Health Education M.S.
30 credits (Hybrid Distance Education Format)
Purpose of Degree
The M.S. in Health Education program is designed for students who are interested in health education for a variety of settings including: schools, colleges, hospitals, communities and industry.
No specific undergraduate degree is required. Prospective students with bachelor's degrees in health education, biology, computer science, psychology, nursing, nutrition, sociology, physical education and the allied health area, among others, are encouraged to apply.
Each student’s background is evaluated and a plan of study is designed to achieve the student’s educational and career goals. Students who have not acquired the necessary competencies at the undergraduate level or completed appropriate field experiences may be required to complete work beyond the minimum requirements.
Mission of the Program
The mission of the department of health is to prepare qualified practitioners in the areas of health education and public health, who will enhance the quality of life through the promotion of health and the elimination of disparities. The department is committed to attaining this mission through teaching, research, and service.
Plan of Study
The M.S. degree requires 30 credit hours. On a full-time schedule, this program could be completed in three semesters or take up to six years if taken part-time. The courses will be offered in a hybrid distance education format. This is a competency-based program to prepare health educators to possess the skills necessary to carry out health education in multiple settings and within multiple content areas. The program addresses the present research and the latest competencies for health educators developed by the Competencies Update Project (CUP) of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). The minimum requirements are as follows:
Required courses:
| HLTH 515 | Determinants of Disease | 3 credits |
| HLTH 538 | Health Policy and Administration | 3 credits |
| HLTH 539 | Methods in Health Education Workshop | 3 credits |
| HLTH 541 | Health and Media Literacy: Challenges and Strategies | 3 credits |
| HLTH 546 | Leadership and Advocacy in Health Education and Health Promotion | 3 credits |
| HLTH 555 | Health Education Evaluation | 3 credits |
| HLTH 560 | Scientific Foundations of Health Behavior | 3 credits |
| HLTH 563 | Public Health Measurement Sciences | 3 credits |
| HLTH 570 | Introduction to Research | 3 credits |
| HLTH 571 | Health Education Research Problem | 1 - 3 credits |
Additional requirements
- Admission Requirements: Undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher.
- Completion Requirements: Oral exam and completion of a special research topic (HLTH 571).
Admissions Standards
All students meeting the current catalog requirements will be eligible for conditional/full admission:
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Candidate must submit official transcripts to the Graduate School.
- An undergraduate minimum grade point average of 2.50 (4.00 basis) and a 3.00 in the area of specialization during the junior and senior years. Students who do not meet these standards or who have not completed a minimal undergraduate health education curriculum may be required to complete additional qualifying work.
Conditional admission will be granted if the candidate does not meet requirements for full admission. Continuation of graduate study is dependent upon completion of stated deficiencies.
The Graduate faculty for the MS in Health Education are committed to using multiple sources of information to ensure fairness in the admissions process. In conjunction with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and aforementioned required GPA, for a complete admissions file, students must also submit the following items in order to become a candidate for full admissions status:
- Submit 3-5 verifiable professional or scholarly references
- References should be able to speak to characteristics important for success in graduate study, including, but not limited to, the following: reasoning, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate effectively. References might also include knowledge about relevant and related professional experiences.
- Submit a professional resume describing relevant experiences and skills.
- Submit a personal letter indicating why you are interested in obtaining a MS in Health Education, your professional goals, and why or how you believe this program will assist you in meeting those professional goals.
Graduate assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available through the department. These are awarded based upon merit and achievement to full-time students in the graduate program. Graduate assistantships are also available throughout the university.
Graduate assistants do not teach classes, but engage in experiences related to advanced learning, research and scholarship, or professional service and leadership in the field.
The graduate assistantship is awarded for the first year of full-time study, with the possibility of extension through the first summer (maximum of four semesters of study). Prospective students should apply for a graduate assistantship at the time of original application to the program, using the application form provided by the Graduate School or apply online.