HEALTHCollege of

PROFESSIONS

Society places great value on health and well-being. The College of Health Professions accepts as its philosophical foundation the belief in the worth and dignity of individuals and their right to fulfill their potential in life. Preservation or restoration of the individual’s health and well-being then becomes the basic tenet of the programs in the college.

The mission of the College of Health Professions is to provide the highest quality of undergraduate and graduate learning experiences in a wide range of health care and sport-related professions that promote and enhance health and human performance. Graduates exhibit the highest ethical principles and professional behaviors in the application of knowledge and critical thinking, the proficient use of skills, the effective use of communication, and the meaningful use of technology.

Programs in the college are accredited by the appropriate professional and educational accrediting agencies. Graduates of the baccalaureate programs of athletic training and nursing, and the combined B.S./M.S. program in occupational therapy, are eligible to sit for their respective licensure or certification examinations.

CHPC O L L E G E O F H E A L T H P R O F E S S I O N S

health and well -being

Students who have successfully completed programs in the college have gone on to work in positions in health care delivery, health and wellness promotion, teaching, the sports industry, private practice, and consultation. Some have started their own businesses in the private sector; others have assumed roles in advocacy, administration and health policy in both public and private sectors; and still others have moved on to graduate education programs. A health- or sport-related degree positions graduates to work in a variety of settings and to assume leadership roles within their respective organizations.

C O L L E G E O F H E A L T H P R O F E S S I O N S

health and well -being

MAJORSAllied Health Major (Community College Partnership) Combined Major—Allied Health and Respiratory Therapy

Athletic Training Major*+

Deaf Studies Major

Focus Areas

• Deaf Culture

• Human Services

Exercise Science Major

Gerontology Major/Minor

Health Care Management Major/Minor

Track

• Long-Term Care

Health Science Major/Minor+

Concentrations

• Community Health

• School and Community Health Education

• School Health— Teacher Education (5-12)

Nursing Major*+• Basic Program

• RN Completion Program

Occupational Therapy Combined B.S./M.S.*+

Physical Education Major (K-12 Certification)

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Major*+

Combined Major

• Speech-Language Pathology Audiology and Deaf Studies

Sport Management Major

* Screened or competitive major. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to this major program

+ This program is accredited by a national association.

AT A GLANCE

College Highlights

The college enrolls more students in bachelor’s- and master’s-level health care and sport-related programs than any other institution in Maryland and is a major producer of physical education teachers.

Towson’s gerontology program is one of only 100 such undergraduate programs offered in the United States.

The Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science has the state’s only program in occupational therapy that allows students to become certified as occupational therapists.

The Department of Nursing is in its third year of offering a satellite undergraduate nursing program in Hagerstown, Maryland, which will begin accepting students twice a year.

The Department of Kinesiology houses one of the two accredited athletic training programs in the state.

The Department of Health Science has the only program in health care management in Maryland certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.

The speech-language pathology and audiology program is one of two state-supported programs and the only program to provide the opportunity for students to do a clinical practicum experience in the on-campus clinic.

The college is in its third year of operating Fall Prevention Programs for older adults at Parkville and Catonsville senior centers through a partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Aging.

The college has partnered with the Maryland Defense Force, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and multiple state and county agencies to hold “Operation STAT,” an annual mass casualty event for 500 student “victims” in a training exercise for nursing and health students in disaster management and emergency response.

The Department of Health Science received National Recognition from the American Association of Health Education for Initial Preparation of Health Educators.

The college has created a bachelor’s degree program in respiratory therapy and allied health through a partnership with the Community College of Baltimore County-Essex.

Outreach initiatives by the college and/or its departments include:

• A cardiac rehabilitation program in collaboration with St. Joseph Medical Center which is housed in our own Wellness Center

• A Center for Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse Prevention serving our on-campus populations

• An ergonomic consultation program for faculty and staff

• A stroke survivors group

• A reading and language intervention group for children affected by domestic violence

• An adult stuttering treatment group

PARTNERSHIPSCREATING

The Classes

The College of Health Professions offers courses emphasizing a range of professional skills. Many of the programs of study share similar foundational requirements in science and core courses, which usually makes transfer from one major to another less complex. With careful planning, students have the opportunity to earn a double major or a minor with a major in such programs as: sport management and business, speech-language pathology and audiology and deaf studies, and health care management and business. Several programs require a separate application process for program admission, such as athletic training, nursing, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology and audiology; admission to these programs is selective.

