Advanced Graduate Certificate in Health Education and Promotion

Stony Brook University's Advanced Graduate Certificate in Health Education and Promotion is a 25-credit program that will enhance students' knowledge, experiences, and skills in health education and promotion and positively impact their chosen career pathway in public health.

It is anticipated that graduates will find or enhance employment in academic settings, research facilities, public health organizations, or health care institutions. In addition, courses in this certificate address the health education competencies that are the basis for the nationally recognized Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. Students completing this certificate will obtain credits necessary for eligibility to take the exam.


Required Courses (25 credits)

HPH 500    Contemporary Issues in Public Health (3 credits)

HPH 523    Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 credits)

HPH 525    Evaluating Public Health Initiatives (3 credits)

HPH 550    Theories of Health Behavior and Communication (3 credits) 

HPH 551    Practice of Health Communication (3 credits)

HPH 552    Planning and Implementing Community Health Initiatives (3 credits)

HPH 553    Advanced Evaluation of Community Health Initiatives (3 credits)

HPH 554    Principles of Health Education and Promotion (3 credits)

HPH 519    Independent Study (CHES Prep) (1 credit)


Admissions

  • Students can apply to the program throughout the academic year and will be able to matriculate in Summer.
  • Admission is done on a rolling basis, but students are encouraged to apply at least a month before the beginning of the term for which they are applying.
  • For Admissions Deadlines, click here

Application Requirements:

  • Bachelors degree with a 3.0 GPA or better from an accredited college or university.
  • Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools. All international transcripts must be evaluated by an agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. See section on International Applicants for more information about this process.
  • Two references that can address the applicant's capacity to succeed in the field of health communications or related fields and complete a course of graduate level certificate study. If the applicant is a student or has graduated within the last two years, at least one letter must be from a college or university faculty member with whom the applicant has studied. If the applicant has been working, at least one letter must be from a supervisor who is familiar with the applicant’s work.
  • Completion of the online application with writing sample.
  • One essay is required for the application.  It should be no more than 500 words and should be submitted with your application in SOPHAS Express (uploaded in the Attachments section).
    • Essay Topic: How do the skills/knowledge you will attain through the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Health Education and Promotion relate to your career/educational goals?
  • A personal interview, if requested by the Admissions Committee.

For International Applicants:

  • International students who trained in non-English speaking schools and do not reside in an English speaking country are required to take the TOEFL exam. The expected minimum score is 213 for the Computer-Based Test, 90 for the Internet-Based Test, and 550 for the Paper-Based Test.
  • International students are required to have a course-by-course educational credential evaluation completed by an agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). We require using World Education Services (WES). This evaluation provides a U.S. course equivalent including semester hours earned, course content, and corresponding letter grade for all courses listed on the international applicant's transcript.  This evaluation must be completed before the application can be considered.
  • For more information about the requirements for international students, click here.  

For more information email: publichealth@stonybrookmedicine.edu.