College of Nursing and Health Professions

Upon degree completion, graduates of our programs will be able to...

Practices within a legal and ethical framework of health care delivery.
Advances the role of advanced nursing practice in the health care system through scholarship, clinical experience and political involvement.
Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
Integrates multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data required to develop plans of care for patients, families and communities.
Integrates culturally sensitive health promotion activities that contribute to the health and wellness of the community into clinical practice.
Demonstrates leadership in nursing and health care through involvement in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues.
Evaluates and modify the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice based on current research findings, standards of care and patient outcomes.
Contributes to the advancement of nursing, health care and humanity through communication, collaboration

Demonstrate competence as an entry‐level practitioner of physical therapy
Be prepared to pursue professional development
Exhibit civic responsibility and compassion in interaction with the community
Show creativity and innovation in the delivery of physical therapy services
Demonstrate professional responsibility

Increase knowledge and related skillset pertaining to research, publication and dissemination of systemically-oriented and civically-minded scholarship and research.
Increase knowledge and related skillset of systemically-oriented and ethical clinical practice utilizing evidence-informed models.
Advance awareness of health disparities and diversity considerations within the context of the C/MFT profession.

Establish a research agenda that will impact health and rehabilitation sciences.
Collaborate, integrate expertise, and conduct research within interprofessional teams.
Write research proposals that are competitive for grant funding.
Disseminate and translate research through presentations, publications, and contemporary media.
Teach effectively and contribute to the academic community.
Create innovative mechanisms, methods, interventions, and approaches for service delivery for health promotion and rehabilitation.
Institute a plan for continued professional development as a research scientist.

Contribute to the scholarly generation of nutrition science knowledge, and the translation of this knowledge with respect to health, disease prevention and treatment.
Actively participate in scientific communication through publishing of research results, presenting at scientific meetings, and interacting with the lay public.
Continually be aware of the need for and obtain the knowledge to be able to engage in scientific research and education with ethics and integrity
Write research proposals that are competitive for grant funding.

Provide health care services with physician supervision to a variety of patients across the life span (neonatal to geriatric patients) and from diverse populations in a culturally sensitive manner
Provide health care services with physician supervision in a range of primary health care settings including hospital- based to ambulatory care settings
Provide health care services with physician supervision to patients with emergent, acute or chronic health care problems
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families and other health professionals
Demonstrate proficiency in patient evaluation through data collection methods including the performance of history and physical examinations (complete and directed), ordering and/or performing appropriate diagnostic studies, and review of current medical literature.
Synthesize data from the patient history, physical examination, diagnostic studies and medical literature to formulate an appropriate patient assessment
Develop and implement appropriate management plans for patients incorporating pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapy, and referral to other practitioners and community resources as needed
Evaluate the psychosocial aspects of the patients’ health and provide appropriate counseling and/or referral for counseling beyond the PA’s expertise
Demonstrate proper documentation of patient-provider interactions that promotes communication and reduces error.
Demonstrate proficiency in a variety of technical skills utilized in primary care settings
Apply concepts of health promotion in patient care
Provide education and counseling to patients about symptoms and signs of their illnesses, the rationale for performing diagnostic studies and procedures, the meaning of the diagnosis(es), the goals and effects of therapy, and the prognosis of their illness
Describe the basic principles of medical ethics and the problem-solving skills required for ethical decision making in the physician assistant profession, including the core concepts of patient autonomy, informed consent, truth telling and confidentiality
Search, interpret and evaluate the medical literature including its application to individualized patient care; apply concepts of evidence based medicine; and, utilize ‘best practices’ measures in patient care.
Apply concepts to improve patient safety, reduce medical errors, and contain risk as it pertains to patient care.
Discuss concepts of public health as they relate to the role of the practicing PA.
Discuss the types of health care delivery system and summarize current US health policies.
Maintain the ethical code of the PA profession with respect for the diversity of patient values and beliefs
Develop skills for life-long learning, including appropriate use of the medical literature
Practice collegially and work collaboratively with other health team professionals

Communicate effectively in a variety of situations
Demonstrate understanding of the physical, biological, and social sciences as they apply to nutrition
Demonstrate an understanding of public health nutrition
Understand and utilize research and research techniques
Demonstrate an understanding of foods including food science, food preparation, food safety, nutrient composition of foods and recipe modification for modified diets
Understand and apply principles of nutrition and medical nutrition therapy
Demonstrate ability to use the techniques and tools for managing human and non-human resources in food service and other management areas
Demonstrate a working knowledge of health care systems
Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills
Exhibit professional attitudes and values

