Masters degree student will have the opportunity to engage in a mentored research project exploring an area of their individual interest related to the program content.  The courses associated with this project are HS 616 Foundations of Evidence-based Practice and Principles of Clinical Research and HS 628 Research Based Graduate Capstone Project.  Students will develop skills to research, write, implement and present their project results effectively to the appropriate audience thus disseminating the knowledge they have gained. 

Each student will choose a major advisor and second reader/associate advisor from among program faculty. Students should also work with an on-site preceptor during the development, implementation and evaluation of their project per the topic, location, and mechanism of implementation.  One additional advisor can be added to the student's committee from another academic discipline or from the professional/practice community as appropriate to the student's project.

Examples of the type of capstone activities which GHW students have pursued:

• A qualitative study using grounded theory to define the concept of “safety” at home to older patients, their caregivers, and home health professionals involved in their care.
• Assessment of the impact of educational intervention on risk factors for heart disease on the participation in wellness exercise, perceived health status, and knowledge of heart health in older community living African American women

 Other areas/topics of investigation might include:

• Development and implementation of a “GREAT Foods” nutrition education and advisement program targeting elders with diabetes and heart disease, or other chronic diseases where nutrition is a component of wellness/disease management.
• Development and implementation of a wellness adapted exercise program for elders residing in assisted living or institutional settings, at risk for further functional decline.
• Development of a caregiver education and support program for elders who are primary care providers for spouses with cognitive impairment or physical disability, or family members who are in hospice care.