About the Department
PHS is uniquely positioned to provide Wichita State University students with a comprehensive overview of the healthcare system. Our undergraduate health managers and master's in health administrator leaders translate our curriculum into practice benefiting local, state, national and global communities. This content also provides an important competitive advantage for our health science pre-majors that take this knowledge with them into their professional training as nurses, dental hygienists, and medical laboratory scientists. Supplemental coursework in aging and public health prepares graduates to address the complex challenges within current and future healthcare systems.
PHS is uniquely positioned to synergize the expertise of public health with all aspects of healthcare, which include but are not limited to science, business, and government. The department offers certificates, AIT practicum, coursework, undergraduate and graduate programs to meet the needs of students at all points in their health care education and careers. Upon graduation, dedicated students are well poised for employment and leadership opportunities in their field.
Mission and Vision
The Department of Public Health Sciences shares the College of Health Professions vision to lead change in healthcare education.
To prepare students to be clinical professionals and health services leaders.
Prepare students to pursue undergraduate or graduate clinical professional education.
Prepare students to be essential drivers in health administration, public health or aging-related careers.
To provide knowledge of aging and its impact on individuals, families, and society to prepare students for or engaged in careers in which they will plan, manage, and deliver services for the aging through public or private sector organizations, agencies or institutions.
Learning Outcomes
- Communication: Communicate healthcare information, in oral and written forms using appropriate media tailored to specific audiences.
- Analytic Assessment: Use healthcare information for analysis and decision making.
- Healthcare Policy and Administration: Describe the evolution of the healthcare system and roles and issues across local, national, and global health systems.
- Evidence Based Practice and Quality Improvement: Demonstrate how to connect and use data to promote, protect and assure improved health outcomes and knowledge.
- Leadership and Management: Exhibit an understanding of healthcare leadership, management, and policy.
- Health Equity and Justice: Describe social, behavioral, cultural, and environmental factors that impact health.
- Professionalism: Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism, ethics, stewardship and lifelong learning in healthcare.
- Communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences.
- Locate, use, evaluate and synthesize public health information.
- Exhibit understanding of the evolution of public health and the health care system and their roles and issues across local, national and global health systems.
- Demonstrate ability to use data to promote, protect and assure improved health outcomes and knowledge.
- Demonstrate an understanding of health leadership, management and policy using systems thinking.
- Demonstrate an understanding of social, behavioral, cultural and environmental factors that impact health.
- Demonstrate understanding of health ethics.
- Demonstrate introductory knowledge of clinical sciences.
- Distinguish between the key theories of aging.
- Differentiate “normal” aging from disease or pathology.
- Interpret key parameters of the Medicare program including policy approaches and coverage.
- Identify factors responsible for uniqueness in each person’s adult development.
- Demonstrate communication skills, critical thinking, management of relationships, and analysis of information.
- Assemble & analyze appropriate research to evaluate various aging perspectives in current literature.
- Exhibit oral and written communication skills for diverse populations and environments.
- Demonstrate competency in health leadership, management, and policy using systems thinking.
- Demonstrate professionalism and knowledge of health care ethics, legal issues, stewardship, social justice, and lifelong learning.
- Demonstrate an understanding of social, behavioral, cultural, economic, and environmental factors that impact the operations of health care organizations.
- Develop skills and knowledge of the operation and value of strategic planning in health care settings.
National Affiliations
- The Bachelor of Science in Health Management (HM) program is member of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE) Higher Education Network. The HM program is currently seeking Association of Undergraduate Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) certification of the program.
- The Master of Health Administration program is currently seeking accreditation through the Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the accrediting body for graduate programs in healthcare management in the United States and Canada.
- The Master of Arts in Aging Studies meets the standards for gerontology programs of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), the professional organization of post-secondary gerontology programs in the United States.
- All our programs are affiliated with the Alpha Eta Honor Society. Graduates and faculty of all PHS degree programs who meet the requirements for membership can be nominated to be inducted as a chapter member.