welcome!
The School of Health and Human Services comprises many disciplines that all share
a mission of
caring and compassion. In each department, students and faculty work to empower people
to
improve their own health and psychological well-being and and as well as others.
And because there are various professions within these fields, each discipline offers
a lifetime of
exciting career opportunities. A nurse, for example, who starts a career in direct patient care has
the option to move into areas of research, teaching, marketing, or management. With
advanced
education a nurse could also pursue an academic career and educate future nurses.
With
programs grounded in the liberal arts, the School of Health and Human Services prepares
students
for flexible, professional careers and for advanced graduate study in an array of disciplines.
The School of Health and Human Services is the only school in Connecticut with these
disciplines
under a single umbrella, which means academic opportunities are highly interdisciplinary.
Experience
shows that clients are best served when the professionals who help them are collaborating.
For example, a client of a daycare center gets better care when her nurse knows how
to consult with a social worker
or a speech therapist. Working on the same principle, Southern's clinics and classroom projects encourage
students to collaborate with and learn from students in other departments.
The school's wide range of internships means that students can begin to participate in the community while earning their degrees. Public health students, for instance, work in local community health centers, helping a variety of professionals to assess patient health. Students in recreation and leisure studies assist physically challenged patients in rehabilitation facilities. Social work students are in area child welfare agencies and on-campus clinics, putting their classroom lessons into immediate practice. Nursing students complete clinical rotations in various acute care hospitals as well as community based agencies, such as schools and visiting nurse agencies. The marriage and family therapy program offers comprehensive training expected of prospective licensed marriage and family therapists. It offers students an array of clinical training experiences in settings such as, community mental health agencies, youth service agencies and hospital outpatient clinics.
Preparing for health and human services careers at Southern is demanding, intellectually and personally. It requires dedication and involves sophisticated research and intensive study. But after graduation, Southern alumni find exciting careers and opportunities to be creative and innovative. In the sidebar to the right is a selection of some of the specialized study opportunities available to motivated students at Southern.
Dr. Gregory J. Paveza, Dean
How to find us
The offices of the School of Health and Human Services are located in Lang House 103-105.
Call (203) 392-8047 for directions, or find us on the campus map.