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Certificates in Health Sciences

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Certificates in Health Sciences

The Health Sciences programs also offer our specialty concentrations as independent certificates in health sciences for those who wish to gain the knowledge and expertise of one or more of these concentrations. Each certificate contains four courses (12 credits) and can be completed 100 percent online. Those who go on to complete the full Doctor of Health Sciences or Masters of Health Science may transfer in 9 credits from the completed certificate.

Graduate health sciences certificates include:

  • Fundamentals of Education
  • Global Health
  • Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Program essentials

Overview
Course list
Tuition
Faculty/Staff
ATSU
Curriculum
Admission requirements
Fundamentals of Education Certificate
Global Health Certificate
Leadership and Organizational Behavior Certificate
Cost
Financial Aid
Administration
Faculty
University Catalog
Accreditation

Certificates in Health Sciences

Fundamentals of Education Certificate

The purpose of this health science certificate is to provide additional, specialized knowledge; advance critical thinking; and promote theory application in the area of post-secondary education. Studying the components of designing, developing, and managing courses using the latest theory and techniques of teaching and learning will be the emphasis of this health science certificate. This certificate may be used for career advancement and preparation of health professionals for roles in academia or healthcare education.

Global Health Certificate

The purpose of this certificate in global health is to provide additional, specialized knowledge; advance critical thinking; and promote theory application in the area of global health. This added specialization is critical to understanding global health issues and provides future leaders with the tools necessary to apply current knowledge and formulate innovative solutions to achieve improvement in the quality of health for underserved populations.

Leadership and Organizational Behavior Certificate

The purpose of this health science certificate is to provide additional, specialized knowledge, advance critical thinking, and promote theory application in the area of healthcare administration. Understanding leadership theory through real-world application is the focus of the course work and underscores ATSU’s defining mission of leadership, innovation, serving underserved communities and meeting the needs of the whole person body, mind, and spirit.

Requirements

Candidates applying for admission must have the following:

     
  1. Application:
       
    • Completed and signed admissions application along with a nonrefundable application fee.

     

  2. Academic:

       
    • An accredited bachelor’s degree from a university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Applicants who received their qualifying degree from a university outside the United States will have to provide a degree equivalency evaluation.*
    •  
    • Official transcript from the qualifying degree-granting institution. For students using VA benefits transcripts for all institutions attended are required.
    • Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) at the qualifying degree institution.
  3. Elements of Success:

    • A current resume
    • Completion of an essay
    • English Proficiency **
    • Meet technology requirements***

     

*Applicants who have graduated from a foreign college or university should submit acceptable evidence of U.S. degree/course equivalency. All course work taken at the foreign institution must be evaluated for American institution equivalence by one of the following services:

 

**Applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to A.T. Still University’s College of Graduate Studies. Written and spoken proficiency in the English language may be demonstrated by one of the following options:

     
  • Option 1 - English is your first language.
  •  
  • Option 2 - Graduated from a regionally accredited four year college/university in the United States with a BA/BS or graduate degree.
  •  
  • Option 3 - You are demonstrating your English proficiency by submitting acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Accepted test types for CGHS are: The Computer Based Test (CBT), Internet Based Test (iBT), or the Paper Based Test (PBT) are accepted. The following are the minimum required score based on test type:

  • CBT - minimum total score of 213
  • iBT - minimum total score of 80
  • PBT - minimum total score of 550

The TOEFL is administered by TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ, 08541-6151, USA 609. 771.7100. A.T. Still University’s institutional code is 0339. Please be sure to include this information when you submit your application packet. TOEFL Educational Testing Services P.O. Box 6151 Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, 609.771.7100 ***ATSU technology requirements

Fundamentals of Education Certificate

  • Educational Program Evaluation +

    • Credits: 3
      Students will be introduced to educational program assessment and evaluation. Topics include meeting health programmatic accreditation requirements, creating academic institutional effectiveness plans, program creation and revision, curricular evaluation, and strategic program assessment at the college and university level. Other topics discussed include evaluating certification and licensure pass rates, retention and attrition statistics, and integrating advisory board guidance into educational programs.
  • Contemporary Teaching & Learning Concepts +

    • Credits: 3
      This course provides an overview of prominent teaching and learning models in higher education. Recently, much research in academia has focused on determining which models best educate students in the most cost-effective and efficient ways possible. Some of the models to be examined include: learner-centered teaching, student-centered learning, and inter-professional learning. Students will explore the research and practical application of these models for managing and delivering course content, promoting knowledge transfer, and determining best practices for effective learning.
  • Curriculum & Course Design +

    • Credits: 3
      This course introduces students to end-to-end curriculum and course design. Emphasis is placed on instructional design concepts at curricular and course levels. Students explore curriculum planning and accreditation requirements, while also developing course competencies, learning objectives, assessments and rubrics. Additional topics include course and program evaluation and continuous improvement.
  • Elective +

    • Credits: 3
      Selected from the other HSc concentration areas.

