Health Promotion

Are you interested in pursuing a career in community, clinical, or corporate health promotion? Plymouth State’s master’s degree in health promotion examines the concepts, theories, and factors that influence health behavior. You’ll develop the skills you need to design and implement health promotion programs in the workplace, organization, or community.

The health promotion program will prepare you to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Successful achievement of this certification assures employers that you have met the national standards for health education professionals.

Master’s Core Component – 9 credits
3

ED 5000 Social Behavior in a Diverse Society

Seeks to examine the manner in which the behavior, feelings, or thoughts of one individual are influenced by the behavior or characteristics of others. Topics to be considered include social perception, attitudes, gender, social cognition, conflict, social influence, intercultural awareness, prejudice, discrimination, aggression, and group behavior. Fall, spring, and summer.
3

ED 5010 Philosophy, Ethics, and Education

A study of the historical, philosophical, and social-philosophic foundations of education. Emphasis is placed upon the ideas of the classical, medieval, Enlightenment, and post-Enlightenment periods that have influenced types of American educational systems relative to their mission and purpose. Analysis of how these systems have defined ethics and the characteristics of the virtuous person.
3

ED 5030 Research Design

Knowledge and understanding of the commonly accepted research designs. Study of research instruments and statistics used in educational research. Wide reading in various types of research design. Critical analysis of research design.
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3

AT 5600 Research Design in Health Sciences

This course is designed to develop skills in research design, as well as to enhance the student's understanding of literature searching, reading, and synthesizing of information in health science. In this course, students will conduct a review of literature to explore potential research topics. Students will develop a research question in preparation for their research experience.

Health Education Component – 23 credits
3

HP 5010 Introduction to Health Education and Health Promotion

Provides health educators with the opportunity to interpret concepts, purposes, philosophies and theories of health education and wellness. Students will investigate physical, social, emotional and intellectual factors influencing health behavior. Offered Winters.
3

HP 5020 Designing and Implementing Health Promotion Programs

Provides students with the information and resources that will enable them to develop skills in program planning for health promotion. Needs assessment, goal and objective formulation, instructional methods and materials, program implementation, and evaluation will be included. Prerequisite: HP 5010.
3

HP 5030 Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs

Gives students the tools and skills they need to design and conduct health program valuations. Evaluation purposes, levels, methods, designs, and measurement issues will be covered. Summer of odd years. Prerequisite: HP 5020 and ED 5030. Offered Summers.
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3

AT 5610 Statistics in Health Science

This course is designed to be a continuation of Research Design in Health Sciences and will further develop skills in statistical design and research procedures. This course will outline the procedures for piloting and collecting data, and will provide guidelines for writing results, discussion and the development of a paper acceptable for submission for publication.
3

HP 5070 Community Health Promotion

The focus of this course will be to review basic program planning skills, implementation, and evaluation of community and worksite health promotion programs. The class will plan, implement and evaluate a health promotion program, i.e. wellness fair, or workshop. Students will learn grant writing skills, pamphlet/newsletter development and will be introduced to the field of wellness/health coaching and facilitator trainings i.e. smoking cessation. Offered Fall of odd years.
1

HP 5200 Nutrition

A nutritional education course with a special focus on the issues relevant to students of physical education and health education. A survey of concepts in nutrition science will be applied to the support of general wellness and active lifestyles. Offer Spring Term of even years.
1

HP 5210 Fitness Principles

The fitness component is designed to provide the student the opportunity to experience, research, and develop a variety of fitness activities for use in his/her future career as a health educator. The elements of physical fitness and total body wellness will be discussed and applied in diverse ways. Each student will develop and compile fitness methods appropriate for a variety of populations and settings. Offered Spring Term of even years.
1

HP 5220 Disease and the Environment

This course will discuss common diseases and disorders and the WEB of causation and Wellness models related to disease and the environment. Diseases discussed will include chronic diseases, communicable diseases, as well as some mental health diseases. Offered Spring Term of odd years.
1

