MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION
Program Requirements
The Master of Public Health degree in Community Health
Education (MPH-CHE) prepares health and human service
professionals to serve in various settings where community
health education approaches are employed to improve health and
well being. This practitioner-oriented program addresses
behavioral theory, communication and motivational processes,
community intervention strategies, and evaluation procedures for
community health promotion and primary prevention. As a
culminating experience, students complete a thesis or graduate
project in health education. One of two options is selected by
the candidate: Plan A, which includes a master’s thesis, or Plan
B, the non-thesis option. Each option requires the same core
courses. Graduate students from other programs are not allowed
to enroll in health education graduate courses unless
departmental approval has been given. The only degree of its
kind in the UW System, the MPH-CHE is accredited by the Council
on Education for Public Health.
Graduates are prepared to:
- assess individual and community
health needs
- plan effective health education
and health promotion programs
- implement and evaluate
educational experiences
- coordinate and manage the
provisions of health education services
- serve as resource people in
health education
- communicate health and health
education needs, concerns, and resources
- conduct health education and
promotion research
- apply research principles and
strategies in health education
- manage and supervise health
education programs in various settings
Graduates are employed in:
- public health
agencies
- volunteer and private agencies
- hospitals and other health care
settings
- local, state, and national
governmental agencies
- business and industrial settings
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. Students must complete an “Application for
Admission to Graduate Study” form and specific MPH-CHE admission
materials to be returned to the Admissions Office by
February 15. Following review of the admissions materials by the
departmental review committee, a letter of decision
will be sent to the applicant.
credits or a cumulative post-baccalaureate GPA of not
less than 3.00 based on not less than nine semester credits as
determined by the graduate program director in the
department of health education and health promotion.
3. A minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of
1000 for the general test scores for verbal and qualitative
measures and a minimum of 3.5 for the analytical
measure is strongly recommended.
4. Three current (within one year) letters of
recommendation on the forms provided.
5. One letter of application and intent that details your:
- academic goals within the MPH program
- professional goals
- previous professional experiences
- reasons for selecting an MPH degree
program (vs. MS or other master’s degree)
- reasons for wanting to be a community
health educator
- special interests within the field of
community health education
6. A minimum of one year of voluntary or salaried
post-baccalaureate work experience in one or more health or
social
service settings is strongly recommended.
7. A departmental review committee will assess all
submitted materials, to include an interview when necessary. It
is
important to note that one’s acceptance or
non-acceptance is based upon a comprehensive review of the above
items,
and is not based solely on any particular element.
Prerequisite competency requirements as determined by program
director: Community health: CHE 340, and 498; and one of the
health-related sciences: CHM 100, 103, 417, BIO 103, 105, MIC
100, 120, and ESS 205 or BIO 312, and ESS 206 or BIO 313; and
one social and behavioral science: SOC 110, 120, 334, PSY 100,
210, 212, 280, 320, 334, 343; and statistics/research design:
CHE 350, MTH 145, PSY 231, 420, SOC 250.
| Required Courses (35 Credits): | Credits | |
| HED 701 | Contemporary Issues in Health Education | 3 |
| HED 703 | Health Education Foundations | 3 |
| HED 706 | Research Tools and Processes | 6 |
| PH 707 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| PH 717 | Emerging Public Health Issues | 3 |
| PH 720 | Prog. Assessment, Planning, & Eval. In Health Promo | 3 |
| PH 755 | Epidemiology and Public Health Issues | 3 |
| CHE 780 | Graduate Community Health Education Preceptorship | 8 |
| PH 790 | Public Health Administration and Organization | 3 |
In addition to the above required courses,
student must select option A (Thesis) or option B (Graduate
Project).
Option A – Thesis: 44 Total Credits
HED 799, 4 Credits
Electives, 5 Credits
Option B – Graduate Project: 45 Total
Credits
HED 798, 3 Credits
Electives, 7 Credits