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.
2.  Cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of not less than 3.00 based on a minimum of 60 final semester
     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 Issued in Health Education 3
HED 703 Health Education Foundations 3
HED 706 Research Tools and Processes 6
P-H 707 Environmental Health 3
P-H 717 Emerging Public Health Issues 3
P-H 720 Prog. Assessment, Planning, & Eval. In Health Promo 3
P-H 755 Epidemiology and Public Health Issues 3
CHE 780 Graduate Community Health Education Preceptorship 8
P-H 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