HP 5230 Substance Abuse

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of contemporary drug use and abuse. Course content includes the determinants of drug abuse psychological, physiological, societal and pharmacological aspects of drugs, prevention and treatment of drug addiction, as well as information about specific drugs. Offered Spring of even years.
1

HP 5240 First Aid and CPR

First Aid and CPR is designed to certify individuals in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic first aid. Includes breathing and cardiac emergencies for adults, children and infants, and advanced airway management skills. Students will have the opportunity to be certified in First Aid and CPR at the end of the course. Offered Winters.
1

HP 5250 Consumer Health

The focus of this course is to identify content, resources, materials, and instructional strategies for providing consumer education to various populations. Students will discuss key issues including legal and ethical considerations, curriculum development and resources for the school and community setting. The relationship of consumerism and health will be the underlying theme of this professional preparation course. This is an online course and is offered each term.
2

HP 5260 Mental Health and Sexuality

This course is designed to provide students with information relevant to contemporary mental health issues and human sexuality issues. Students will be able to identify resource, personnel, and agencies pertinent to these issues. Current theories of behavioral change will be examined. Offered Spring Term of odd years.
3

HL 5750 Individual Research: Health Education

Designed so that students may pursue, in depth, a personal interest in the field of allied health. Students, working with a faculty advisor, carry out research from design to completion. The final product must be approved by the faculty advisor and/or faculty committee. Offered according to demand.
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3

HL 5800 Practicum in Health Education

Field experience in an agency or institution involved in the planning and evaluation of health education. Work experience guided by qualified supervisors in conjunction with Plymouth faculty. Periodic written reports, field-based projects and comprehensive portfolio review. Offered according to demand.

Management Component – 3 credits
3

OH 5700 Creating Organizational Health

The course is designed as an intensive introduction to the theories, methods and tools for building wellness concepts into the strategic planning process of organizations. The class will define the future of wellness in the workplace evolving beyond mechanistic approaches to individual wellness and developing holistic principles leading to organizational health. At the completion of the course students will have an understanding of ways to institute a new health paradigm into organizational design.

Electives – 2-3 credits

Electives or continuing education courses for health educators are offered periodically on a two- to three-year rotation and can be taken by any student qualified for graduate coursework.

3

HP 5090 Mind Body Techniques for Stress and Health

The focus of this course will be to introduce the student to mind-body techniques for stress management and health issues. Some of the techniques will include yoga, breathing, meditation, progressive relaxation, imagery, and massage as well as an introduction to the field of integrative medicine. Some of the therapies discussed will include energy medicine, aromatherapy, and acupuncture. Will be accepted as one credit in stress management. Offered Winters.
3

HP 5120 Issues in Sexuality Education
1-3

HL 5910 Independent Study Health Education

Enrichment of the background of students in education through the pursuit of a special topic pertinent to their interests and abilities. A chance for an in-depth study of a problem in the field of education. Consent of a faculty supervisor, department chair and the Associate Vice President is required.
3

HH 5560 Integrative Health and Healing

Topics in Alternative Health and Healing introduces the fundamental concepts of complementary and alternative health and wellness methods and practices. Participants will explore and study the psychophysiology of a wide variety of mind/body modalities and discuss the integration of these approaches with Western medicine.
3

HH 5570 Mindfulness Meditation: Theory and Practice

Mindfulness Meditation Theory and Practice examines the theoretical basis for the use of meditation as a healing tool. In a meditative retreat format, participants learn and practice various types of meditation such as body scan, sitting, walking, eating and music meditation. Extended periods of practice and interspersed with discussion, reflection, presentation and small group work.
1-3

HH 5560 Special Topics in Health Education

Topics in Alternative Health and Healing introduces the fundamental concepts of complementary and alternative health and wellness methods and practices. Participants will explore and study the psychophysiology of a wide variety of mind/body modalities and discuss the integration of these approaches with Western medicine.