DSU adds bachelor’s degrees in Population Health and Recreation & Sport Management

As Dixie State University moves forward in its strategic goal to broaden and enhance its academic offerings, the Utah State Board of Regents has approved two new DSU baccalaureate degrees. The addition of a Bachelor of Science in Population Health and a Bachelor of Science in Recreation & Sport Management degree brings the University’s total number of degrees to 71, with nine having been added in the 2016-2017 academic year. “We are very pleased and grateful to the Board of Regents and the Dixie State University Trustees for approving these two critically important degree programs,” Dr. Michael Lacourse, DSU provost and vice president of academic affairs, said. “Both programs will offer state-of-the-art curriculum and plentiful opportunities for co-curricular experiences, and we anticipate both will be very popular.” The population health program will offer emphases in both health care administration and public health. As a whole, the degree focuses on the health outcomes of groups of individuals and how those outcomes are distributed within those groups. Students in DSU’s program will take a core of courses that will help them develop a greater understanding of the breadth of population health in the U.S. and become leaders in interdisciplinary activities in their professions. Dixie Regional Medical Center will be a valuable partner in this program, and students will also benefit from interacting with DSU’s own Health & Counseling Center. “This program is the first of its kind in Utah and is aligned with emerging national trends in population health management,” Lacourse said. “It will prepare students for careers in healthcare administration and public health, using powerful population health management principles and practices as the foundation.” DSU’s recreation & sport management program is dedicated to preparing students for rewarding careers in the recreation, sport, fitness and tourism industries. The new degree will provide emphases in sport management, corporate recreation & wellness and experience industry management. The need for educated professionals in these career areas continues to increase on a large scale, but is even more in demand in recreational communities like St. George. Dr. Joseph Lovell, DSU assistant professor of recreation management, said the new degree embodies the University’s motto of “active learning. active life." "The program is experiential by nature of the industry, and St. George is the perfect destination for it,” Lovell said. “We hope to capitalize on this as we seek opportunities for our students to partner with private, public and nonprofit organizations through class projects as well as the capstone 400-hour internship required of all student majors. It will be a win-win for our students and the community.” Enrollment in both degrees will open this fall. Additionally, Dixie State plans to add four new bachelor’s programs and its first three master’s degrees, which are also on track to accept students next academic year. Upcoming degrees will include bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, arts production, design, and applied mathematics, along with master’s in accountancy, software development and genetic counseling. For more information about Dixie State University’s academic offerings, visit academics.utahtech.edu.

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