R A N G EEMPHASIZING A

Innovative Courses – A Sample

KNES 369 Practicum in Exercise Science blends laboratory classroom experience with real-world experience. Kinesiology students go on weekly rotations to learn the fundamental skills needed to work in the fitness/wellness environment and athletic performance arena. They conduct educational projects and develop fitness programs for participants in the Towson University Wellness Center, Baltimore County Department of Aging Senior Fitness Centers, and other fitness centers.

HLTH 430 Organization, Implementation and Management of Health Education Programs provides opportunities for health science students to plan health events, such as the annual HealthFest for Towson University students, faculty and staff at the University Union, as well as health fairs in middle schools and presentations about health and nutrition in area senior centers.

NURS 455 Nursing Practice in Community Health gives students the opportunity to select and create their own projects in conjunction with local agencies to meet community needs. Student groups have partnered with the Herring Run Watershed Association to conduct an environmental cleanup project, and provided a dental health and hygiene unit for preschool and kindergarten children in a Baltimore City school.

DFST 410 Internship in Deaf Studies places deaf studies students in supervised field experiences with children or adults, where they refine their skills in American Sign Language, and deepen their appreciation for deaf culture.

OCTH 205 Alternative and Complementary Health Care exposes students to non-Western medical practices while building an appreciation of diverse cultural approaches toward health. Students make site visits to facilities such as wellness centers and acupuncture facilities, and they interview practitioners in the healing arts.

A number of nursing and allied health students participate in fully online courses in their majors, and many other students are taking hybrid courses in which they attend approximately one-half online classes and one-half classroom-based classes.

ofPROFESSIONALSKILLS

Our Faculty

Faculty supports student development to assure that graduates possess the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for career success. Our faculty members are highly experienced in their disciplines, have excellent teaching skills and are committed to student learning through both teaching and advising. In addition, faculty are actively involved in their professional disciplines; many serve as elected officers within their state and national associations, and are engaged in important work with professional and community organizations. Faculty members are also involved in research, publication, presentations and other activities that strengthen their skills as teachers and mentors for students. Their productivity enhances the reputation of the programs within the college, and encourages development of professionalism in students by modeling a commitment to lifelong learning.

DEVELOPING

P R O F E S S I O N A L I S M

i n

DEVELOPING

P R O F E S S I O N A L I S M

STUDENTS

Faculty Highlights

Mark Pellowski, assistant professor of audiology, speech-language pathology and deaf studies, is researching innovative methods to assess and treat children who stutter. His research findings have led to an understanding of how speech planning processes are associated with the onset, development and persistence of stuttering.

Wayne Nelson, associate professor in health science, is the Deputy Commander of the 10th Medical Regiment (MDDF) of the Maryland Defense Force. This regiment, also known as the Baltimore County Emergency Medical Volunteer Reserve Corps (MRC), is noted for its work after hurricane Katrina in 2005 and for its ongoing emergency preparedness and health infrastructure support efforts. Nelson’s work reflects the successful bonds between academic, military and public health entities in forging real partners for real problems.

Mary Lashley, professor of Nursing, received the Board of Regents Faculty Award for Public Service in 2009 for her ongoing work to provide oral health services to homeless men in Baltimore City at the Helping Up Mission. This initiative links a number of Baltimore City resources and provides opportunities for community health nursing students to have valuable clinical experiences in which they are facilitating work with health delivery systems as well as direct work with individuals.

Wendy Stav, Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, is a nationally recognized expert on older drivers, and works with AARP, AAA, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and state and local agencies on CarFit, a national community-based program that assists older drivers with their driving skills and safety.

Michael Higgins, assistant professor in kinesiology, is conducting studies on the gender differences in head acceleration during soccer heading wearing soccer headgear. His research hopes to provide information on improving the safety of helmets and mouthpieces for adolescent soccer players, and he has presented his preliminary findings at several regional conferences.

