- The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences
- BS in Elementary Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education (K- Age 21)
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) Program (Semester)
- BS in Early Childhood Studies
- MS in Developmental Psychology
- MS in Early Childhood Studies (Semester)
- MS in Education (Semester)
- MS in Health Education and Promotion
- MS in Higher Education (Semester)
- MS in Instructional Design and Technology (Semester)
- MS in Applied Behavior Analysis
- MS in Psychology
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Early Childhood Education
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Administration and Leadership
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Technology
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Reading, Literacy, and Assessment
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Special Education
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- PhD in Developmental Psychology
- PhD in Education
- PhD in Health Education and Promotion
- BS in Child Development
- MS in Instructional Design and Technology (Quarter)
- MS in Education (Quarter)
- Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) Program (Quarter)
- MS in Early Childhood Studies
- MS in Higher Education (Quarter)
In recent years, public, professional, governmental, and medical groups have increasingly come to recognize the need for more health and wellness promotion initiatives, as the majority of adults do not meet the minimum recommendations to eat healthfully, exercise more, and make behavioral changes that can reduce disease and prolong their lives. With the focus of healthcare shifting toward preventive care and education, the demand for qualified health educators is projected to rise 21% by 2020.* Now is the time for students to gain the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to plan, implement, and evaluate prevention programs and services. With an online PhD in Health Education and Promotion degree, students can help groups and individuals lead healthier lifestyles or conduct research in an area that will help make the world a healthier place.
As one of a small number of online doctoral programs that is fully dedicated to this topic, Walden’s health education and promotion degree program explores both individual and population health, focusing on health behavior theory and techniques for changing behaviors. Using the latest technology, students will review case studies that touch on current trends and research and explore best practices from a global perspective.
Note on Certification
The PhD in Health Education and Promotion has been designed to reflect the Eight Areas of Responsibility for Health Educators outlined by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) and to prepare students to sit for the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exams. Walden enrollment specialists can provide information relating to national certification exams; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification exams for the state in which he or she resides. Additionally, prospective students are advised if they choose to relocate to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about the CHES and MCHES exams, students should visit http://www.nchec.org.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Evaluate the factors that impact individual and population health.
- Synthesize assessment results to identify and prioritize health problems.
- Engage in collaborative planning of health interventions.
- Apply knowledge that results in successful implementation and monitoring of health promotion and disease prevention interventions.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions.
- Conduct original health education-related research.
- Demonstrate ethical behavior as a health education scholar-practitioner.
- Facilitate efforts among stakeholders to achieve common goals related to individual and community health.
- Apply health education principles, theories, and models to create professional communication and establish positive public relations.
- Use evidence-based research to advocate for policies and programs that promote positive social change related to the health of individuals and communities.
Tracks
- Track 1 (prior MS in Health Education and Promotion degree, Master of Public Health (MPH), or related health education and promotion degree)
- Track 2 (master’s degree in an academic discipline other than the health education or public health field)
Minimum Degree Requirements
Track 1
(prior MS in Health Education and Promotion degree, Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, or related health education and promotion degree)
Minimum Degree Requirements
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- Foundation course (3 credits)
- Core courses (20 credits)
- Research courses (20 credits)
- Specialization courses (15 credits)
- Completion of Doctoral Capstone
- Dissertation support course (5 credits)
- Dissertation writing courses (continuous enrollment in 5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms until completion)
- Quarter Plans
- Four PhD residencies
- Dissertation support course (5 credits)
- Dissertation writing courses (continuous enrollment in 5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms until completion)
- Quarter Plans
Curriculum
Foundation Course (3 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
Core Courses (20 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
Specialization Courses (15 credits)
See requirements by specialization above.
Research Courses (20 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
AND
- Students may take this a non-degree course.
OR
- Students may take this a non-degree course.
OR
Completion of Doctoral Capstone
*Students are continuously enrolled in HLTH 9101 for a minimum of four quarters until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Track 2
(master’s degree in an academic discipline other than the health education or public health field)
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- Foundation course (3 credits)
- Core courses (50 credits)
- Research courses (20 credits)
- Specialization courses (15 credits)
- Completion of Doctoral Capstone
- Dissertation support course (5 credits)
- Dissertation writing courses (continuous enrollment in 5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms until completion)
- Quarter Plans
- Four PhD residencies
Curriculum
Foundation Course (3 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
Core Courses (50 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
Specialization Courses (15 credits)
See requirements by specialization above.
Research Courses (20 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
AND
- Students may take this a non-degree course.
OR
- Students may take this a non-degree course.
OR
Completion of Doctoral Capstone
*Students are continuously enrolled in HLTH 9101 for a minimum of four quarters until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Residency Requirements
- Complete Residency 1 Term 1; required in order to advance into RSCH 8110.
- Complete Residency 2 between Terms 2 and 5; required in order to advance into HLTH 8551.
- Complete Residency 3 between Terms 6 and 7; required in order to advance into HLTH 9101.
