Welcome to the website for the College of Nursing, Education, and Health Sciences. There are many exciting and rewarding careers to pursue in the college; visit the website for each of the three schools (Education; Recreation, Sport, and Exercise Sciences; and Nursing) for additional detailed information. Each school reflects the mission of the University to prepare our students with the academic rigor to be critical thinkers and problem solvers with the technical skills to enter the world of career opportunities. The college also embraces the vision of Shepherd University, and our faculty value the liberal arts which help prepare students to be future leaders who will make a difference in this world.
Our faculty are very dedicated to providing pedagogical challenges to their students. Each faculty member brings unique strengths with solid experiences in the schools, clinical settings, or other places of employment related to their discipline. The faculty provide stimulating and challenging classes where the students are fully engaged. Faculty are involved with scholarly work and present professional presentations at the local, state, national, and international level. The faculty and staff are actively involved in service at the University and with professional communities in the Eastern Panhandle. The faculty are able to arrange professional opportunities for students in both the public and private sectors. They provide diverse experiences for our students with endless opportunities in schools, clinical settings, and with a variety of internships.
The facilities for the College of Nursing, Education, and Health Sciences are spread throughout the campus and range from “stately and historic” to “state-of-the-art”; these buildings represent the past and future of the College of Nursing, Education, and Health Sciences. The School of Recreation, Sport, and Exercise Sciences is located in the Butcher Center, built in 1989 and named in honor of former Shepherd president James A. Butcher and his wife Evelyn. The Butcher Center, the largest building on campus, is shared with the athletic department and is the location for graduation and other events. A new human performance laboratory, with up-to-date fitness and health testing equipment, provides endless opportunities for the students, faculty, and community members. The Wellness Center, located adjacent to Butcher Center, opened in 2009. The Wellness Center, built for the recreational and fitness needs of students, faculty, staff, and community members, also provides additional teaching space for the HPERS department. The School of Education is located in Knutti Hall, a majestic, white pillared-building built in 1904 and named in honor of John Knutti, the eighth principal (president) of Shepherd. It represents the long history of teacher education at Shepherd. The School of Nursing is located in Erma Ora Byrd Hall, which houses clinical simulation laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, computer lab, seminar rooms, and technology enhanced classrooms. This showcase building, built with federal funding obtained by Senator Robert C. Byrd, is named in honor of Senator Byrd’s late wife.
All of the students in the college participate in field and clinical placements or internships. Seventy-five percent of the undergraduate courses in education have required field components and the education students experience a semester of student teaching. Students in nursing education participate in clinical experiences each semester. Students in Recreation, Sport, and Exercise Sciences participate in a variety of experiences both in and outside of class prior to the nine-credit internship they take during their last semester.
The faculty and staff provide endless opportunities for the students because they are committed to helping them be prepared for a successful and exiting career. Please explore the websites and discover the many possibilities in the College of Nursing, Education, and Health Sciences.