Description
The University of Montana's Health and Human Performance Department offers a Master's degree in Health Promotion. The Health Promotion Graduate option is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the role of program planning and behavioral science theory in the development of health related programs designed to improve the physical, mental and social health of individuals and communities. Graduates in Health Promotion are prepared to work in a variety of settings. These include non-profit health organizations, public health departments, corporate wellness programs, college and university human resource and wellness programs, community health agencies, and primary health care sites such as hospitals and health maintenance organizations.
Graduate students enter our program with a wide variety of interests related to health education and health promotion. Research projects reflect this diversity. Examples of student/faculty research and grant projects include but are not limited to the following: evaluation of the process and outcome of HIV prevention programs; development of social marketing campaigns targeting prevention of STDs and substance abuse on college campuses; assessment of the HIV prevention needs of high risk populations in Montana; assessment of the needs of health care providers in relationship to osteoporosis prevention; evaluation of the effects of a sexual assault prevention program on the attitudes and beliefs of college freshmen; development of a media campaign utilizing motion design strategies designed to prevent the spread of HIV among adolescents and young adults.
Through course work and applied experiences, graduate students in Health Promotion gain knowledge and expertise in assessing the health related needs of individuals and groups, planning and implementing effective health promotion programs, and evaluating program success. As a result, graduates of our program are prepared to take the national exam qualifying them as Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES).