Master of Science in Health Education Online

Thanks in part to the soaring cost of medical treatment, the focus of America’s health care system is shifting to the prevention of illness and injury and the promotion of healthier lifestyles.*

Health educators help solve community health issues by designing and implementing educational programs that promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors. The health educator collects and analyzes data to identify community needs as well as plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate health education programs that focus on individual and social health issues such as teen pregnancy, HIV prevention, and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. These may include grant writing, resource evaluations, referrals, social marketing and media, community organizing, developing training methods and materials, and publishing.^†

Kaplan University’s program aligns with the competencies published by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES). As a master’s-level graduate, you may be eligible to sit for both exams.^‡

| Curriculum | Tuition and Fees

MS in Health Education Webinar

Hear from our department chair and learn more about health education careers and the curriculum of the Master of Science in Health Education program.

Program Highlights

The Kaplan University master’s degree in health education could prepare you to seek leadership and management positions in governmental, nonprofit, and private organizations.^§ The program is designed to help you:

Identify major concepts, theories, issues, and trends in health education and promotion
Develop and analyze health education programs using the proper concepts, principles, and methods
Design and critique research in health education programming
Gain an understanding of multicultural literacy in the field of health education and wellness
Support the professional standards outlined in the Health Education Code of Ethics

What Are the Career Opportunities?

With a Master of Science in Health Education from Kaplan University, you could pursue a wide range of leadership and management positions in governmental, nonprofit, corporate, and academic settings. Typical responsibilities of a health educator may include preparation and distribution of materials; coordination and management of programs; and the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health education programs.^† You may also have built a solid foundation for the further pursuit of academic degrees.^#

Curriculum for the Master of Science in Health Education

Course #	Course Title	Credits
ET 503	USING TECHNOLOGY—APPLICATIONS IN THE CONTENT AREAS	4 USING TECHNOLOGY—APPLICATIONS IN THE CONTENT AREAS In this course, students explore a variety of current and emerging instructional technologies. Through course readings, class discussion, and hands-on experiences using various technologies, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to integrate technology effectively into lesson plans and instructional materials to meet the needs of diverse learners and satisfy the requirements of unique learning environments.
HA 515	LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE	4 LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE This course explores organizational theory and behavior essential for successful leadership and management in the health care industry. Emphasis will be placed on communication techniques, self-analysis, and strategies for best practices in order to effectively implement key leadership and management concepts in dynamic health care environments. Key values that guide a leader's personal and professional behavior and influence overall effectiveness will be explored, as well as their impact on overall leadership styles.
HA 560	COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT	4 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT This course provides students with the skills needed to enhance (assess) the health of a community. Students focus on health behaviors, environmental influences, health policy, and economic and health care system issues in health promotion and disease prevention.
HD 505	INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH EDUCATION	4 INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH EDUCATION In this course, students are introduced to the field of health education, including an overview of the primary roles and responsibili¬ties of the health educator, which include needs assessment, planning, implementing, evaluating research, and administering and advocating health education. The competencies of a health educator will be studied, including assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors, collect and analyze data to identify community needs, and evaluate health education programs. Students will also learn how to serve as a resource person to individu¬als, other professionals, and the community. Students will also review the administration of fiscal resources for health education programs.
HD 510	CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS	4 CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS In this survey course, students study specific critical health topics including specific health conditions, disease prevention, older adults, fitness, complementary and alternative medicine, and more. Students will evaluate current health research and publications and relate the research to health education programs and interventions. Proven strategies and benefits of health education are empha¬sized.
HD 530	HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS	4 HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS This course provides the health education student with an understanding of the methods of human consumption, standards of living, personal health practices, and other key factors that influence the health of individuals and communities. The student will explore how food production, water use, climate change, population growth, and energy resources affect sustainability, the environment, and commu¬nity health. Needs assessment, planning, promoting, advocating, and evaluating health education in these topics will be reinforced.
HD 540	CURRENT TRENDS IN EXERCISE AND FITNESS FOR THE HEALTH EDUCATOR	4 CURRENT TRENDS IN EXERCISE AND FITNESS FOR THE HEALTH EDUCATOR In this course, students will critically appraise current emerging exercise and fitness practices that influence health and health education. Students will develop fitness goals and objectives for individuals and health education programs based on theory-based exercise strategies. Additional topics include fitness assessment, exercise prescription, program evaluation, and guidelines for exercise participation. Exercise prescription and modification for special populations will also be examined including older adults, individu¬als with disabilities, and prevalent health conditions.
HD 625	HEALTH EDUCATION DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADMINISTRATION	4 HEALTH EDUCATION DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADMINISTRATION This course acquaints students with the components and essential design elements of comprehensive health education programming. Utilizing the seven areas of responsibilities for the health education specialist, students create programs for community, school, and private settings, learning to identify key constituents and the diversity of funding sources, both public and private. Instruments for measuring outcomes are analyzed for both short- and long-term programs, as well as the essential administrative tasks, functions, and responsi¬bilities required for successful results by the health educator.
NS 600	ADVANCED NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT AND EDUCATION FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS	4 ADVANCED NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT AND EDUCATION FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS This course includes methods and tools for nutritional analysis and nutritional recommen¬dations in health education. Nutrition across the life cycle will be examined and students will learn how to educate individuals and communities about current nutritional research and practices. Students will develop a Web-based nutrition health education project to demonstrate the communication of key nutrition information to targeted audiences.
PU 515	APPLIED BIOSTATISTICS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS	4 APPLIED BIOSTATISTICS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS This applied biostatistics course encourages students to become consumers of statistical information regarding issues surrounding health education and public health in order to make sound decisions. Research methodolo¬gies, data collection, and analysis are also explored.
PU 520	APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS	4 APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS This course introduces the epidemiologic methods, concepts, and issues that are critical for the assessment, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data. Students study advanced epidemiologic methods used in surveillance, outbreak investigation, screening, and epidemiologic measures, and apply these methods to diseases important to health education and public health.
PU 630	HEALTH EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION	4 HEALTH EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION This course focuses on the role of health education and communication in the practice of health education and public health. The coursework will include the principles of successful health education, its basis in health behavioral theories, and methods of health education. The student will design a health education campaign using the modern and traditional methods of communication to deliver culturally appropriate, effective health education of public health importance.
HD 599	MASTER’S CAPSTONE IN HEALTH EDUCATION	4 MASTER’S CAPSTONE IN HEALTH EDUCATION This capstone course is the culminating experience for the Master of Science in Health Education. This course builds on the concepts of all the courses students have taken within the program of study. The capstone course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the coursework in an original comprehensive project, and to assess their level of mastery of the stated outcomes of their degree program in health education.

