Health Education, M.S.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Master of Science in Health Education is to provide high quality instruction and research at the graduate level. The degree seeks to provide graduate students with the skills and knowledge to become professionals in the field of Health Education. This purpose relates to the MUW mission by providing general and specialized education for a diverse population of students with an emphasis on women’s health issues. The program seeks to enhance the wellbeing of MUW students, faculty, and staff as well as the citizens of Columbus, Lowndes County, and the surrounding areas through cooperative efforts and partnerships.

Any student graduating with a Master of Science in Health Education will be required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative average throughout the degree program. Students will also be required to take the CHES exam, pass the comprehensive exam, and successfully complete a graduate portfolio. The M.S. degree is a 36 hour graduate program that is offered online or through traditional classroom methods.

Program Philosophy

The graduate program in Health Education provides students with the practical and research experiences necessary to become a practitioner or educator in the field of Health Education. The program promotes health-related social and behavioral changes in the community, school, and/or workplace settings. Sample courses include Foundations of Health Education, Epidemiology, and Theories of Health Behavior. In these courses students learn to conduct diagnostic needs assessments, plan, implement, and evaluate health education interventions for individuals, schools, work sites or communities. The final phase of the student’s work is completion of an internship or a thesis.

Students completing this degree are eligible to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam given each year in this region. The program meets Mississippi State Department of Education’s ‘AA’ Teaching Certification. The program adheres to the competencies of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.