Apply knowledge about their privileged and oppressed intersectional identities in the design and implementation of building therapeutic relationship and treatment goals in art therapy practice.
Examine information gained through both content and process in clinical practice as it applies to both their role as a therapist as well as in continued educational pursuits.
Value the identity of lifelong learner through participation in ongoing interpersonal work, continued education, self-care, clinical supervision, and mentorship.
Justify the selection of specific art therapy methods and applications for varied and diverse populations and systems.
Originate contemporary art therapy and counseling arts-based scholarship materials for presentations and/or publications.
Demonstrate proficiency in the application of a range of assessment tools from both art therapy and non-art therapy counseling practices and theories including formal, informal, and strengths-based measures.
Evaluate the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists and American Counseling Association Code of Ethics for an ongoing critical assessment of welfare safeguards for individuals and communities receiving care.
Summarize their individual, relevant credentialing and licensure requirements dependent upon post-graduate plans and employment.
Prioritize practices that will promote self-understanding through personal growth experiences, reflective practice, and personal artmaking to strengthen a connection to the creative process, assist in self-awareness, promote well-being, and guide ongoing professional identity development.

Provide individual and group dance/movement therapy and counseling services across a diverse spectrum of recipient populations and ages, including assessment, evaluation, and intervention.
Utilize creative processes in therapeutic work and elicit healing properties of dance and movement within a given cultural context.
Apply understanding of functional, relational, developmental and expressive aspects of movement to support health and wellbeing.
Exercise cultural humility to work with diverse populations, applying collaboration and advocacy with respect for differences and a commitment to social justice.
Critically interpret and apply research and other scholarly literature in practice relevant to dance/movement therapy and counseling.
Effectively communicate, interface and collaborate with other professionals and members of the public as part of clinical/community practice and advocacy.
Demonstrate an understanding of systems of care and professional roles within systems.
Demonstrate ethical sensitivity and consistent application of ethical principles and standards of practice.
Use of self-awareness, reflexivity and self-evaluation for continued professional growth.

Facilitate culturally sustaining practices that recognize and value diversity across client communities, applying cultural and social diversity theories and competency models to an understanding of identity development, empowerment, concepts of health and pathology, collaboration and advocacy with respect for differences and a commitment to social justice.
Demonstrate an understanding of systems of care and professional roles within systems.
Effectively communicate, interface, and collaborate with other professionals, lay people and clients as part of clinical practice.
Demonstrate mastery and consistent application of ethical principles and standards of practice.
Provide individual and group CAT specialty and counseling services across a diverse spectrum of recipient populations and ages, and communities including assessment, evaluation and intervention.
Self -evaluate for continued improvement and professional growth.
Critically interpret and apply research and other scholarly literature in practice, including research designs and methodologies relevant to music therapy and counseling.
Utilize creative processes in therapeutic work, facilitating engagement with healing properties of artistic communication and expression.
Apply comprehensive knowledge of the foundations and principles of music therapy practice.
Apply comprehensive knowledge of current methods of music therapy assessment, treatment, and evaluation within a developmental and multicultural framework.
Utilize extensive and varied repertoire of contemporary and traditional idioms within improvisational, re-creative, songwriting and receptive music therapy methods in order to enhance creative and therapeutic processes.
Selectively modify music therapy approaches based on knowledge of the roles and meanings of music in various cultures.

Practices within a legal and ethical framework of health care delivery and scope of practice.
Advances the role of advanced practice in the health care system through scholarship, clinical experience, advocacy and political involvement.
Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making. Integrates multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data required to develop plans of care for patients, families and communities.
Integrates culturally sensitive health promotion activities that contribute to the health and wellness of the community into clinical practice.
Demonstrates leadership in health care through involvement in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues.
Evaluates and modify the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice based on current research findings, standards of care and patient outcomes.
Contributes to the advancement of complementary and integrative health and humanity through communication, collaboration and education.

Design evidence-driven healthcare delivery approaches using fiscally responsible and environmentally sustainable strategies to meet current and anticipated individual and population health needs across the illness-wellness continuum.
Execute established steps of evidence-based practice when leading efforts to improve healthcare quality based on measurable and manageable outcomes.
Model communication skills necessary to lead and contribute to effective interprofessional collaborations and patient care encounters to accomplish high-quality and mission-driven outcomes.
Appraise healthcare systems’ delivery processes to improve quality, accessibility, and/or the sustainability of healthcare enterprises.
Propose policy initiatives that promote social justice and the health and wellness of all people, including those who are disparaged, oppressed, or vulnerable.
Appraise practice dilemmas using moral reasoning and legal/ethical analyses to make decisions in practice settings and to create policies that are consistent with professional codes, practice standards, and laws.
Utilize information systems/technologies to analyze health outcomes for individuals, aggregates, and populations and to evaluate healthcare delivery systems.
Demonstrate advanced specialty and role competence as an advanced practice registered nurse or as an advanced nurse in a role focused on advanced aggregate/systems/organizational expertise.

College of Nursing and Health Professions Graduate Program Level Outcomes