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.

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Program Information for Health Education and Promotion - Ph.D.

Program Description

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 Health Education and Promotion - Ph.D.

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

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

On This Page

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

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for Health Education and Promotion - Ph.D.

Accreditation

National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Health Education and Promotion - Ph.D.

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.

Community Health Education - Minor

The Community Health Education minor is for students seeking to have increased understanding of health issues in the community setting. This minor complements students with a major or an interest in the social sciences, or who plan to work in community settings, such as non-profit or voluntary agencies.

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Program Information for Community Health Education - Minor

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements
Minor Requirements
HED 11570PERSONAL HEALTH 3
HED 11590COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION 3
HED 21030INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH EDUCATION 3
HED 21050HEALTH EDUCATION THEORIES 3
HED 32530DRUG USE AND MISUSE 3
or HED 32544 HUMAN SEXUALITY
HED 32542METHODS AND APPLICATIONS OF HEALTH EDUCATION (WIC) 5
HED 34050PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN HEALTH EDUCATION 3
HED 42041HEALTH COACHING 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:26

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.500 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Admissions for Community Health Education - Minor

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

Students declared in the School Health Education major may not declare the Community Health Education minor.

To declare this minor, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Health Education and Promotion - M.Ed.

Make an impact in health education and promotion with Kent State's program. Develop your leadership, communication and advocacy skills, while gaining the knowledge and experience needed to advance your career in this dynamic and rewarding field.

Contact Us

  • Laurie M. Wagner, MCHES | (Community Health concentration) | lyoo@kent.edu | 330-672-0685
    Donna Bernert | (School Health Licensure concentration) | dbernert@kent.edu | 330-672-0682

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Program Information for Health Education and Promotion - M.Ed.

Program Description

Program Description

On This Page

Full Description

The Master of Education degree in Health Education and Promotion is designed to enable individuals to pursue their diverse interests in the field while addressing the competencies essential to the professional development of health educators.

Students in the program utilize theoretical models of attitude and behavioral change in assessing educational needs, designing educational interventions, evaluating the effectiveness of program efforts and advocating for creative and competent health education opportunities. These skills prepare graduates for various employment positions in local, state and national government; K-12 schools and community colleges; health care facilities; worksite wellness programs; and nonprofit organizations.

The Health Education and Promotion major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Community Health concentration provides background for those who will be involved in positions of leadership in a wide variety of health-related community settings, as well as for those who plan to pursue doctoral work in fields related to health education and health promotion. Students in the concentration can pursue certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).
  • The School Health Licensure concentration enables graduates to teach health in schools or pursue diverse interests in the field. Competencies essential to school health education are addressed. Students in the concentration can pursue an additional Ohio teaching license that requires students to already have an initial teaching license.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions for Health Education and Promotion - M.Ed.

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

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Current Ohio teaching license (required for School Health Licensure concentration only) (no longer required starting with spring 2025 admission term)
  • Effective with spring 2025 admission term: Evidence of valid Resident Educator or Professional State of Ohio teaching license School Health Licensure concentration
  • 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:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

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

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 in schools and communities.
  4. Conduct program evaluation and research in health education.
  5. Advocate for health and health education.
  6. Communicate effectively with a variety of audiences using appropriate theory, methods and channels.
  7. Administer and manage health education.
  8. Serve as an authoritative resource on health education and promotion practices in accordance with established ethical principles.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
HED 64050HEALTH BEHAVIOR 3
HED 64055NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION IN HEALTH PROMOTION 3
HED 64057PROGRAM PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION IN HEALTH PROMOTION 3
HED 64059COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 64061FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 64063STRATEGIES IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
Concentrations
Choose from the following:13-15
Community Health
School Health Licensure
Minimum Total Credit Hours:31-33

Community Health Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
HED 64030INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 64062ADMINISTRATION AND GRANT WRITING IN HEALTH PROMOTION 3
HED 64080ADVOCACY AND POLICY ISSUES IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
Health Education (HED) Electives (50000 or 60000 level) 16
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15
1

Students are recommended to select courses around a common theme, such as sexuality, substance abuse or other options approved by advisor. Students who plan to pursue a doctorate are recommended to take courses in research and statistics.

School Health Licensure Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
HED 54091SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR 1
HED 54544SEXUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS 3
HED 54550DRUG ABUSE AND VIOLENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS 3
HED 54051BIOBEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF DISEASE PREVENTION IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION 3
HED 68092DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACHES IN TEACHING SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:13

Field Experience and Licensure Information for the School Health Licensure Concentration

Students in the School Health Licensure concentration will complete a minimum of 50 Ohio Department of Education-required field experience hours. State or Federal background checks may be required for practicum/internship experiences.

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. Students should consult their advisors for specific program requirements and refer to the Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • M.Ed. degree candidates have six years from the term of first enrollment to complete the degree.
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for Health Education and Promotion - M.Ed.

Accreditation

The School Health Licensure concentration is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Health Education and Promotion - M.Ed.

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

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.
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