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Health Promotion

Program Contacts

Betty Hubbard, EdD: Department Chair (interim)
Telephone: (501) 450-3194 | Email: bettyh@uca.edu

Heather Hudson, PhD: Graduate Program Coordinator
Telephone: (501) 852-0687 | Email: heatherh@uca.edu

[1] Objectives

The graduate program in Health Promotion leads to the Master of Science degree. The program is designed to prepare students as health education and promotion specialists in public health settings, colleges and universities, schools, and private, corporate, and health care facilities.

[2] Program Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study for the Master of Science degree in Health Promotion is selective and based upon the following:

  1. Admission to graduate studies at UCA
  2. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores that are less than five years old indicating a score of 3.0 or higher on the Analytical Writing section. Exceptions to the GRE requirement include any of the following:
    • A comparable standardized graduate exam that includes a writing section score equivalent to a 3.0 on the GRE
    • CHES or MCHES certification
    • Completion of a master’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution
    • An undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher from an accredited U.S. institution

[3] Program Requirements

The student must complete all course work with a minimum of 3.00 cumulative grade point average. Courses with a grade below a C must be retaken. Students with a cumulative GPA of less than a 3.0 will be dismissed from the graduate program in Health Promotion. Additionally, students must pass the comprehensive examination or pass the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exam in order to graduate.

[4] Degree Requirements

[4.1] Thesis Option (33 hours)

[4.1.1] Core Requirements (18 hours)

HLTH 5370 Administration of Health Programs
HLTH 6321 Foundations in Health Promotion
HLTH 6330 Biostatistics for Public Health or EXSS 6316 Data Analysis [See Note 1.]
HLTH 6331 Advanced Program Planning and Evaluation
HLTH 6361 Epidemiology in Health Promotion
HLTH 6379 Research in Health Sciences

Note 1

For students without an undergraduate course in basic statistics, a basic statistics course may be assessed prior to admission to HLTH 6330 or EXSS 6316. If the course is taken at the graduate level, the course may be used as an elective in the program. Students with an undergraduate course in basic statistics may take either HLTH 6330 or EXSS 6316.

[4.1.2] Electives (9 hours)

Elective courses are selected with the approval of the graduate advisor to include no more than three hours from an allied area. Courses may be selected from the following.

HLTH 5301 Health Promotion in the Medical Care Setting
HLTH 5302 Health Promotion in the Worksite
HLTH 5303 Environmental Health Problems
HLTH 5305 Technology Applications in Health Coaching
HLTH 5306 Health Literacy
HLTH 5310 Health Concerns of Aging
HLTH 5320 Health Promotion Interventions
HLTH 5343 Health Strategies for Multicultural Populations
HLTH 5350 Health Education in the Elementary Schools
HLTH 5V65 Field Experiences in Health Promotion
HLTH 6310 Health Education Curriculum and Instruction
HLTH 6311 Health Appraisal of School Children
HLTH 6335 Grant Writing
HLTH 6345 Drug Education and Prevention
HLTH 6350 Contemporary Health Problems
HLTH 6353 Issues and Research in Sexuality
HLTH 6354 Issues and Research in Women’s Health
HLTH 6360 International Health
HLTH 6371 Directed Independent Study

[4.1.3] Thesis Research (6 hours)

HLTH 6V80 Thesis Research I
HLTH 6V90 Thesis Research II

[4.2] Non-Thesis Option (36 hours)

[4.2.1] Core Requirements (18 hours)

These are the same as for the thesis option (see above).

[4.2.2] Electives (18 hours)

Electives are selected with approval of the graduate advisor to include a maximum of nine hours of electives outside the department. Courses may be selected from the following.

HLTH 5301 Health Promotion in the Medical Care Setting
HLTH 5302 Health Promotion in the Worksite
HLTH 5303 Environmental Health Problems
HLTH 5305 Technology Applications in Health Coaching
HLTH 5306 Health Literacy
HLTH 5310 Health Concerns of Aging
HLTH 5320 Health Promotion Interventions
HLTH 5343 Health Strategies for Multicultural Populations
HLTH 5350 Health Education in the Elementary Schools
HLTH 5V65 Field Experiences in Health Promotion
HLTH 6310 Health Education Curriculum and Instruction
HLTH 6311 Health Appraisal of School Children
HLTH 6335 Grant Writing
HLTH 6345 Drug Education and Prevention
HLTH 6350 Contemporary Health Problems
HLTH 6353 Issues and Research in Sexuality
HLTH 6354 Issues and Research in Women’s Health
HLTH 6360 International Health
HLTH 6371 Directed Independent Study

[5] Comprehensive Examination

All students must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination or present evidence of current CHES or MCHES certification. The comprehensive exam will be given with the permission of the graduate coordinator or department chair after the student has completed the required core courses. The student will advise the graduate coordinator of intent to take the examination by submitting a request via email.

[6] Graduate Courses (HLTH)

Follow this link for HLTH course descriptions: course link.