The MPH in Health Education and Communication prepares graduates to work in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention in order to decrease health disparities and advance health equity. Students’ training will focus on effective methods to support behavior change at the individual and community levels. Students will gain a comprehensive skillset in intervention design, evaluation, community engagement and organization, health communication, and qualitative and quantitative community-based participatory research methodologies that can be applied to any public health issue and setting. This MPH program also prepares students to successfully take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.
Program Competencies
Students who graduate from this degree program can expect to develop the following competencies as they successfully meet and complete the program degree requirements.
- Assess individual and community needs for health education/communication.
- Design a theory-based public health intervention or program.
- Apply health education and communication strategies to interventions and programs.
- Develop a plan to evaluate a public health intervention or program, based on a theory of change.
- Identify health education and communication resources.
- Explain how to promote health education through advocacy campaigns and policies.
The MPH Degree in Health Education and Communication requires a total of 45 credits that includes:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPHTM Foundational Requirements (15 Credits) | ||
| SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Hlth | 3 |
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Mgmt | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in PH Prgrms | 3 |
| Program Course Requirements (18 Credits) | ||
| SBPS 6030 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health | 3 |
| SBPS 6340 | M&E of Health Programs | 3 |
| GCHB 7010 | Hlth Cmmuicatn Theory and Prac | 3 |
| GCHB 7220 | Community Organization | 3 |
| GCHB 7260 | Social Marketing | 3 |
| SBPS 7100 | PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & PRACTICE | 3 |
| or SBPS 7250 | Evidence-Based Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences | |
| Electives | 12 | |
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience 2 | 0 |
| SPHL 7950 | Integrated Learning Experience 3 | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
| 1 | Selected from graduate-level courses offered within the department, school, or university in consultation with an academic advisor. |
| 2 | The Applied Practice Experience (APE) (formerly practicum) is a supervised practice experience conducted in an agency or organization external to the university to gain practical experience. The APE allows students to demonstrate attainment of at least five competencies, including at least 3 from the foundational competencies (CEPH Criterion D2). The APE is conducted after completion of the foundational courses. An APE report and poster summarizing the field experiences are required. |
| 3 | All students must complete an Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) (formerly culminating experience) that demonstrates the synthesis of foundational and concentration competencies. |
Model Course Schedule
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Fall Semester | ||
| SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Hlth | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in PH Prgrms | 3 |
| SBPS 6030 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health | 3 |
| Year 1, Spring Semester | ||
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Mgmt | 3 |
| SBPS 6340 | M&E of Health Programs | 3 |
| GCHB 7260 | Social Marketing | 3 |
| Year 1, Summer Semester | ||
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 0 |
| Year 2, Fall Semester | ||
| GCHB 7010 | Hlth Cmmuicatn Theory and Prac | 3 |
| SBPS 7100 | PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & PRACTICE | 3 |
| GCHB 7220 | Community Organization | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| SPHL 7950 | Integrated Learning Experience | 0 |
| Year 2, Spring Semester | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |