Health Promotion M.Ed.

Master of Education in Health Promotion

The goal of the 36-semester credit hour Health Promotion graduate program is to provide students with the theory, knowledge, and skills needed to integrate the principles of health promotion into a variety of community, research, clinical, business or school settings and/or to pursue advanced study. Specifically, the Health Promotion degree program will prepare students to: 1) assess and communicate individual, family, and community needs, 2) plan, implement, evaluate, and administer programs, 3) act as a resource person by coordinating provisions for services and applying appropriate research principles and methods, and 4) advance the goals of job-related professional organizations. To this end, eight concentrations in the Health Promotion degree are offered.

The Administration concentration is designed for those interested in assuming leadership roles in their organization such as health program planners, health care project specialists, or health officers. The Communication concentration is designed for individuals interested in the dissemination of health promoting information and skills through varied strategies leading to health media specialist or health communication expert occupations.

The Counseling concentration is designed for anyone wishing to assist others one on one or in small groups regarding effective and positive strategies dealing with critical health issues. Such professionals include, but are not limited to, employee assistance program educators, patient educators, or mental health counselors.

The Education concentration is designed to improve the delivery skills of any educator at any teaching level, at varied sites such as school health teachers, public health educators, and employee wellness associates.

The Environmental Health concentration is designed for those individuals seeking occupations such as health and safety specialists or environmental health consultants due to an interest in the relationship that exists between the physical environment and the health of individuals and groups in that environment.

The Gerontology concentration is designed for individuals who are interested in health promotion strategies geared specifically for older adults delivered through professional roles such as gerontology outreach workers or program planners for seniors.

The Nutrition and Fitness concentration is designed for those interested in the fields of corporate health promotion or personal wellness training who desire to advise individuals and groups regarding eating choices and activity regimens to enhance performance and health.

The Interdisciplinary concentration, clearly the most flexible, is designed for those students with specific needs who would be best served by selecting a myriad of graduate courses from across campus. Individuals such as school nurses, epidemiologists, and industrial hygienists could benefit from the individualized approach offered in this concentration.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the admission requirement of the Graduate College as outlined in the front of this catalog, applicants must also meet the requirements established by Department of Health Promotion faculty.

1. Interested applicants to the Master of Education degree in Health Promotion should have an undergraduate major in any health or allied health academic discipline. If admission is sought by students who have not earned a major described above, up to credits of additional HED 600-level course work may be required. These deficiencies do not count toward degree requirements.
2. Applicants must have a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale during their last 60 credits of undergraduate work.
3. An application for admission must be obtained from the Graduate College. Official transcripts of all colleges and universities attended should be submitted to the Graduate College and Department.
4. Two letters of recommendation, a two-page statement of professional goals, and a current vita should be submitted directly to the Department of Health Promotion.

Applications are processed when all credentials required by both the Graduate College and the Department of Health Promotion have been received and evaluated. The Graduate College will officially notify students of their acceptance. Additionally, the Department of Health Promotion staff will notify students of their advisor, who will work with the student to develop the individual plan of study. Application deadlines include: March 15 for summer enrollment, July 1 for fall enrollment, and November 15 for spring enrollment.

Degree Requirements

Counseling Concentration

See the Department of Health Promotion for additional curricular information.

Education Concentration

EDW 746 - History and Development of Two Year Postsecondary Institution   

An Interdisciplinary Perspective

Gerontology Concentration

For those students wishing to complete the coursework for a Certificate in Gerontology, the following must be completed:

See the department for additional curricular information.

In addition to the courses listed above, students may select, with guidance and approval from their advisor, any graduate-level course that meets individual and professional needs identified by students. The core courses in health promotion also provide substantive contributions to other graduate programs offered across campus. These programs include, but are not limited to, those programs offered by the College of Business and the departments of Communication Studies, counseling, Curriculum and Instruction, Economics, Educational Leadership, Kinesiology, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Special Education and the Schools of Journalism and Media Studies and Social Work.

The design of the concentration component must revolve around a consistent theme and be relevant to the goals and objectives of the program and of the student. Design is to ensure a breadth and depth in a supportive area of concentration such as curriculum and instruction, special education, health promotion, school athletic administration, educational leadership, education administration, sport and recreational management, and psychology of sport.