Health Promotion
Degree: M.Ed.
Coordinator: Tim Lightfoot
MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE IN HEALTH EDUCATION
Health promotion, as an area of study, emphasizes that individuals can make
choices which will (1) allow them to function at a higher level; (2) reduce the
risks of disease, injury, impairment or dysfunction; and (3) reduce the
severity of disease by early recognition of symptoms. The health promotion
program specifically teaches the knowledge and skills required to serve as a
practitioner of health promotion. Graduates from the program work in a variety
of capacities: health promotion specialists in community agencies, health
departments, schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, clinics and
worksite health promotion programs of business and industries.
Program Options. The program offers three options based on the population to be served:
The school health option focuses on the needs of students in grades K-12. Applicants to this option are required to be licensed to teach prior to admission. Graduate Teaching Certification in Health Education is awarded to graduates who complete this option.
The worksite health promotion option addresses the needs of worksite populations and is especially pertinent to business and industry, health fitness agencies and commercial ventures in health fitness/health promotion.
The community option targets the specific needs of communities and
how to coordinate the efforts of the many agencies which dedicate resources to
the improvement of community health.
Additional Admission Requirements. In
addition to the general requirements for admissions to the
1. A GPA of 3.0 or higher for the junior and senior undergraduate years and major program is preferred.
2. An acceptable score on either the Miller’s Analogy Test or the Graduate Record Exam.
3. Commendable letters of reference. Letters from faculty members who are able to address academic competencies are preferred.
4. Although an undergraduate degree in a health field is not a prerequisite to admission, applicants must have completed Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 1273, 1274) prior to admission. Completion of General Chemistry (CHEM 1203, 1204) is also recommended.
5. Applicants to the school health option must have a teaching license.
In cases in which an applicant is not clearly admissible, but shows promise,
conditional admission may be considered.
Degree Requirements. Candidates for the degree must successfully complete 36 approved graduate hours, including the core curriculum, at least one of the three program options, and specialty content courses and other electives.
|
Core Curriculum (18 hours) |
|
|
HLED 6120 |
Philosophy and Practice in Health Promotion |
|
HLED 6143 |
Behavior Change in Health Promotion |
|
HLED 6145 |
Health Promotion Planning and Evaluation |
|
HLED 6141 |
Health Promotion Administration |
|
NURS 6160 |
Research Methods OR |
|
RSCH 6101 |
Education Research Methods (with approval) |
|
HLED 6471 |
Seminar and Internship in Health Education |
A minimum of one-hundred contact hours is expected for each three hours of internship credit. It is strongly recommended that HLED 6120, 6143, 6145 and 6141 be completed in sequence.
|
School Health Option (3 hours): |
|
|
HLED 6151 |
Coordinating the School Health Program |
|
Community Health Option (6 hours): |
|
|
HLED 6160 |
Community Health Promotion |
|
HLED 4299 |
Epidemiology OR |
|
HLED 6189 |
Community Epidemiology |
|
Worksite Option (6 hours): |
|
|
HLED 6153 |
Worksite health Promotion |
|
HLED 6134 |
Assessment and Development of Physical Fitness |
|
Content Specialty Courses: |
|
|
HLED 5120 |
Mental and Emotional Well-being |
|
HLED 5124 |
Safety Through the Life Span |
|
HLED 5126 |
Adolsecent Sexuality and Family Life |
|
HLED 5128 |
Environmental Health: A Global Perspective |
|
HLED 5130 |
Applied Nutrition for Today’s Consumer |
|
HLED 5122 |
Responsible Drug Use in Contemporary Culture |
Students are encouraged to work with their advisers to develop targeted
competencies and specialties. A grade of B or higher is required for thirty of
the thirty-six hours and a minimum grade of C is required for the remaining six
hours. A minimum of eighteen hours must be taken in courses numbered at the
6000-level or higher.
Comprehensive Examination or Thesis. A culminating experience of
either a comprehensive examination or a thesis is required. Students interested
in pursuing a doctoral degree are advised to take a course in statistics and
write a theses. Comprehensive exams are given only in the fall (first Saturday
in October) and the spring (first Saturday in March) from 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM. A
student must have completed thirty hours by the beginning of the semester in
which the examination is scheduled to be eligible to take the exam. A student
must be enrolled in a class or registered for HLED 7999 the semester they take
the comprehensive exam.
Graduate Assistantships. The Department has a very limited number of
graduate teaching assistantships. There also are graduate assistantships in
non-academic units that are reserved for health promotion students recommended
by health promotion faculty members.
Other Financial Assistance. Funds also are available as student wages for specific work and, at times, through faculty grants, paid internships and off-campus jobs at health promotion organizations which depend on the Department to recommend potential employees.
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