Public Health Education and Promotion (PHEP) (M.S.)
The public health education and promotion graduate program at Marymount University prepares new and current health promotion professionals to plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion and wellness programs in a variety of settings: nonprofit organizations, community health agencies, health departments, government agencies, academic campuses, health maintenance organizations, health clubs, hospitals, and corporations. The program’s coursework provides a foundation of knowledge and skills in public health and health promotion, behavior change, health communication, theoretical frameworks, and research methods needed in public health education and promotion careers, as defined by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), American Public Health Association (APHA), and Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). The public health education and promotion graduate program is based on the competencies necessary to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC).
Upon successful completion of the public health education and promotion graduate program, students will be able to
- exhibit the knowledge to function as competent graduate-level health educators;
- apply theories and/or models to the process of needs assessment and planning health education and promotion strategies, interventions, and programs;
- apply ethical standards to the development and implementation of health education and promotion programs;
- utilize resource materials, equipment, industry tools/inventories, and/or other practical hands-on applications used in health education and programming;
- interpret research related to health education and promotion; and
- communicate about and promote health and health education.
Application Priority Deadlines: Admission to the program is competitive. Applications must be completed by the following priority deadlines to assure an admissions decision by the start of the semester.
| July 16 |
fall semester |
| November 16 |
spring semester |
| April 16 |
summer semester |
Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a time and space-available basis.
Admission Requirements: The PHEP program’s admissions committee reviews all applications. Initial evaluation of applicants includes assessment of overall GPA, GRE/MAT scores (if applicable), applicant’s written statement, and recommendations. In addition to the university's requirements for graduate admission applicants must also
- present either an undergraduate or graduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0; and
- provide two written recommendations from educators or employers who can attest to the applicant’s potential for graduate work; and
- an interview with a faculty member from the school.
International students for whom English is a second language should review the Graduate International Student Applicants page for TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic test score requirements.
Nondegree Admission: Students may enroll in public health education and promotion classes as nondegree students. No more than nine (9) credits may be taken without being admitted to the public health education and promotion degree program.
Minimum Grade Requirement: A grade of B- or better is needed to pass core courses. No course may be repeated more than once. Students who receive a grade below B- in three or more graduate courses are dismissed, even if the courses were repeated for a higher grade. Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Degree Requirements — Public Health Education and Promotion
30 credits
Major Core
| HPR 501 | Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion | 3 |
| HPR 502 | Introduction to Public Health and Preventive Medicine | 3 |
| HPR 520 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HPR 540 | Designing and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs | 3 |
| HPR 555 | Health Communication | 3 |
| IPE 715 | Critical Assessment and Research Methods I for Evidence-Based Health Care Practice | 3 |
Research or Internship
One (1) course from:
| HPR 598 | Internship | 3 |
| OR | |
| HPR 599 | Research Project | 3 |
| OR | |
| IPE 716 | Research Methods II for Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
Electives
Nine (9) credits of health and human performance electives at the 500-level.