed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for entry into professional careers. 

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Community Health
The Community Health program is designed to prepare students to work in voluntary health organizations, in local, state and national government health agencies, or in worksite wellness.

Health Education Pre K-12
Students who complete the Health Education major will be eligible for license to teach health education pre K-12. (See the College of Education website for details.)

Health Care Administration
The Health Care Administration program at UT provides students with knowledge and skills to manage as health-care professionals in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, long-term care and outpatient facilities, physician offices, and public health agencies. This interdisciplinary program introduces students to managerial concepts and related skills. The health-care core courses enhance students’ knowledge in a variety of related subjects, including current health issues, legislation affecting health care, and management theories and decision making, all of which are important in health care administration.

Students interested in health-care administration have several options to consider, depending on their interests and backgrounds.

• First, students completing the four-year pro­gram in health care administration concurrently receive a general minor in business.
• Second, there are certain courses that are offered for students who want a concentration in long-term care administration. These students also concurrently receive a general minor in business.
• Third, the 2 + 2 year program is offered to individuals who hold at least an associate’s degree in a health related field. These students most often have direct health-care work experience, such as nurses and respiratory therapists, and want to further their education and management expertise.

Recreation and Leisure Studies
The Recreation and Leisure Studies program is designed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing leisure-oriented society. There is an increasing demand for direct leadership, supervisory, executive and managerial talent in all areas of recreation management.

Students who earn a bachelor of science in recreation and leisure studies receive a degree accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Council on Accreditation, and they are eligible to apply for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) examination.

In addition, students have the option of participating in the YMCA Professional Studies Program. This program will provide graduates of Recreation and Leisure Studies with the major components to receive a YMCA Senior Director Certification.

Recreational Therapy
The Recreational Therapy program meets professional standards set by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS,) and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA).

The program is designed to give the student a basic foundation in the three major areas of therapeutic recreation service deliv­ery – functional intervention, leisure education and special recreation. 

Speech-Language Pathology
The Speech-Language Pathology program offeres  is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and provides the educational and clinical experiences required for certification and/or licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Doctoral Program in Health Education
The mission of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in health education program is to prepare doctoral degree graduates in advanced study and research in community/public health. The program prepares advanced students to contribute to the field of health education through teaching, research, and service. Although health and research courses are required, the program is individualized through selection of elective courses and a cognate to develop each student for leadership roles in universities, the private health sector, or government agencies.

Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology
Our graduate program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).  Its mission is to develop entry level professionals to serve communicatively disordered children and adults through identification, accurate assessment, and effective treatment of the communication impairment within the broad range of the individual's daily activities.
The graduate program, although the degree is offered through the College of Health and Human Services, requires that students meet the minimum educational and clinical requirements for ASHA certification as a speech-language pathologist while focusing on the areas of speech-language pathology which are of interest to the student.

Masters Degree in Recreation Administration
The graduate degree offers students the ability to focus on areas of interest while obtaining skills beyond the entry level.  Advanced coursework challenges the student to investigate personal philosophies as they relate to the delivery of leisure services.   Students also have the ability to choose service learning projects and academic activities such as internships that will prepare them for successful careers in the field.  Students also have the opportunity to participate in research activities with faculty, present at conferences and shadow professionals while learning.  Students may also choose courses to gain an administrative background in recreation, therapeutic recreation recreational therapy and therapeutic arts.