Program Overview

Introduction to the Master's of Science in Health Promotion

The University of Delaware's Master's of Science in Health Promotion prepares students to translate science for the comprehensive promotion of health and prevention of disease among individuals and populations across the lifespan through a blend of didactic and service learning and experiential research opportunities.

Program Overview

The comprehensive curriculum equips students to successfully design, implement, and evaluate health promotion interventions. Students develop essential skills in multiple areas critical for advancing health promotion and disease prevention, such as theory- and evidence-based behavior change strategies, health communication, and environmental and community-based approaches. The 36-credit program is designed to meet the needs of both full-time graduate students and working professionals.

Concentrations and Electives

Students can select from the Health Coaching or Health and Disabilities concentrations, or may pursue a general Health Promotion pathway. Elective options within the program cover a broad spectrum, including:

• Aging
• Nutrition
• Social marketing
• Health communication
• Health psychology
• Social determinants of health
• Health policy
• Community and worksite health
• Student health
• Program evaluation

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Assess individual and community needs for health education and promotion
• Apply health behavior principles and theories in health promotion efforts
• Implement health promotion strategies, interventions, and programs
• Conduct evaluation and research related to health promotion activities

Admission Requirements

Students will be admitted to the program based upon enrollment availability and their ability to meet the following entrance requirements:

1. A bachelor's degree based on a four-year curriculum from an accredited college or university
2. Acceptable undergraduate transcripts
3. Three letters of recommendation indicating the capability, interest, maturity, and scholastic and professional potential of the candidate for graduate study
4. Adequate preparation in health as determined by prerequisite requirements
5. Acceptable TOEFL scores with a minimum of 100 for non-native English speakers

Recommended Prerequisites

All prerequisites are subject to individual review by the Health Promotion Graduate Committee. Specific prerequisites for the program are:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Equivalent of 3 topical health-related courses

Schedule and Deadlines

Applications for the MSHP Program are reviewed on a rolling basis from January 15 to March 15 for admission to the program at the beginning of the following fall semester.

Required Coursework

Credit Requirements

• Core Credits: 21
• Elective credits: 12
• Internship or Research project: 3
• Total number of required credits: 36

Core Credits (21 credits)

• HBNS605: Concepts of Chronic Disease Management
• HBNS609: Research Methods in Health Sciences
• HBNS634: Health Science Data Analysis
• HBNS803: Advanced Health Promotion Programming
• HBNS804: Advanced Health Promotion Program Evaluation
• HBNS809: Health Behavior Theory
• HBNS819 or HBNS 607: Social Marketing and Health Communication

Internship or Research Project (3 credits)

Prior to enrollment in either HBNS 864 Internship or HBNS 868 Independent Research, students must successfully pass a Qualifying Exam.

Concentration

Students who do not choose one of the concentration areas may select a series of elective courses, in consultation with their mentor, to create an emphasis area to meet their interests.

Health Coaching (7 credits)

• HBNS605: Concepts of Chronic Disease Management
• HBNS633: Health Coaching
• HBNS664: Health Coaching Practicum

Health and Disability (9 credits)

• HBNS645: Health, Physical Activity, and Disability
• Choose two of the following courses:
  • KAAP607: Motor Learning and Control
  • HDFS621: Family Studies I: Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives
  • KAAP651: Neuropsychological Basis of Human Movement
  • EDUC624: Introduction to Autism and Severe Disabilities
  • EDUC673: School-to-Adult Life Transitions and Disability
  • EDUC681: Techniques for Behavior Change and Positive Behavior Support

Faculty Research

Faculty research areas include:

• Bioinformatics, latent variable modeling, healthy aging, health disparities (Adam Davey, PhD)
• Health literacy, program evaluation, use of wearable technology to promote physical activity and other behaviors to improve cardiovascular health (Gregory Dominick, PhD)
• Mood disorders, stress susceptibility/resiliency, cardiovascular and neurocognitive health, autonomic function (Jody Greaney, PhD)
• Physical activity measurement and promotion in people with disabilities, mobile health and wearable technologies, gamification for behavior change (DH Lee, PhD)
• Policy and environmental change, nutrition, and physical activity promotion in early care and education settings (Laura Lessard, PhD, MPH)
• Inclusive and accessible community programs, people with lived experience of intellectual and developmental disability, and adapted physical activity assessments & interventions; self-efficacy, system of supports, community-engaged participatory research (Iva Obrusnikova, PhD)
• Psychosocial determinants of physical activity, aging, and health, community-based participatory research with eating and physical activity behaviors, intergenerational research and health (Elizabeth Orsega-Smith, PhD)
• Smoking cessation, sleep health, sedentary behavior, cardiovascular health, multiple health behavior change, 24-hour epidemiology, and population health (Freda Patterson, PhD, MS)
• Social marketing and health communication, workplace stress, behavior change strategies (P. Michael Peterson, EdD)
• Developing/tailoring community and technology-based interventions to promote healthier lifestyles, especially with underserved populations, diabetes self-management/diabetes prevention, behavior change theory (Laurie Ruggiero, PhD)
• Community-engaged research, built-environment/physical activity promotion, community-level physical activity infrastructure, physical activity measurement (Richard Suminski, PhD, MPH)