SCHOOL OF
HEALTH SCIENCE AND WELLNESS
powering healtH & WELLNESS
LEADING FROM POSITIONS OF STRENGTH
Northwest Missouri State remains a vibrant university because of its ability to evolve and change as the needs of people, organizations and communities change. The School of Health Science and Wellness is yet another example of a continuously evolving Northwest that meets three critical needs: employer needs, student interests, and a national agenda focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Health (STEM-H). Although multi-disciplinary professional schools may be new to Northwest, preparing students to be professionals is not new. Northwest has a long history of professionbased education that prepares students to make significant contributions as teachers, managers, marketers, agricultural scientists, public relations specialists and digital communication designers, to name a few. Profession-based education is what differentiates Northwest from the other universities in the state and region. To ensure students are career-ready on day one, Northwest develops curriculum and unique learning opportunities by partnering with industry professionals. In addition to our academic partners, which include the departments of natural sciences and behavioral sciences, the School of Health Science and Wellness will also benefit from its emerging relationships with a number of health and wellness industry partners. Through these active partnerships, graduates from the School of Health Science and Wellness will develop the intellectual, emotional and experiential preparation necessary to face, tackle and solve complex problems on the first day of employment in a health science and wellness profession. Thank you for being a part of the School of Health Science and Wellness at Northwest Missouri State University. Dr. Timothy P. Mottet Provost
LEADING FROM POSITIONS OF STRENGTH
Welcome and thank you for your interest in Northwest’s School of Health Science and Wellness. As a multidisciplinary school, our intent is to facilitate the development of the key knowledge, skills and attitudes for students seeking careers in health and wellness related fields. Our structure affords us the opportunity to work collaboratively across campus, in the community, and around the region to meet a growing need for health science and wellness professionals. As you explore our school, you will find we offer: • 11 pre-professional programs • Three wellness-based bachelor’s degree programs • Three graduate programs • Eight academic minors We have exciting new academic programs and services in the development stage, as well. Our strong history for preparing career-ready graduates, our focus on student success, strong industry partnerships, and a talented and committed faculty and staff are just a few of the reasons we believe Northwest is the right choice for students seeking meaningful careers in health science and wellness. If questions arise as you explore our university, feel free to contact us. Again, thank you for your interest in Northwest Missouri State University and the School of Health Science and Wellness. Respectfully, Dr. Matt Symonds, director School of Health Science and Wellness
THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND WELLNESS The professional school concept is new to Northwest. Schools are free-standing, multi-disciplinary academic units that prepare students for a specific career. The School of Health Science and Wellness will develop professionals who serve and build individual and community capacity as health-care practitioners or as a individuals who help others increase their health and wellness knowledge and self-sufficiency. The school will take advantage of well-established academic programs at Northwest, including those in the natural and behavioral sciences, and will encourage cross collaboration with other faculty members from computer science, business, and communication and mass media to name a few. Faculty will partner with industry professionals and employers to develop a highly integrative curriculum that prepares students to pursue additional study in medicine or as professionals who graduate from Northwest with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to work in one of the many growing careers in preventative health and wellness.
SCHOOL OF
HEALTH SCIENCE AND WELLNESS
WHY A SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND WELLNESS?
The school will meet a growing employment need in the state of Missouri. The occupational projection data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center indicate there will be an “above average” increase in preventative health and wellness positions through 2020. Specifically, the data indicate increases in the following specialty areas, all of which will be part of the programming for the new school: dietetics and nutritionists, 10%; health care practitioners, 10%; recreational therapists, 12%; health coaches and educators, 25%; and communication and social service specialists,12%.
PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
The School of Health Science and Wellness prepares future doctors, nurses, and medical technologists through our 11 pre-professional programs.
PRE-ATHLETIC TRAINING
PRE-PHYSICIAN’S PRE-PHYSICAL PRE-NURSING ASSISTANT THERAPY PRE-DENTISTRY
PRE-MEDICAL
PRE-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRE-PHARMACY
PRE-DENTAL PRE-OPTOMETRY HYGIENE
CAREERS AND PROFESSIONS
PRE-OSTEOPATHIC AND ALLOPATHIC THERAPY
HEALTH COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONALS HEALTH COACHES NUTRITIONISTS AND DIETITIANS HEALTH CARE COORDINATORS HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGERS FITNESS TRAINERS HEALTH CARE PATIENT ADVOCATES ATHLETIC TRAINERS PARKS AND RECREATION MANAGERS CORPORATE RECREATION AND WELLNESS SPECIALISTS THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SPECIALIST DENTIST EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS DOCTOR NURSE OPTOMETRIST PHARMACIST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PHYSICAL THERAPIST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
MAJORS
• Foods & Nutrition/Dietetics • Physical Education • Recreation • Applied Health Sciences* • Radiologic Science • Clinical Lab Science • Biology/Psychology • Biology: Biomedical Track
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
• Applied Health & Sport Science • Health & Physical Education • Recreation
UNDERGRADUATE MINORS • Coaching • Food Service • Gerontology • Health Education • Nutrition • Recreation • Sport Management • Sport Psychology * pending approval
ENGAGING
REGIONAL PARTNERS
REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS
• MARYVILLE
Northwest Missouri State University
• TRENTON
• ST. JOSEPH HILLYARD TECHNICAL CENTER • KANSAS CITY
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ST. LUKE’S COLLEGE OF NURSING NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE ACADEMIC PARTNERS Department of Natural Sciences Department of Behavioral Sciences
NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI COLLEGE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PARTNERS
We look forward to developing partnerships with area non-profits, hospitals and community colleges to ensure we are meeting the needs of the region.
BUILDING TOMORROW’S SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR TOMORROW’S STUDENTS
Instituting health summit
launching
lecture series
fine-tuning
industry relevant curriculum
establishing interdisciplinary studies
OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND WELLNESS
adding
self-paced competency-based programming
making
digital portfolios available
enhancing
instituting
Developing
embedding
capstone experiences
skills transcripts
learning curriculum
service learning
Introducing practitioner in residence
exploring faculty externships
Future health science and wellness programming will be offered at the Northland Innovation Center in Gladstone, Mo. (right) and the new Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center (bottom).
BUILDING
HEALTH SCIENCE AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING
SCHOOL OF
HEALTH SCIENCE AND WELLNESS