Health Education (Master of Science)

3124 W.S. White Building
(810) 762-3172
Fax: (810) 762-3003
http://www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/health_education.htm

Program Director: Shan Parker, Ph.D, M.P.H.
Program Faculty: Associate Professor Shan Parker, Ph.D.; Assistant Professors Vicki Johnson-Lawrence, Ph.D., Lisa Lapeyrouse, Ph.D., Rie Suzuki, Ph.D.

The Master of Science in Health Education makes an advanced degree possible for those students already working in the field, as well as students who have recently completed an undergraduate degree in health education or a related field. This program offers instruction in health behavior change theory and practice; program planning; marketing; health communications and program evaluation; and research techniques.

The Master of Science in Health Education is designed to accommodate both part-time and full-time students and working health professionals by offering evening courses. Full-time students are able to complete the program within 18 months.

Masters level health educators have employment opportunities in a variety of professional settings. These include worksite health promotion programs, non-profit community health agencies, university student health centers, state and local health departments, for-profit corporations, governmental agencies, faith-based settings, and health care systems such as hospitals, clinics, and managed care plans. There is a wide range of jobs filled by graduates. Examples include director of a corporate wellness program, health educator for an AIDS Prevention program, or a researcher on a disease management or prevention program.

Necessary skills for health educators include the assessment of community assets and needs, cultural competence to assure effective health intervention strategies for diverse populations, and the ability to interact effectively with the community. Typical responsibilities of a health educator include the preparation and dissemination of health education materials, coordination and management of health education programs, and the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health education programs.

This program is designed to provide students with the required competencies needed to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

Program Mission and Assessment

The mission of the Health Education Program is to promote the health and well-being of the community by preparing community-oriented health educators with expertise in theory based practice, to contribute to the knowledge base of health education, and to serve as a resource to the community.

The Program participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment/.

Admission Requirements

An application packet may be requested from the Office of Graduate Programs or from http://www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms. Admission decisions are made by a committee upon review of the following:

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum GPA of 2.8.
Written statement of purpose.
Prerequisite courses.
GRE scores (optional).
Three letters of recommendation (at least one must be academic).
Prerequisites.
1. BIO 104 or an equivalent course in anatomy and physiology.
2. COM 210 / THE 210 or an equivalent course in public speaking.
3. PSY 313 or an equivalent course in developmental psychology.

Transfer Credits and Course Waivers

Up to six graduate credits may be transferred and applied to the program from either another accredited institution or taken as a Life Long Learning student at UM-Flint.

Additional credits will be reviewed for students on an individual basis. This flexibility offers students every opportunity to pursue their interests in health education.

Grade Requirements

For the grading scale, see the beginning of the “Graduate Study” section of this catalog. Students must receive a minimum of B- in any course taken while in the MS in Health Education program. Any course with a grade lower than a B- must be re-taken for an acceptable grade the next semester in which it is offered, and can only be re-taken once. A final grade point average of at least 5.0 is required for successful completion of the MS in Health Education program.