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Health Education & Promotion
Program Description
Health Education is a strong graduate program within the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology. The graduate program serves bachelors and masters degreed students from the state of Missouri as well as from other states. Many of our graduate students are professionals practicing in the field and come to MU for graduate training. A number of our graduate students cross train in health related fields like athletics, nursing, nutrition, physical training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology.
Health Education graduates typically find employment in public and private schools, public health departments, hospitals, clinics, and private businesses.
The Future of Health Education
Health education is an applied behavioral science. The general mission of the health education program at the University of Missouri is to:
- Educate students to assume and continue professional leadership roles in schools and communities
- Advance knowledge and understanding of the biological, social, behavioral, environmental, and economic factors affecting the health status of the school age population and the population in general
- Provide broad-based technical assistance and consultation on school and public health issues in schools and in the public health arena at local, state, regional, national and international levels.
This general mission is linked to the "Healthy People 2010" objectives which include the following priority areas: pregnancy and infant health, nutrition, physical fitness and exercise, family planning, sexually transmitted disease control, occupational safety and health, reduction of coronary heart disease, immunizations, control of infectious diseases, smoking, alcohol, and drugs.
Most states, including Missouri have increased the required coursework in health education for students in elementary and secondary schools. All states have initiated health promoting mandates. This is a response to life threatening disease epidemics, violence, drug abuse, and other health behaviors which put Americans "at risk." The future of health education at the University of Missouri has been and will continue to be tied to our general mission. This future involves: maintaining strong programs in school and community health, increasing our strength in the area of health promotion and wellness, and exploring the possibility of initiating a program in public health. Couched within these programs are provisions for professional preparation in health-related content, needs assessment, prevention planning, program implementation, evaluation, coordination of health education services, resource development, and communicating health concerns and information.
Programs
Masters (click here Planner)
Bachelors degree prepared students from a variety of health related undergraduate programs are qualified to enter the masters program in health education. The M.Ed. and M.A. options are available to students. A minimum of 32 credit hours are required for the M.Ed. and 30 credit hours are required for the M.A. The M.Ed. student is required to take a comprehensive examination during the last semester in the program while the M.A. student is required to write a thesis. Masters degree students are encouraged to take the CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) examination for certification.
Doctoral (click here Planner)
The Ph.D. program in health education is the only doctoral program in health education in the state of Missouri. A masters degree in health-related field is required for admission to the health education doctoral program. To complete the degree program, students must complete 72 credit hours beyond the bachelors degree; take a comprehensive examination when most of the coursework has been completed; and, write a dissertation.