Community Health Education, M.S.H.E.

Faculty

• Andrea Crivelli-Kovach, Ph.D., M.A., M.C.H.E.S., Professor and Chair, Department of Public Health, Community and Global Public Health Programs
• Katherine Isselmann DiSantis, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor
• Margaret Longacre, PhD., M.S.H.E., Assistant Professor
• Heather deVries McClintock, Ph.D., M.P.H., Visiting Assistant Professor

Adjunct Faculty

• Brandon Becker, MPH, Epidemiology, Biostatistics
• Theresa Clark, MPH, HIV, STDs, Human Sexuality, Family, Community Health Education
• Maryann Hughes, MBA., Health Care Management and Systems
• Amy Lavery, MPH, PhD Research Methods
• Dierdre McKee, M.P.H., Grant Writing, Public Health Practice
• Mary O’Brien, PhD. Community Health, Domestic Violence
• Natasha Patterson, MPH, Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Jamie Pfister, MPH, International & Global Health
• Alison Tartaglia, MSPH, Nicotene Addiction, Chronic Trauma and Health, Global Health Communications
• Mita Saksena, PhD, International Health & Human Rights
• Susan Villari, MPH, Community Health, Intro to Public Health

About the Program

• Preparation for community public health professions
• Capstone projects that integrate practice and research
• Optional internship that gives students firsthand experience working in a community health setting
• Option to incorporate more of an international focus in the degree with specific course selections and an international or global focus for the internship and capstone project.

The Master of Science in Health Education (M.S.H.E.) focuses on health education, health promotion, and research in various settings including educational, community, health care, and occupational/worksite. It affords students the opportunity to increase their depth of knowledge in health, behavioral science, and research methods and program evaluation.

Program Goals

The Health Education program educates community health professionals to promote the health of individuals, families, communities, and the environment. This is accomplished through a program that integrates education, research, and practice in a global environment.

The goals of the Health Education programs are the following:

• Educate community health education professionals and develop the skills needed to promote health within communities.
• Provide an academic environment that integrates community health education with research and practice.
• Enhance the understanding of the connection between health status and human rights.
• Translate knowledge into practice through collaborative service projects both domestically and internationally.  This can be accomplished through internships and clinical rotations with community-based organizations, clinics, and local health departments.
• Employ scientific investigation to advance public health knowledge of the relationship between health and the structural environment within which individuals live and work.

The Health Education degree is offered through the College of Health Sciences.

Dual Degree Programs

• Health Education/Physician Assistant, M.S.H.E./M.M.S.  (Physician Assistant)
• Health Education/Counseling, M.S.H.E./M.A.C.  

Admission Requirements

Applications to the Community Health Program are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students may apply for admission to the program beginning in Fall, Spring, or Summer. Applications must be complete before they are reviewed for admission to the program.

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate students, the following program-specific requirements must be met:

1. A completed graduate application including personal statements, to be completed online at www.arcadia.edu/gradapp.
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 2.8 or better in the major course of study.
3. One official transcript from each college, university or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and seals to be considered official.
4. Three letters of recommendation, at least one from a professor (if a recent graduate) and one from a health professional.
5. Knowledge of the profession through work or volunteer experience.
6. International applicants should visit www.arcadia.edu/international for detailed information on admission requirements and application procedures. TOEFL/IELTS results are required for all students for whom English is a second language or who have not earned degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand). A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States is required.

Expenses

(Dual degree program expenses are listed under the specific programs.)

2016-17 Tuition: $720 per credit

Fees:                    

• Deferred Payment: $40
• Audit: $720 per course
• Parking: $30 per semester (fall and spring) before 4 p.m. No charge after 4 p.m.

Degree Requirements (36 credits)

Certification

Upon completion of the Health Education Degree, students are eligible to sit for the National Certifying Exam for Health Education Specialists (CHES). This certification is recognized by many employers and is recommended to demonstrate mastery of a specific skill set as a Health Education Professional. Information regarding the test is available online through the National Credentialing of Health Education Specialists website (NCHES).