Global Health Certificate

  • Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response +

    • Credits: 3
      For years public health has played a critical role in responding to emergencies and disasters of all kinds. This course examines the roles and responsibilities of public health during a disaster and emergency. You will examine the various types of disasters and emergencies, including bioterrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and natural disasters, and learn how a response is planned, initiated and coordinated. This course will also introduce you to emergency preparedness planning and common concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes used including the National Response Framework (NRF), Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
  • Global Health Issues +

    • Credits: 3
      This course provides an introduction to important global health issues, including determinants of health, key areas of disease burden, and the role that new health technologies can play in solving these problems. The goal of the course is to expand students’ understanding of the impact of infectious and chronic diseases on the world’s population with particular attention paid to the health status of women, children, and the poor. Students will examine case studies of successful global health interventions to understand features of successful programs.
  • Globalization & World Politics +

    • Credits: 3
      This course introduces the theoretical and practical issues associated with the radical global processes that are now affecting human life locally and globally. The course emphasizes the political-economic, cultural, institutional, technological, and ecological implications of globalization and allows students to evaluate whether these processes pose opportunities or challenges to individuals, societies, and the global community.
  • Elective +

    • Credits: 3
      Selected from the other HSc concentration areas.

Leadership and Organizational Behavior Certificate

  • Organizational Behavior +

    • Credits: 3
      This course examines how the personal characteristics of organizational members influence the effectiveness and productivity of organizations and the job satisfaction of its members. It is believed that organizations are comprised of three levels: the individual, the group or department, and the organization itself. This course will focus on the problems and challenges leaders face in dealing with the individual and the small groups in the organization. Special attention will be given to the role of teams in organizations, the stages of team development, and actions that can support the development of effective teams. The realities of interpersonal processes are considered through examination of the roles of power, politics, and conflict in organizations. The human side of organizational change is then explored with a focus on understanding how and why people react to organizational change and identifying opportunities for enhancing the effective implementation of change.
  • Healthcare Economics and Financial Management +

    • Credits: 3
      Students will use key financial and economic principles to examine executive level decisions relative to capitalization, credit ratings, debt capacity, alternate funding sources, business plan development, and overall organizational finance strategy. The concepts will be considered from both non-profit and for-profit healthcare organizational perspectives.
  • Strategic Change Management for Healthcare Organizations +

    • Credits: 3
      In this executive course, students will investigate and integrate change management practices to strategically position the healthcare organization for the future. Students will assess their organization’s current strategic position and apply relevant theoretical models and the necessary change management practices resulting in organizational adaptability.
  • Elective +

    • Credits: 3
      Selected from the other HSc concentration areas.

Tuition

Review tuition and fees for the Certificates in Health Sciences program. Please note tuition and fees are subject to change.

Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is not available for certificate and non-degree enrollments.
Erin Breitenbach, PhD
Erin Breitenbach, PhD
Chair and Associate Professor
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Erin Breitenbach, PhD LinkedIn

Dr. Erin Breitenbach is program chair of the health education program at ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies. She holds a MA and PhD in health education from The University of Texas at Austin, and a MEd in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston. Dr. Breitenbach’s research interests include factors influencing doctorate program completion, innovative online teaching strategies, interprofessional education, and scholarly writing development.

Joshua Bernstein PhD, CHES
Joshua Bernstein PhD, CHES
Associate Professor
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Joshua Bernstein PhD, CHES LinkedIn

Joshua Bernstein joined A.T. Still University College of Graduate Health Studies in 2010. His work involves outcomes-based higher education andragogy, course development, curriculum assessment, and contributions to the literature in health promotion, health education, and wellness. Dr. Bernstein is involved in health sciences research activities, editing and reviewing for professional publications, course authorship and administration, and undergraduate health education internship and mentorship programs.

Research interests include wellness among transitional populations, nutrition in emerging and low-income regions, higher education, and adolescent risk perception.

Dr. Bernstein holds a doctorate degree in health education from Texas Woman’s University. His dissertation investigated the relationship between automobile-related fatalities among novice drivers and state-level graduated drivers licensing programs. He also earned a masters degree in education from Centenary College of Louisiana and a bachelors degree in sports medicine from New Mexico State University. Dr. Bernstein also holds leadership positions within the American Public Health Association and the National Wellness Institute.

Prior experiences include 15 years in sports medicine as a professional athletic trainer and manager of an outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation clinic. Dr. Bernstein lives in Dallas, Tx, enjoys cultural and sporting events, and serves as a varsity official for high school basketball and the Special Olympics.Associate Professor

Candace Ayars, PhD
Candace Ayars, PhD
Associate Professor
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Candace Ayars, PhD LinkedIn

