Five New Degree Programs to be Offered in Summer and Fall 2019
March 27, 2019
By Noell Saunders
Old Dominion University will offer five new degree programs, with the first starting in May. The degrees include a Master of Science in athletic training; Bachelor of Science in public health; Master of Public Health; Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity; and a Master of library and information studies.
More information about the new programs:
Master of Science in Athletic Training: ODU offers a post-professional degree program and will add a pre-professional program in May as it phases out the post-professional offering in the coming academic year. The Master of Science in athletic training promotes clinical decision-making skills that will enhance the quality of healthcare throughout patients' lifetimes.
The program will focus on prevention, examination and diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergent, acute, subacute, and chronic neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and certain medical conditions to minimize subsequent impairments, functional limitations, disability and societal limitations.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health: The program, which starts in the fall, will prepare students with knowledge and competencies necessary to use evidence-based approaches in public health practice. Students will be able to apply the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches and interventions to identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
Graduates with baccalaureate degrees in public health will be prepared to address public health challenges in a diverse array of organizations. They will be prepared to work in public, private and community-based organizations that seek to promote health, prevent disease and provide access to care such as health departments, healthcare systems, universities, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Master of Public Health (previously offered jointly with EVMS): ODU will independently offer a Master of Public Health (MPH) program in the fall of 2019. The program will be located in the College of Health Sciences' School of Community and Environmental Health. It will also be available online.
Since the program was launched in the 1990s, public health has become an increasingly important component of life in the U.S. Chronic disease, obesity and epidemics, combined with changes in healthcare and public health policy, have significantly affected this field. ODU's faculty aims to ensure students are provided with knowledge, skills and data that will allow them to serve in public health with the graduate-level credential.
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity: The program, starting in the the fall, will prepare students to work within the cybersecurity industry, U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and other branches of the military, and within federal, state or local government or government contracting.
The program will provide students with a strong understanding of cyber systems, threats, and defense and operational technologies. Graduates will be knowledgeable in the theory, technologies, skills and practices necessary to protect critical cyber infrastructure and assets. They will have enhanced oral and written communication skills to articulate cybersecurity problems and decisions, and clearly understand ethical standards and rules related to the field.
Master of Library and Information Studies (pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges): The Master of Library and Information Studies has received pre-candidacy status from the American Library Association (ALA) to be the first ALA-accredited program in Virginia. The program will be offered in the fall. The MLIS will enable students to become librarians, media specialists and information authorities. This includes, but is not limited to, professional positions in academic libraries, public libraries, school libraries and special libraries such as health sciences, law, or business libraries as well as positions for information specialists in health environments, museums, businesses, government and other agencies.
Graduates will be prepared to manage libraries, select and organize library collections, and interact with library patrons to determine and fulfill information and media needs. Further, librarianship has become a technology-based career, and the program reflects this focus. Through specific skills taught in the courses, individuals will engage in the collection, organization, retrieval, preservation, management and dissemination of information resources to enrich cultures within society. Graduates will also be trained to perform tasks such as analyzing patron information requests, assisting in finding information sources including print, audio-video, and virtual information, and teaching information literacy skills.
For questions, contact Jeanie Kline at jkline@odu.edu.