- Complete Residency 4 after your prospectus is approved and you are enrolled in EDUC 9000 or EDPD 8990, complete residency 4 during your third year or beyond as:
- Residency 4 General (RESI 8404) OR
- Residency 4 Proposal Writing (RESI 8404Q) OR
- Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Qualitative (RESI 8404R) OR
- Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Quantitative (RESI 8404S) OR
- Residency 4 Publishing & Presenting (RESI 8404T) OR
- a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500). Contact Student Success Advising to register. Note: Intensives are not included in Fast Track tuition.
- Optional: Complete a PhD dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your dissertation. Contact Student Success Advising to register.
Course Sequences
Track 1 Course Sequence
The recommended course sequence is as follows:
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 |
HLTH 8003 - Building a Multidisciplinary Approach to Health |
3 credits |
|
HLTH 8205 - Assessing Community Needs for Health Education |
5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 1 in Term 1; required in order to advance into RSCH 8110. | ||
| Quarter 2 |
RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods |
5 credits |
| Complete Residency 2 between Terms 2 and 5; required in order to advance into HLTH 8551. | ||
|
HLTH 8052 - Advanced Issues in Global Public Health |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 |
RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
| Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 |
RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
|
HLTH 8412 - Health Education and Communication Strategies |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 5 |
HLTH 8207 - Grant Writing |
5 credits |
| Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 6 |
HLTH 8551 - Preparing for Dissertation |
5 credits |
| Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 3 between Terms 6 and 7; required in order to advance into HLTH 9101. | ||
| Quarter 7 |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis ORRSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis ORRSCH 8460 - Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
|
Complete Residency 4 after your prospectus is approved and you are enrolled in EDUC 9000 or EDPD 8990, complete residency 4 during your third year or beyond as:
|
||
| Quarter 8+ |
HLTH 9101 - Dissertation* |
Continuous enrollment in 5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms until completion |
|
Complete Residency 4 after your prospectus is approved and you are enrolled in EDUC 9000 or EDPD 8990, complete residency 4 during your third year or beyond as:
|
||
*Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Track 2 Course Sequence
The recommended course sequence is as follows:
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 |
HLTH 8003 - Building a Multidisciplinary Approach to Health |
3 credits |
|
HLTH 8110 - Exploring Health Education in the 21st Century |
5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 1 in Term 1; required in order to advance into RSCH 8110. | ||
| Quarter 2 |
HLTH 8205 - Assessing Community Needs for Health Education |
5 credits |
|
HLTH 8038 - Health Behavior Theory |
5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 2 between Terms 2 and 5; required in order to advance into HLTH 8551. | ||
| Quarter 3 |
HLTH 8048 - Research Application of Public Health and Behavior |
5 credits |
|
HLTH 8052 - Advanced Issues in Global Public Health |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 |
RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods |
5 credits |
| HLTH 8412 - Health Education and Communication Strategies | 5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 2 between Terms 2 and 5; required in order to advance into HLTH 8551. | ||
| Quarter 5 |
RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
|
Specialization Course |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 6 |
RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
| HLTH 8040 - Advanced Public Health Policy and Advocacy | 5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 3 between Terms 6 and 7; required in order to advance into HLTH 9101. | ||
| Quarter 7 |
HLTH 8475 - Advanced Program Implementation and Evaluation |
5 credits |
|
HLTH 8031 - Public Health Administration and Leadership |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 8 | Specialization Course | 5 credits |
|
HLTH 8207 - Grant Writing |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 9 | HLTH 8551 - Preparing for Dissertation | 5 credits |
| Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 10 |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8460 - Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
| Quarter 11+ | HLTH 9101 - Dissertation* | Continuous enrollment in 5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms until completion |
|
Complete Residency 4 after your prospectus is approved and you are enrolled in EDUC 9000 or EDPD 8990, complete residency 4 during your third year or beyond as:
|
||
*Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Master of Philosophy (Embedded Degree)
Walden awards the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree to recognize PhD students for academic achievement leading up to their dissertation. With an MPhil, students will be able to demonstrate to employers and others that they have an advanced knowledge base in their field of study as well as proficiency in research design and evaluation.
- Students are eligible to apply for this credential while continuing their PhD program once they have completed:
- All required PhD core courses (or KAMs)
- All required PhD specialization courses (or KAMs)
- All required doctoral research and advanced research courses
- Program prospectus development course
- Residencies 1, 2, and 3
- A minimum 3.0 GPA is mandatory.
- The MPhil requires a minimum of 45 quarter credits. Maximum transfer of credit varies by program but is not to exceed 50% of the overall, or embedded, program requirements. Students who previously completed a master's degree with Walden in the same discipline area are not eligible for an MPhil.
Doctoral Writing Assessment
Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.
Doctoral Writing Assessment
Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.
8-Year Maximum Time Frame
Students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements (see Enrollment Requirements in the student handbook). Students may petition to extend the 8-year maximum time frame, but an extension is not guaranteed.