Dr. Ayars holds a doctoral degree in Community Health Science from the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, and completed her postdoctoral research fellowship at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. She also holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Houston–Clear Lake in biology with a physiology concentration and two Bachelor of Science degrees (biology/anthropology) from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Dr. Ayars is a member of the Society for Epidemiologic Research and the American Evaluation Association.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of chronic disease risk factors in children, beginning as a project and field director for three large NIH funded epidemiologic studies (Project HeartBeat!, Project HealthVOICE, and The Heartfelt Study). Most recently, she served as the Director of the Healthy Communities Section of the Kansas Department of Health & Environment where she led evidence-based statewide efforts to reduce the burden of primary chronic disease risk factors in Kansas. She served as the State Health Department Expert Advisor for the Kansas ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health Innovation and Environmental Change) grants. Prior to joining KDHE, she collaborated with clinicians in the Geisinger Healthcare System of Pennsylvania to develop research initiatives for primary care and school-based pediatric obesity prevention and treatment programs. Dr. Ayars’ work in chronic disease risk factors in children has been published in peer-reviewed publications, such as Preventive Medicine, and presented at national and international conferences, including The Obesity Society and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Lynda Tierney Konecny, DHEd, DHSc, MCHES
Lynda Tierney Konecny, DHEd, DHSc, MCHES
Associate Professor
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Lynda Tierney Konecny, DHEd, DHSc, MCHES LinkedIn

Lynda Tierney Konecny earned her doctor of health education degree from ATSU-CGHS. She obtained her master of science in counseling/student personnel services from Emporia State University in Kansas and bachelor of science in behavioral psychology from Northern Michigan University. Dr. Konecny is also a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).

Dr. Konecny has been with ATSU since 2005 and began teaching for ATSU-CGHS in 2008. In addition to her experience with online education, she has taught in various public and private, civilian and military residential institutions. Dr. Konecny speaks at many state, national, and international conferences. She is involved in professional organizations serving on various committees, acting as governing councilor, conference session peer-reviewer, and session moderator. She is a published author, and serves as a journal review board member. During her career, she has held a variety of positions in college student services including admissions/recruitment, marketing, student activities/intramural sports, and residential life. Dr. Konecny also spent many years as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. In addition, she has extensive experience working in the fitness industry as a certified group fitness instructor, personal trainer, and fitness center manager.

Dr. Konecny’s research interests include the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative teaching methodologies and introducing new technologies to enhance curriculum delivery and student learning; educating and improving overall wellness, or dimensions of wellness, within various and diverse populations; exploring the practical application of health education behavior theories and the educational aspects of health promotion; examining learning theory in relation to online and residential instructional design, assessing the impact and value of student services for the online learner; and psychological research emphasizing behavior modification in public health and health education settings.

Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM
Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM
Dean
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Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM LinkedIn

Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM is the Dean of the College of Graduate Health Studies at AT Still University. Dr. Hastie received her doctor of education from George Fox University (2013), her master of science in exercise and sport science with an emphasis in biomechanics from the University of Oregon (2003), and her bachelor of science in exercise science from Gonzaga University (2001). She is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is a certified Exercise Physiologist.

Prior to joining ATSU, she was a Professor of Exercise Science and Program Chair for the Exercise Science Program at Lasell University (Newton, MA). Dr. Hastie also served as the Faculty Fellow for the Fuss Center for Research on Intergenerational Education and Aging and received the deWitt Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from Lasell University. Dr. Hastie served as Faculty Chair of the University’s governance system.

Dr. Hastie has served in several leadership roles at the regional and national level of the ACSM, which include her current roles on the Professional Education Committee at the national level and as the President-Elect for the New England chapter. Her research interests have included exploring the connection between lifelong physical activity and long-term health outcomes, the relationship between exercise training and cognition, and the effects of discrimination experiences on health-related coping behaviors.

Dr. Hastie has extensive experience in online program development, teaching, and assessment. She developed an online Master of Science in Nutrition for Human Performance program and has 18 years of experience in both synchronous and asynchronous teaching formats. She became an educator because she strongly believes in the development of the whole student as a crucial responsibility of higher education institutions.

Erin Breitenbach, PhD
Erin Breitenbach, PhD
Chair and Associate Professor
Read Bio
+
Erin Breitenbach, PhD LinkedIn

Dr. Erin Breitenbach is program chair of the health education program at ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies. She holds a MA and PhD in health education from The University of Texas at Austin, and a MEd in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston. Dr. Breitenbach’s research interests include factors influencing doctorate program completion, innovative online teaching strategies, interprofessional education, and scholarly writing development.

University Catalog

University Catalog Program guide

Read the University Catalog to learn more.

A.T. Still University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500,
Chicago, IL 60604

Phone: 800.621.7440 | Fax: 312.263.7462
Email: info@hlcommission.org

hlcommission.org


Certificates in Health Sciences program faculty

The ATSU-CGHS faculty and staff are dedicated to the success of each certificate student. Most ATSU-CGHS instructors hold doctorate degrees, with diverse academic and professional backgrounds in education, public health, and health education. Their academic areas of interest include curriculum and instruction, adult education, health professions education, program evaluation, allied health and health sciences education, online learning, and innovative teaching methodologies. Offering a challenging educational experience, the health sciences certificate programs enable professional and intellectual advancement with the resources that support you throughout your journey. Comprehensive student services are available, including advising, technical support, and career services.
Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM EP-C, PN-1, FACSM
Dean
Dr. Craig Phelps, DO
President
Clinton Normore, MBA
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion

Application

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For additional information contact an Enrollment Counselor:
877.626.5577 or cghsonlineadmissions@atsu.edu

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