Internships and Clinical Placements

Programs in the College of Health Professions prepare graduates to assume roles in a variety of clinical, teaching, community, administrative and sport-related settings. Each program integrates this professional preparation with a rigorous grounding in the liberal arts and sciences. Internships and clinical experiences are an essential part of each student’s education. All students in the college have opportunities for hands-on field experiences and many students have multiple experiences across a wide variety of settings.

The primary goal of these placements is to provide students with important experiences that will prepare them for careers as health and sport-related professionals. Placement goals focus on enhancing skills and competencies already acquired in class work and acquiring new skills and knowledge.

Our students have internship opportunities at more than 300 health care, education and sport-related settings in the region. Out-of-state placements and some international placements may be available in selected programs.

HEALTHf o rPREPARING

Examples of student internship sites:

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions University of Maryland Medical System Greater Baltimore Medical Center St. Joseph Medical Center Sheppard Pratt Health System Baltimore County Department of Aging Maryland Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation Kennedy Krieger Institute National Institutes of Health Towson University Wellness Center Towson Sports Medicine The Baltimore Ravens Training Facilities The Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Delaware Public and private schools in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and surrounding counties

SPORT-RELATEDCAREERS

a n d

Here’s a sample of what recent CHP students have done outside the classroom:

Health science students visit the offices of their elected U.S. officials on Capitol Hill to advocate for health-related issues.

A group of health professions students from Towson University and other higher education institutions makes an annual three-week trip in January to Cuernavaca, Mexico. Led this coming year by Bonnie Fuller, assistant professor in Nursing, the experience focuses on Spanish for health professionals and health care practices in Mexico.

Occupational therapy and speech-language pathology students conduct a summer therapeutic preschool program for children ages 3-5 who have speech-language and/or developmental delays.

Speech-language pathology and occupational therapy students work with faculty to present monthly topics to the members of an interdisciplinary stroke survivors group for people in the community.

Nursing students volunteered with companies such as Lever Brothers and Home Depot to develop and staff employee health fairs, where they helped supply blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, and health teaching about communicable diseases.

Occupational therapy students have engaged in projects with residents of the Cherry Hill community of Baltimore City around a range of initiatives, including backpack awareness and posture, self-esteem building in middle-school girls, and relationship of appropriately fitted classroom furniture to learning.

GOING

Beyond the Classroom and Clinical/Internship Experiences

Learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom, the library or an internship. In addition to classes and internships, hands-on labs and student-teaching experiences, you’ll have opportunities to join student groups with your classmates and get involved in service-learning activities. You can participate in the Maryland Senior Olympics, Race for the Cure, HealthFest, marathon events and scholarship days. You can get involved with an organization related to your academic interests and goals, or try something new and outside of your comfort zone—it’s your choice.

GOING

OUTSIDE THE

CLASSROOM

TOWSON UNIVERSITYFounded in 1866, Towson University is the second-largest school in the University System of Maryland, enrolling more than 21,000 students in more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and applied professional fields. Towson is known for its excellent academic programs in business, computer science, health professions, education, fine arts, communications, and the arts and sciences. As a metropolitan university, Towson combines research-based learning with practical application. Our many interdisciplinary partnerships with public and private organizations throughout Maryland provide opportunities for research, internships and jobs. The university is located in suburban Towson, eight miles north of Baltimore. Our beautifully landscaped, 328-acre setting offers a pleasant environment for study and a diverse campus life, as well as easy access to a wealth of university and community resources.

Visiting Towson University

The best way to experience Towson University is to visit campus. Towson hosts several Open Houses for high school juniors and seniors that allow you to meet students and faculty, tour the campus, and learn more about campus life and academic programs. For the dates and times of Open Houses, as well as to schedule a campus tour, visit www.towson.edu/visitus.

Applying to Towson University

Applying to TU is easy. Visit www.towson.edu/discover and click on “Apply Now.” The online admissions application takes less than 30 minutes to complete. You will need to have your standardized test scores sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the testing service and have your high school send official transcripts. For more information about the application process, visit www.towson.edu/discover.

For more information on CHP, visit www.towson.edu/chp.

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