Health Education : Public & Community Health

Health educators must be good communicators and like working with people. They need to be able to comfortably speak to individuals and groups and must have excellent writing skills. Further, those majoring in public and community health are usually committed to their own health and are excited about helping others improve theirs. Creativity is a real plus for health educators, as it often takes creative thinking to motivate and help individuals or communities to change health behaviors.

Both the behavioral and biological sciences form the foundation for health education. Course work is required in such areas as psychology, sociology, human growth and development, statistics and speech/communications. Basic business classes in marketing, economics and accounting are also required.

Graduates of this program can work in a variety of settings including public health departments, voluntary health agencies, hospitals and insurance companies.

Student Services Center
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services
PO Box 210014
Cincinnati, OH 45221
513-556-2336

The health education program at the University of Cincinnati is one of the premier programs in the country. The University of Cincinnati has 12 full-time faculty serving students in the program. UC’s faculty members are well known in the profession and are recognized leaders at the local, state and national levels. For example, UC’s faculty have served as presidents of national associations, served on boards of directors of national associations, participated in accreditation visits and site reviews of other health education, served on numerous professional committees, acted as editors of national journals and continue to receive some of the highest student evaluations for their teaching and mentoring in the college.

UC faculty regularly present papers at professional meetings, publish in professional journals and write textbooks that are used throughout the profession. As a result of their involvement, UC faculty members are well connected with other health educators in the profession, which helps students effectively network, enter graduate school and obtain employment in the field.

Opportunities for internships are outstanding in the Greater Cincinnati area. Our students have interned with Procter & Gamble, Ford Motor Company, GE Aircraft Engines, local health departments, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Red Cross, UC Athletics, the Cincinnati Reds, the Cincinnati Bengals, and many other outstanding companies and agencies. Another advantage to studying at UC is the fact that the health education program is offered at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. This provides students with the opportunity to obtain advanced degrees and to interact with graduate-level health education students.

Students that complete this degree program also have the opportunity to obtain additional national certification which include:

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

The Certified Health Education Specialist examination is a competency-based tool used to measure possession, application and interpretation of knowledge in the Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists.  Consisting of 165 multiple-choice questions the CHES examination is offered in paper-and-pencil format that you can take through UC testing services.  There is a 90-Day Eligibility Option offered to students scheduled to graduate within 90 days of an exam date, please speak with an Academic Advisor regarding this opportunity.

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

For future professionals interested in train athletes for the primary goal of improving athletic performance by conducting sport-specific testing sessions, design and implement safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs, provide guidance regarding nutrition and injury prevention and refer athletes to other professionals when appropriate.  CPR and AED Certification required to take the CSCS exam. Individuals enrolled as seniors at colleges or universities are eligible to sit for the CSCS examination.  Please review this website for details http://www.nsca.com/CSCS_Certification_2.

Personal Training Certifications

• National Academy of Sport Medicine (NASM) –http://www.nasm.org/  
• American Council on Exercise (ACE) http://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/personal-trainer-certification/
• American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) http://certification.acsm.org/get-certified
• Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) http://www.afaa.com/

Eta Sigma Gamma
ESG is a national student health education honorary organization with a chapter (Gamma Eta) at UC. The mission of the honorary is to promote the discipline of health education by elevating the standards, ideals, competence and ethics of professionally prepared men and women in health education.

CECH Tribunal
The purpose of the CECH Tribunal is to ensure that the interests of CECH students are voiced and to provide student representation on behalf of all undergraduate students in CECH. Also, the tribunal organizes programs and social events for students of the college.

Student Ambassador ProgramThe Student Ambassador program represents CECH at the University of Cincinnati by assisting with the recruitment and retention of students in the college. CECH Student Ambassadors provide a valuable service by representing the student perspective of university life to prospective and new students. Ambassadors also represent the college at numerous collegiate functions, professional events and key promotional events. Being selected as a CECH Student Ambassador is an honor that reflects academic rigor and a commitment to the fields of education, health promotion and education, and criminal justice.

In order to graduate from the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, a student must:

• Complete all required course work and program requirements.
• Obtain a grade of C- or better for all health education public health courses.
• Obtain at least a 2.0 university grade point average.
• Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
• Meet the college's residency requirement of 30 semester credit hours.

Admission to this program is generally available for students transferring to the University of Cincinnati if they were admissible directly from high school and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA (all prior institutions combined).

Students who were NOT admissible directly from high school must have:

• 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
• at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA (all prior institutions combined)

Admission to this program is generally available for University of Cincinnati students enrolled in other colleges of the University of Cincinnati if they were admissible directly from high school and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA (UC and any prior institutions combined).

Students who were NOT admissible directly from high school must have:

• 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
• at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA (UC and any prior institutions combined)

Current UC students wishing to transfer into the program should contact the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services at 513-556-2336.

International students should contact the University of Cincinnati Office of Admission for details. 513-556-1100.