MPH Public Health Education

In addition to the overall Master of Public Health degree competencies, Public Health Education graduates will be able to:

1. Assess individual and community needs for health education;
   
   1. Obtain health related data about social and cultural environments, growth and development factors, needs and interests.
   2. Distinguish between behaviors that foster and those that hinder well-being.
   3. Infer needs for health education on the basis of obtained data.
2. Plan effective health education programs;
   
   1. Recruit community organizations, resource people, and potential participants for support and assistance in program planning.
   2. Develop a logical scope and sequence plan for a health education program.
   3. Formulate appropriate and measurable objectives.
   4. Design educational programs consistent with specified program objectives.
3. Implement health education programs;
   
   1. Exhibit competence in carrying out planned educational programs. 
   2. Infer enabling objectives as needed to implement instructional programs in specified settings.
   3. Select methods and media best suited to implement program plans for specific learners.
4. Evaluate effectiveness of health education programs;
   
   1. Develop plans to assess achievement of program objectives.
   2. Interpret results of program evaluation.
   3. Infer implications from findings for future program planning.
5. Act as a resource person;
   
   1. Utilize computerized health information retrieval systems effectively.
   2. Select effective educational resource materials for dissemination.
6. Communicate health and health educational needs, concerns, and resources;
   
   1. Interpret concepts, purposes, and theories of health education.
   2. Predict the impact of societal value systems of health education programs.
   3. Select a variety of communication methods and techniques in providing health information
7. Apply appropriate research principles and methods in health education; and
   
   1. Conduct a thorough review of literature.
   2. Use appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods.
   3. Apply research to health education practice.
8. Advance the profession of public health education and health promotion.
   
   1. Provide a critical analysis of current and future needs.
   2. Apply ethical principles as they relate to the practice of health education

The above are based on the national competencies and responsibilities identified by the health education profession.

Program Coursework

*CH=Credit Hours; Pre-reqs= prerequisite courses unless noted as CR (co-requisite) or CC (Concurrent requisite)

1. During 2^nd semester meet with advisor and begin planning field experience. See http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/fe/. May be met through the Peace Corps Master’s International option.
2. Any grade below a C (C- to F) is required to be retaken.  The grade will be included in the student's GPA.
3. The College Reserves All Rights to Repeal And/or Modify.
4. Please print the check sheet and take it with you to your advising appointments each semester.
5. Supervised Field Experience: Students with little or no professional experience: 6 hours minimum. Students with relevant professional experience: minimum 6 hours; in this case we try to find field experience in which the student lacks experience

Health Education Support Courses - examples (3 credits): 

• PHC 6506 Community Health Education  
• PHC 6533 Health Program Development and Change Process  
• PHC 6411 Introduction to Social Marketing for Public Health  
• HSC 6641 Prevention and Control of Unintentional Injuries  
• PHC 6414 Adolescent Health  
• PHC 6705 Formative Research Methods in Social Marketing  
• PHC 6934 Health Message Design in Public Health  
• PHC 6706 Focus Group Research Strategies  
• PHC 6193 Qualitative Methods in Community Health Research