HEALTH EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION
Program Requirements

Graduate programs leading to a Master of Science degree are available in two areas of concentration in health education.

Community Health Education (non-thesis only), which is designed to prepare individuals for employment in community health agencies, and

School Health Education (thesis and non-thesis options), which is designed to prepare certified public school personnel for teaching, administration, and/or curriculum coordination of school health programs.

For each program, students must complete individually prescribed undergraduate course work to meet prerequisite requirements. Graduate students from other programs are not allowed to enroll in health education graduate courses unless departmental approval has been given. Graduate credit will not be awarded for any course in which undergraduate credit was received.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements must be satisfied in order to be admitted into the Master of Science degree program in health education and health promotion.

  1. Students must receive acceptance to graduate study in health education and health promotion from the graduate admissions office. The letter of acceptance from the graduate admissions office may include an evaluation of previous academic work including deficiencies and/or specific prerequisite program requirements.

  2. Applicants must be granted unconditional admission to graduate study (a 2.85 GPA or above will satisfy grade point requirement), or must be admitted on probation to graduate study.

  3. Students must complete deficiencies as determined by the respective health education and health promotion graduate faculty.

Note:
All deficiencies and/or special prerequisites must be satisfied before the student has accumulated 12 graduate credits. Students have the option of completing these requirements prior to attending the university or prior to the accumulation of 12 graduate credits.

Appeals of admission denied
Any student denied admission into the master’s program may request a program admission review. A written request for review must be submitted to the health education and health promotion department chair. This request will be forwarded to an appeals committee for the review of the admission status.

 

COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION CONCENTRATION
Non-thesis Option (43 Credits)
Required Courses:

Credits
HED 703 Foundations of Health Education 3
HED 706 Research Tools and Processes 6
CHE 780 Graduate Community Health Ed Preceptorship 8
HED 798 Graduate Project in Health Education 4
  Required Credits 21
     

Each student will develop a program of study through advisement to meet individual needs and meet university requirements. The individualized program will include courses from each of the following core areas. A minimum of six credits will be taken in each area. Advising discussions with the program director will determine any course options that will count in the core areas, in addition to those indicated below:

A.            Administration and Program Development Core
                CHE 566, HED 577, P-H 720, 790, ESS 780 

B.            Health Education Processes and Concepts Core
               HED 567, 701, 755, 770, SHE 560

C.            Health Content and Skills Core
               CHE 541, 553, 565, HED 509, 539, 569, 572, 573, 574 586, P-H 707.

                                Minimum Core Credits      18
                                        Electives Minimum            4

Prerequisite competency requirements as determined by MS-CHE program director: Community health: CHE 340, and 498; and one of the following health-related sciences: CHM 100, 103, 417, BIO 103, 105, MIC 100, MIC 120; and ESS 205 or BIO 312; and ESS 206 or BIO 313; and one of the following social and behavioral sciences: SOC 110, 120, 334, PSY 100, 210, 212, 280, 320, 334, 343; and one of the following statistics/research design: CHE 350, MTH 145, PSY 231, 420, SOC 250.

SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION CONCENTRATION

 The Master of Science degree in School Health Education prepares professionals for positions in schools as licensed health education teachers and coordinators. Graduates gain an overview of the content areas of health and an in-depth understanding of behavior change, leadership styles and strategies, learning theories, instructional methods and materials, and curriculum design.

Graduates are prepared to:

-  provide leadership in establishing and maintaining a healthy school environment
-  understand public policy related to school health programs
-  demonstrate effective public relations and leadership methods
-  understand functions of community agencies
-  assist other teachers in upgrading skills and knowledge
-  evaluate the teaching-learning process to determine health needs and interests, students’ progress, and school health  
    education success
-  conduct research and interpret the results of health-related research

Graduates are employed in:

-  public and private schools
-  regional education agencies
-  state education agencies
-  public and private agencies
-  and/or pursue further graduate education

Thesis Option (32 Credits)
Required courses:            
Research Core 

Credits
HED 706 Research Tools and Processes 6
HED 799 Research: Master’s Thesis 3
  Total Credits 9
     
 Health Core
(Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in Health Education also will be required to test out of or take SHE 705, Essentials of Health and Wellness.)     

Credits
SHE 710 Leadership in Health Education    3
SHE 715 Health Education Curriculum and Pedagogy 3
SHE 720 Adolescent and Youth Health Issues 3
  Total Credits  9 (13)
     
Elective Courses
With an adviser’s approval, elective courses are selected to develop a health education emphasis (i.e., curriculum content, health as a lifestyle, administration, or adventure education). A maximum of twelve credits may be taken outside the health education and health promotion department. Students who are seeking state health education certification can select elective courses to meet Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requirements.		  
Minimum Elective Credits 14 (10)
   
Non-thesis Option (32 Credits)
Required Courses: 
Research Core 

Credits
HED 706 Research Tools and Processes 3
HED 798 Graduate Project in Health Education 3
  Total Credits  6
     
Health Core
(Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in Health Education also will be required to test out of or take SHE 705, Essentials of Health and Wellness.) 

Credits
SHE 710 Leadership in Health Education  3
SHE 715 Health Education Curriculum and Pedagogy  3
SHE 720 Adolescent and Youth Health Issues 3
  Total Credits 9 (13)
     
Elective Courses
With an adviser’s approval, elective courses are selected to develop a health education emphasis (i.e., curriculum content, health as a lifestyle, administration, or adventure education). A maximum of twelve credits may be taken outside the health education and health promotion department. Students who are seeking state health education certification can select elective courses to meet Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requirements.		  
  Minimum Elective Credits      17 (13)
     
Adventure Emphasis (10 Credits)   Credits
ESS 745 Pedagogy - Outdoor Education  3
ESS 765 Adventure Education  3
ESS 777 Seminar in Adventure/Outdoor Physical Education  2
ESS 778 Practicum in Adventure Education   2