WHES 2086 - Health Promotion & Education

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives:

1. Discuss the various definitions of health, healthy behaviors and health promotion.
2. Identify risk factors that affect health.
3. Discuss factors that influence health behaviors.
4. Compare behaviors that compromise and promote health.
5. Identify key risk factors that affect health promotion and longevity.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to explain the core foundation areas underlying health education as an applied discipline.

Objectives:

1. Identify key people and events that have influenced the development of health education.
2. Discuss the impact of those key people and events that have influenced the development of health education.
3. List major health education professional journals and organizations.
4. Develop criteria for ethical professional practice and probable ethical issues in health education.
5. Utilize health-related sources using computerized and electronic technology.
6. Analyze literature on health education.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to identify the role of health education as a profession.

Objectives:

1. Evaluate current and future trends that may affect health education.
2. Discuss opportunities for professional specialists in health education.
3. Identify credentialing options as a professional health educator.
4. Develop a personal philosophy for health and health education.
5. Create a career plan with a focus on opportunities for development and growth through networking, professional organization membership, and professional development.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to differentiate between community and public health education.

Objectives:

1. Explain the role of a community health educator and the common settings for employment.
2. Explain the role of a public health educator and the common settings for employment.
3. Apply community and public health terminology and definitions used in health professions.
4. Differentiate the degree course work for community health vs. public health.
5. Differentiate the practice of community health vs public health in the work field.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. Introduction to Health Promotion and Education

• Health status data
• Health Professions: goals, purpose, practice & concepts
• Health: history, definitions, behaviors, terminology
• Wellness dimensions

2. Philosphy

• Developing your health and health education philosophy
• Theories and Planning Models
• Behavior change theories
• Planning models

3. Ethics

• Theories
• Basic principles
• Decisions
• Issues
• Behavior

4. Health Education Professional/Specialist

• Roles and responsibilities
• Certifications
• Credentialing
• Advanced study
• Accreditation

5. Settings for Health Promotion/Education

• School health
• Community health
• Public health
• Health care
• Education specialist
• Non-traditional fields
• International

6. Professional & Career Development

• Preparation (job research, cover letter, resume)
• Agencies
• Associations
• Organizations

7. Resources and Literature

• Sources and research components
• Reading, writing, evaluating and critiquing
• Finding health-related information: journals,  indexes, abstracts, documents, electronic databases, applications
• Evaluating the Internet

8. Trends in Health Education/Promotion

• Demographics
• Society
• Preparation and credentialing
• Practice settings
• Alternative settings