Total Program Requirements	52 Total Program Requirements

Program Requirements
Total Program Requirements

You Could Save Time and Money on Your Kaplan University Degree

Credit for Prior Learning

If you already earned course credits at another institution, you may qualify for transfer credit that can be applied toward your program requirements at Kaplan University. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs for graduate programs. Refer to the University Catalog for our transfer of credit policy.

Students in the Military

Kaplan University is proud to support our military and veterans in their educational pursuits by offering significantly reduced tuition. Undergraduate program tuition is reduced up to 55 percent for active-duty servicemembers and up to 38 percent for veterans. In addition, Kaplan University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for all of our graduate programs, and both active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for special tuition rates for these programs. A 10 percent tuition reduction is also available to spouses of active-duty servicemembers. For more information, call 866.583.4412 (Toll Free) to speak to a military Admissions Advisor or visit the Kaplan University military site.

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour	$385.00
Total program requirements Master of Science in Health Education	52
Total cost of tuition	$20,020.00
This program requires a $100 technology fee per term. A nonrefundable application fee, depending on your program and as described in the Tuition and Fees Supplement, may be required at the time of enrollment. We encourage you to explore the availability of financial aid and scholarships. For more information, contact an Admissions Advisor.

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*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition, Health Educators, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Community-and-Social-Service/Health-educators.htm(accessed April, 2012). National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

^†Coalition of National Health Education Organizations, “What is a Health Education Specialist,” on the Internet at http://www.cnheo.org/PDF%20files/What%20is%20a%20Health%20Ed%20Specialist.pdf.

^‡Although certain programs at Kaplan University are designed to prepare students to take various certification or licensing exams, the University cannot guarantee the student will pass those exams. In some cases, field experience, additional coursework, and/or background checks may be necessary to take or to successfully pass the exams.
^§Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
^#While many of Kaplan University's degree programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue continued bachelor-, graduate- or doctorate-level education, the University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any programs.

Master of Science in Health Education

School of Health Sciences