Student Learning Outcomes

At Hood College, we are committed to teaching excellence. Program goals and learning outcomes identify what we expect students to learn, think critically about and accomplish in their courses and programs of study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. We believe an integrated learning approach that combines a strong grounding in the liberal arts with advanced study in the major and opportunities for internships and research initiatives is the best way to prepare students for lives of purpose and civic engagement.

Graduates earning a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Hood College:

1. Integrate nursing science, humanities and behavioral and physical sciences as a basis for safe nursing practice including clinical reasoning, critical thinking and judgment.

2. Provide caring and competent nursing care to culturally diverse clients in a changing and complex healthcare environment across the lifespan.

3. Support optimal health outcomes for patients, families, communities and populations through actions that include health promotion, disease prevention, autonomy and advocacy.

4. Utilize effective communication strategies to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to provide patient-centered care.

5. Safely utilize information technologies to promote optimal patient care.

6. Apply basic organizational and systems leadership for quality care, ethical practice, and patient safety.

7. Cultivate professional development by making a commitment to life-long learning and professional activities.

8. Evaluate the health policy, regulation, and payment process for the improvement of health care for all.

9. Integrate research, ethical principles, and patient preference into clinical decision making through evaluative nursing practice.

Graduates earning a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Hood College:

  1. Examine concepts and applications of basic statistics.
  2. Discuss the foundations of biological and life sciences and the concepts of health and disease.
  3. Describe the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.
  4. Explain the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use and analysis and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice.
  5. Use concepts of population health, and apply the basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
  6. Discuss the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.
  7. Differentiate the socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
  8. Distinguish fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation.
  9. Compare the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the US health system as well as the differences in systems in other countries.
  10. Organize the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy and the roles, influences and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government.
  11. Demonstrate the basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology