Program Overview

Introduction to Health Promotion Graduate Studies

Health Promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health. The Health Promotion concentration at Mississippi State University is based on a social ecological approach to health, health education, and health promotion.

Program Overview

The program emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between health-related behaviors and the environments (physical and social) in which people live. Students learn to plan, implement, and evaluate comprehensive, multi-faceted approaches to health using a shared framework for change at the individual and environmental level.

Career Opportunities

Health Promotion Graduates find employment in:

• Corporations
• Schools and universities
• Hospitals and other health care settings
• Public policy advocacy and lobbying
• Voluntary agencies (e.g., American Cancer Society, American Heart Association)

Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion

The Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion is designed to develop practitioners with the skills and competencies to effectively assess, design, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs in a variety of settings.

Program Structure

The program offers both thesis and non-thesis options and is available on-campus as well as distance learning. Qualifying students may enter the program at the start of any semester. This program may be completed in a calendar year but this is not required.

Admissions

Regular admission to the Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion requires:

• A minimum 2.75 GPA on all undergraduate work if accrued over a four-year (or more) period
• A 3.0 GPA if accrued over a two-year period International students may be required to provide a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam score, with minimum requirements of 550 PBT (213 CBT or 79 IBT), or an IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) score of 6.5. Provisional admission is possible.

Program of Study

• Research Methods (9-12 hours)
  • FNH 8563 - Principles of Epidemiology and Health Science Research
  • KI 8313 - Interpretation of Data in Kinesiology (or approved transfer course)
  • EPY 6214 Educational and Psychological Statistics
• Applied Projects (3 hours) or Research/Thesis (6 hours)
  • FNH 8673 - Applied Projects
  • FNH 8000 - Research/Thesis
• Core Courses (15 hours)
  • FNH 8513 - Theory and Practice of Health Education
  • FNH 8523 - Health Promotion Techniques
  • FNH 8553 - Behavioral Epidemiology
  • FNH 8613 - Design and Administration of Health Promotion Programs
  • FNH 8653 - Implementation and Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs
• Electives (6-9 hours)
  • FNH 6393 - Prevention and Control of Disease
  • FNH 6773 - Intro to Environmental Health
  • FNH 6783 - School and Community Drug Use Prevention
  • FNH 8193 - Problems in Health Education
  • FNH 8543 - Health Education in Diverse Populations
  • FNH 8623 - Current Issues in School Health
  • Other electives may be taken as approved by advisor

Graduation Requirements

A student must have acquired 33 hours in order to graduate in both the thesis and non-thesis options.

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

The CHES examination is a competency-based tool used to measure possession, application, and interpretation of knowledge in the Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists. The exam reflects the entry-level Sub-competencies of these Areas of Responsibility. A CHES is an individual that has met required academic preparation qualifications, successfully passed a competency-based examination administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Incorporated, and satisfies the continuing education requirement to maintain the national credential.

Benefits of National Certification

National certification benefits practitioners and the public in that it:

• Establishes a national standard of practice for all health education specialists
• Attests to the individual health education specialists' knowledge and skills
• Assists employers in identifying qualified health education practitioners
• Develops a sense of pride and accomplishment among certified health education specialists
• Promotes continued professional development for health education specialists

Program Performance

Graduates of Mississippi State University's Master of Sciences in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion (Health Promotion concentration) degree program have a 97% pass rate on the CHES exam. The national average pass rate for the exam varies with each cohort that takes the twice-yearly exam, with a national average pass rate of 73% for Spring 2012.