Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Health Education degree provides a broad-based foundation in the liberal arts and sciences and a fundamental knowledge of health education including the ability to assess health needs of diverse populations and to plan, implement, and evaluate health education programs to reduce health risk behaviors and increase positive health behaviors. The students are required to think critically, write clearly, and speak articulately.
The program is designed to perpare graduates to function as health educators in schools, community health agencies, and in medical and fitness facilities in need of health educators to plan and implement health education programs for diverse individuals. The BS degree will prepare graduates to work in a variety of settings with diverse patients, families and communities. In addition, the program prepares majors to be eligible to sit for certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). CHES is administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. for the purpose of evaluating prospectibe health educators in the competencies expected of an entry-level health educator.
Program Outcomes
The Health Education major prepares the graduate to be able to perform the following at an entry level:
Demonstrate orally and in writing, knowledge and understanding of health education content and disciplinary concepts including those from the arts and sciences.
Demonstrate orally and in writing an understanding of the determinants of health behavior and health promotion.
Use effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to enhance learning and engagement in positive health behaviors.
Assess individual and community needs for health education.
Plan health education strategies, interventions, and programs to reduce health risk behavior and increase positive health behaviors.
Critique and consistently use reseach to improve practice and conduct evaluation and research related to health education.
Coordinate health education strategies, inteventions, and programs.
Serve as a health educations resource person for individuals, families, and communities.
Communicate and advocate for health and health education.
Use increasingly complex technologies in an appropriate and cost-effective manner.
Perform in ethically and culturally sensitive ways in providing counseling and health education.
Use professional standards in health education practice and make a commitment to lifelong learning.
Background Checks
Clinical agencies utilized by the School of Health and Human Services may require criminal background and/or drug screening prior to acceptance of the student into the clinical facilities. Students who do not pass the criminal background check and/or drug test may be unable to attend the clinical course and therefore may be unable to complete the program of study. Any fee or cost associated with background checks and/or drug testing is the responsibility of the student.
Requirements
Degree RequirementsTo receive a Bachelor of Science in Health Education degree, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at National University and 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be necessary to satisfy total units for the degree. Refer to the section on undergraduate admission requirements for specific information regarding admission and evaluation.
Preparation for the Major
(4 courses; 18.0 quarter units)
SCI 408 Introduction to Genetics and Heredity
(Recommended: prior completion of SCI 100 & 100A, or equivalent)
HED 100 Personal Health
HED 110 First Aid and CPR
HED 212 Nutrition and Fitness
Requirements for the Major
(9 courses; 40.5 quarter units)
HED 300 Foundations of Health Education
(Prerequisites: Preparation for the major courses)
HED 310 Health Literacy
HED 321 Behavior Change
HED 400 Drug Use and Abuse
HED 408 Human Sexuality
HED 412 Violence Prevention
HED 415 Stress and Copine
HED 420 Human Disease
HED 494 Health Education Capstone Project
(Prerequisites: Completion of 40 quarter units of required coursework)
Upper-Division Elective Requirement
(4 courses; 18 quarter units)
Students must complete a minimum of 18 quarter units (4 courses) of electives to fulfill the upper-division unit requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Health Education. The following are recommended:
HED 308 Mental and Emotional Health
HED 340 Health Counseling
HED 350 Introduction to Coordinated School Health
(strongly recommended if you plan to teach or take the CSET in Health Sciences)
HED 424 Need Assessment Strategies for Health Education
HSC 330 Health Education and Health Promotion
SOC 331 Social Issues in Health and Illness
(Prerequisites: SOC 100 and ILR 260)
SOC 344 Marriage, Sex, and Family
(Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)