The Department of Health Science offers the program in health studies leading to the Master of Arts degree. The program courses address areas including the foundations of health promotion, program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Students are prepared to practice in community non-profits and worksite settings. The degree does not require a thesis. Students will complete a comprehensive exam as their culminating experience.
Admissions
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- At least 3 letters of recommendation.
- Applicants should seek out 3 recommenders who are familiar with their skills and abilities.
- Letters written by family or friends are not accepted.
- Quality letters of recommendation are typically at least one single-spaced page in length.
- Applicants should reach out to the Health Studies MA Program Director if more guidance is needed on selecting recommenders.
- A Résumé or Curriculum Vita (CV)
- A Statement of Purpose that details:
- Interests in the field of Health Education, Health Promotion and related fields
- Any skills, abilities, or experience applicants may have that would support enrollment in your selected program
- Professional goals and aspirations
- How the program to which the applicant is applying aligns with the applicant’s goals and aspirations
- Any other information the applicants would like to share regarding their qualifications to study at the graduate level at UA
Statements should be approximately 2 pages in length, double-spaced, and the writing should be representative of a potential graduate student. Please be sure to proofread and edit the statement before submitting with the complete application.
Please note no academic credit, course waivers, or credit shall be granted for life experience or previous work experience. Also, no student can earn both the MA in Health Studies and the MPH degrees. Courses completed can only be used to earn one degree from the Department of Health Science.
Requirements for After Admission
All applicants who receive an offer of admission must accept that offer by indicating their intent to enroll. The link to accept admission is in the official offer of admission letter sent by the UA Graduate School. Once a student has accepted admission, they will be required to have an initial advising appointment with the MA in Health Studies Program Director.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
*This program is only offered online through distance education.
The Master of Arts in Health Studies degree will be awarded to the student who has met the following requirements:
- Successful completion of 30 hours of approved courses including 9 hours of electives.
- Evidence of the capacity to perform academically at the graduate level and to make satisfactory academic progress by maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program.
- Completing their comprehensive exam through earning the Certified Health Education Specialist certification through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC).
- Students are expected to demonstrate writing proficiency at a graduate level.
The MA in Health Studies program does not offer a thesis option. All students will complete 9 hours of electives and and earn the Certified Health Education Specialist Exam as their culminating experience to complete the degree requirements.
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| HHE 515 | Adv Foundation Health Promot | 3 |
| HHE 520 | Theories of Health Behavior | 3 |
| HHE 530 | Health Promotion Techniques | 3 |
| HHE 565 | Planning Health Promotion Prog | 3 |
| HHE 566 | Program Eval In Hlth Promot | 3 |
| HHE 590 | Cert Hlth Ed Specialist Study | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Tech Research In Health | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Elective Courses - Select 3 | 9 | |
| Adv Foundations of Pub Hlth | ||
| Basic Epidemiology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Critics Iss in Global Hlth | ||
| Environmental Health Promotion | ||
| Health Disparities | ||
| Sex Ed: Theory & Practice | ||
| Women and Health | ||
| Field Study in Int Health | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Completion of a Comprehensive Exam | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Transfer Credit
Applicants interested in transferring graduate credit to the MA program from an outside institution should reach out to the MA Program Coordinator. Please note the Department of Health Science allows a maximum of 6 hours of transfer credit as approved by the MA Program Coordinator. To be counted toward the MA, all transferred hours must have been completed with a B or higher from a regionally accredited school and taken during the six-year period (18 fall, spring and summer semesters) preceding the semester of admission to the UA master’s program. See also the UA Graduate School's transfer policies.
Comprehensive Exam
All students in the MA in Health Studies program must complete and pass a culminating experience in order to graduate from the program. The culminating experience is passing the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) Exam. The MA program does not require a thesis.
The CHES Exam is offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). NCHEC is a national health education organization that certifies health education specialists, promotes professional development, and strengthens the professional preparation and practice of health educators. The CHES Exam tests students on the concepts and areas of responsibility reflected in the program learning outcomes.
The CHES Exam is administered twice a year (each April and each October) for a period of 10 days in both months. CHES Exam dates are provided on the NCHEC website. The CHES Exam is computer-based assessment offered at over 400 registered sites. The CHES Exam consists of 150 scored items and includes 15 additional, unscored pilot items. Examinees are provided three hours to complete the multiple-choice exam.
Students must plan to cover the CHES Exam fee and any other costs associated with the exam. Exam fee details and the registration information for current students are provided on the NCHEC website. Once they are eligible to register, students must submit proof of registration to the MA Program Coordinator. Exam eligibility and registration details are on the NCHEC website.
Students must complete and pass the exam in order to have the exam count as the culminating experience to earn the degree. Students must submit evidence of their passing score to the MA Program Coordinator before the deadline set for their semester of graduation.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
The MA in Health Studies program adheres to the time limits set forth by the UA Graduate School. Students have six years or 18 semesters immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded to complete all degree requirements and graduate.
Student Progress Requirement
The MA in Health Studies program adheres to the Student Progress Requirements set forth by the UA Graduate School.
Academic Misconduct Information
The MA in Health Studies program follows the criteria and guidelines set forth by the Graduate School on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
Students are encouraged to follow university policies and processes if seeking a withdrawal from a course, a withdrawal from all courses, or a leave of absence.
Academic Grievances Information
The MA in Health Studies program adheres to the academic grievance procedures as outlined by the Graduate School.
Grades and Academic Standings
The MA in Health Studies program adheres to the grading and academic standing requirements set forth by the Graduate School, except for the transfer credit limit for the program is set to 6 hours.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Please visit this link for information about application to graduate.