Departmental Vision, Goals and Mission
Undergraduate
Graduate
Departmental Vision Statement
The vision of the Department of Health and Human Performance is to promote a learning environment with students as they pursue knowledge, skills, and values in health and movement science for life and work in a global society.
Departmental Mission Statement
Health and Human Performance (HHP) faculty are
committed to contributing to their
students' intellectual, economic, social, physical,
and cultural development to be successful in
employment, future studies, citizenship, and life in
general.
This mission will be accomplished by:
- offering HHP courses designed to promote critical thinking, academic honesty, creativity, leadership, as well as excellent writing and communication skills;
- promoting diversity, appreciation of all cultures, and respect for all persons;
- fostering a positive learning environment; and,
- expanding multiple delivery systems.
- continually improving courses and programs, conducting research, and providing services that contribute significantly to the quality of life, learning and workforce development needs of the community.
HHP Undergraduate Goals
Goals in the Department of Health and Human Performance include:
- meeting the teaching and health professional needs of local and regional schools, agencies, and organizations;
- improving the quality of academic programs;
- providing improved technology capability to faculty, students, and staff; and,
- enhancing the quality of academic life for departmental faculty.
Graduate Mission and Goals
For graduate study, the Department of Health and Human
Performance has a mission to build a graduate program
that is supportive yet challenging in a learning
environment composed of instruction, research, and
service components. As a goal for the instructional
component of the graduate program, the Department
strives to meet students’ needs for advanced
discipline-based knowledge. To accomplish the goal, in
conjunction with the Office of Graduate Studies, the
Department recruits and brings bright, eager minds to campus and
offers them academically challenging opportunities.
The Department has as a goal for the research
component of the graduate program to promote
research activities among students and faculty. To
accomplish the goal, the Department requires each
graduate student to successfully complete a research
course and a research proposal. Additionally, faculty
are engaged in research endeavors, including
publications in national peer-reviewed scholarly
journals. The Department has as a goal for the public service component of the graduate program
to serve both the academic community and the public at
large. To accomplish the goal, the Department offers
students opportunities for community service
activities and promotes attendance at professional
meetings. Faculty evidence their commitment to public
service by holding offices in professional
associations, making presentations at state and
national conferences, and sharing their knowledge with
on-campus and community groups.
Master of Science in HHP
The Department of Health and Human Performance offers a
Master of Science degree with two specializations,
health services administration and sport and wellness
leadership. Additionally, the Master of Science degree
has a public and community health concentration. The
Department has a common core of four courses for these
two specializations and concentration. Each
specialization and the concentration has requirements
beyond the department's common core.
The Master of Science degree places emphasis on
preparation for professional practice. For example, the
health services administration specialization provides
opportunities for students in leadership positions in
hospitals, clinics, community agencies, managed care
organizations, and government agencies, to name a few.
The sports and wellness leadership specialization
prepares students for positions in, for example, college
and university athletic departments, professional
sports, and sport agencies as well as public/private
fitness/wellness centers. Examples of positions for
students who concentrate in public and community health
include state and local health departments and community
and state agencies.
In summary, the Department of Health and Human
Performance provides an opportunity for learning and
personal growth through an educational environment that
is characterized by small classes, professional
mentoring interactions between students and faculty and
instructional activities that are theoretically based
and that include experiential opportunities. The
recognition and appreciation of diversity is integral to
this Department. The average number of students enrolled
per semester is approximately 60.
