Image
Health Education and Promotion students

Health Education and Promotion - Ph.D.

Elevate your career with the Health Education Ph.D. program. With experienced faculty, a flexible curriculum and opportunities for research and practical experience, you'll be prepared for leadership roles in the field.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Information
Schedule a visit

Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Health Education and Promotion emphasizes the interaction among the theoretical, empirical and applied nature of health education. Health education borrows from many disciplines, including community organization, education, medicine, biological science, psychology, statistics and communication.

Although the program is designed for health educators, applicants are drawn from a variety of fields, including health education, nursing, nutrition, the medical technologies and social sciences. The program is particularly appropriate for those seeking employment in higher education or career advancement within the broad scope of health education. Graduates work in schools, higher education, government agencies, hospitals and non-profit agencies.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university1
  • Minimum 2.750 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended)
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae
  • Goal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Interview
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:2
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score

The college will assess applicants holistically, considering academic credentials, related professional experiences, academic or professional references, scholarly activities and professional activities, among others.

1

Students who are admitted to the Ph.D. degree without an equivalent master's degree in health education and promotion may be required to complete additional coursework, which will not be counted towards the degree.

2

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions
Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Assess needs, assets and capacity for health education.
  2. Plan health education and promotion activities.
  3. Implement health education and promotion programs.
  4. Conduct program evaluation and research in health education.
  5. Serve as health education resource person.
  6. Administer and manage health education.
  7. Communicate and advocate for health and health education.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
HED 80292PRACTICUM IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 13
HED 81100RESIDENCY SEMINAR: SYNTHESIS OF LITERATURE IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 81150SEMINAR: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 81200RESIDENCY SEMINAR: RESEARCH PROPOSAL, DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION 3
HED 81400RESEARCH DISSEMINATION AND TECHNICAL WRITING IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 81450ADVANCED PROGRAM EVALUATION IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 81550APPLIED THEORY IN HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 3
RMS 75510STATISTICS I FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 3
RMS 85515QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS 3
RMS 85516QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN 3
RMS 85517ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 3
or RMS 85518 ADVANCED QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Specialization Courses 26
Culminating Requirement
HED 80199DISSERTATION I 330
Minimum Total Credit Hours:69
1

State/Federal background checks may be required for practicum/internship experiences.

2

Students choose an area of specialization — such as school health, sexuality or substance abuse prevention — as developed with advisory phase committee.

3

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for HED 80199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter HED 80299, each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation

National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Health education specialists

11.4%

much faster than the average

62,200

number of jobs

$56,500

potential earnings

Community and social service specialists, all other

11.7%

much faster than the average

105,200

number of jobs

$46,770

potential earnings

Community health workers

15.2%

much faster than the average

64,900

number of jobs

$42,000

potential earnings

Medical and health services managers

31.5%

much faster than the average

422,300

number of jobs

$104,280

potential earnings

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

20.5%

much faster than the average

254,000

number of jobs

$99,090

potential earnings

Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

2.6%

slower than the average

19,100

number of jobs

$66,290

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Certified Health Education Specialist
  • Community Health Educator
  • Community Health Education Coordinator
  • Diabetes Educator
  • Health Educator
  • Master Certified Health Education Specialist
  • Public Health Educator
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.