Date Effective: November 25, 1985

POLICY & PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM ACADEMIC PROGRAMS - 9

SUBJECT:   Master of Health Science Program for Doctoral Degree Candidates

INTRODUCTION:

The purpose of this special type of Master of Health Science Degree program offered by The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is to provide students who are candidates for doctoral-level degrees in one department to obtain a Master of Health Science degree in a second department during the course of doctoral studies.

It is perceived that an organized program of study in one discipline or program area could provide a valuable base of knowledge and skills, as well as a useful credential, to students who are moving toward doctoral degrees in another discipline or program area.

The following material details the minimum requirements for certain generic aspects of these dual programs. Prescription of details of a given program is the responsibility of the academic department offering the degree. An academic department may prescribe additional requirements beyond those in this Policy and Procedure Memorandum.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Policy

The minimum requirements for admission to a Master of Health Science Degree program shall include:

·         admission into a doctoral-level degree program in another academic department in the School of Public Health;

·         fulfillment of all the requirements for masters degree study in the department offering the Master of Health Science degree;

·         demonstration of acceptable performance on the TOFEL examination or another measure of competence to pursue graduate study in the English language on the part of all applicants from non-English speaking countries; and

·         demonstration that concentrated study in the department offering the Master of Health Science Degree program is relevant to the field of doctoral study and will not impede progress in that study.

Procedure

·         Primary responsibility for selection of applicants to be admitted to a Master of Health Science Degree program in association with doctoral study in another department rests with the academic department offering the Master of Health Science Degree program.

·         Approval of the department chairman and student advisor in the department of doctoral studies must be granted for study in a concurrent Master of Health Science Degree program in another department.

·         The Committee on Academic Standards has the responsibility to review and approve departmental recommendations for admission.

PROGRAM DURATION

Policy

·         The minimum duration of an Master of Health Science Degree program offered in association with doctoral studies in another department is to be four academic quarters (64 academic credit Units).

Procedure

·         The department offering the Master of Health Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies shall determine the duration of the degree program should it extend beyond the minimum requirement of 64 academic credit units, and will include this information in the formal description of the program.

PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Policy

·         Each Master of Health Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies shall have a definite set of educational objectives and a clearly defined course of study relevant to the objectives of the program and to the needs of the students.

Procedure

·         The department offering the degree program shall have the responsibility to formulate the educational objectives, and to identify those offerings of the School which shall be required of the student, and to develop additional offerings relevant to the dual department program.

EVALUATION OF STUDENT PROGRESS

Policy

·         There shall be methods to monitor, evaluate, and record the progress of students in fulfilling the requirements of the Master of Health Science Degree program in which they are enrolled and to assure that the academic standards of the School of Public Health are maintained.

Procedure

·         In those instances in which doctoral studies are not completed (and the doctoral degree not awarded), the award of the Master of Health Science degree will depend upon the student meeting all the requirements of Policy and Procedure Memorandum #8.

·         In those instances in which the MHS degree is awarded in advance of receiving the doctoral degree, award of the Master of Health Science degree will depend upon the student meeting all the requirements of Policy and Procedure Memorandum #8.

·         The department offering the Master of Health Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies shall have the responsibility of documenting the requirements of the Master of Health Science degree program it offers. The department chairman will attest to fulfillment of these requirements for each enrolled student and in writing to the Office of the Registrar, where official student records are maintained.

·         The department shall forward to the Committee on Academic Standards recommendations for award of the Master of Health Science Degree to students it deems to have completed the requirements for this degree.

·         Responsibility for approving such recommendations and for determining that the requirements have been met for award of the Master of Health Science Degree rests with the Committee on Academic Standards and ultimately the Advisory Board.

APPROVAL AND EVALUATION OF NEW AND EXISTING MASTER OF HEALTH SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH DOCTORAL STUDIES

Policy

·         The School of Public Health shall assure that new and existing Master of Health Science Degree programs in association with doctoral studies in a second department are consonant with the goals and objectives of the School of Public Health and that the quality of the academic programs and graduates of these programs are consistent with the standards of the School.

Procedure

·         An academic department wishing to offer a new Master of Health Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies in another academic department shall prepare a description of this program, including the educational objectives, the program content, and the methods of evaluating enrolled students and submit this description to the Committee on Academic Standards for review. Final approval for the introduction of a new degree program rests with the Advisory Board.

·         Existing Master of Health Science Degree programs in association with doctoral studies in a second department are reviewed on a regular basis with other degree programs offered by a department at the time of the formal departmental review in the accreditation cycle.