Public Health Education and Promotion (MS)

Public Health Education and Promotion

Graduates design, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs in various settings to help improve the overall public health of communities.

Texas State, an emerging research and Hispanic-Serving Institution, offers a public health education and promotion program that provides opportunities for:

• personal interactions with faculty
• collaboration with fellow students in small classes
• abundant career options in the fast-growth corridor of Central Texas, situated on the edge of the beautiful Texas Hill Country
• behavioral and community-based research

Course Work

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Public Health Education and Promotion will complete 30 hours of graduate course work focusing on health program development, implementation and evaluation. Students will develop their knowledge and skills in behavior theory, health research methods and statistics. Both a thesis and non-thesis option are available.

After completing the program, students are eligible to sit for the nationally accredited Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination. The CHES examination is considered the only national entry-level certification for employment in the field.

Program Details

Due to higher than average job growth in the field, graduates of the public health education and promotion program are in demand for employment in various governmental, nonprofit, healthcare and community health organizations.

Program Mission

The mission of the Department of Health and Human Performance is to create and disseminate knowledge promoting evidence-based practice in health promotion, exercise science and recreation professions. The department works to directly promote improved human performance and quality of life through evidence-based educational, recreational and therapeutic interventions and programs.

The vision is for the department to be a national leader in promoting human performance and health-related quality of life for all. The department strives to build on its long-standing reputation for preparing excellent athletic trainers, public health professionals, physical education teachers and recreation leaders.

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Career Options

Graduates of the program are trained to work in academic, clinical, community, corporate, nonprofit and government settings. Graduates perform a variety of leadership roles, including individual and community health education, research, grant writing and program planning, implementation and evaluation. Other graduates enroll in Ph.D. programs following completion of the master's program.

Program Faculty

The faculty are national leaders in the fields of community and public health. They conduct research on various topics such as substance abuse prevention, childhood obesity, sexuality education and adolescent health. Their research has been externally funded and featured in leading scientific journals including the American Journal of Health Behavior, Journal of School Health, and Journal of Community Health.