Master of Arts in Health Education
MA Degree Requirements
Completing Coursework Ensuring Achievement of Competencies
The MA Degree Program exposes students to a high-quality education that ensures achievement of competencies. Every required HBSS course (excluding electives) has the following:
- Competencies that are identified in the course syllabus for achievement by students
- A Course Competency Evaluation Project (e.g., a Final Course Paper); and, with regard to every HBSS course, the associated Course Competency Evaluation Project reflects how the student accomplished the core competencies associated with that course.
Statement of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students in the program must maintain a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 while at Teachers College and must achieve at least a B grade in all of the required core courses. Students who do not achieve at least a B grade in a required course will be required to repeat the course.
Description of How the Program Monitors Student Progress
Students accepted into the program are informed during orientation and at their initial advisement session with a faculty advisor at entry into the program that the student is responsible for scheduling a formal review of their progress with their academic advisor. This formal review of their progress occurs when the student has completed the first half of the minimum number of points for the degree (typically 14-16 points). Faculty advisors review the student’s program of study and academic progress and sign off on a form (The M.A. Program Mid-Point Evaluation: https://tinyurl.com/MA-Mid-Point-Eval-Form-10-2022) that is entered into the student’s file.
The program faculty teaching courses analyze the results of their individual course assessments on a course-by-course basis. Similarly, the Advisor’s Assessment of the Quality of the M.A. Capstone Project for Research, Scholarship and Inquiry (https://tinyurl.com/ADVISOR-ASSESSMENT-MA-CAPSTONE) is completed by the individual student faculty advisor. Faculty of the program meet once annually to formally review and discuss program requirements, as well as the curriculum and any feedback from advisors and instructional faculty who are participating in the instructional program and advising students. These discussions are conducted so as to arrive at consensus about changes, improvement, or refinements that are necessary to make in both program requirements and curriculum in order to meet program goals and to be responsive to changes in the needs of professional preparation in the field of health education.
This process, together with ongoing consideration of profession-and practice-wide changes in the domains of core competency for health education (such as those recommended by the Galway Consensus Conference and professional Societies—and the Council on Education for Public Health), has informed a number of curriculum changes in the M.A. degree program. Recently, the outcomes of these faculty reviews and discussions have included a number of improvements implemented within the program—such as designing the M.A. curriculum to meet the latest Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competencies. Over the past decade, faculty did the following: revised course titles to better reflect new content and attention to diversity issues and cultural competency goals; updated and clarified the out-of-program (i.e., broad and basic) course requirements, permitting greater flexibility in student selections that align with their interests; improving the quality of instruction and scope of technology utilized (i.e. video integrated with PowerPoint) for use in courses, while also seeking to enhance online courses and distance learning; increased the number of courses offered online and hybrid courses (both in-person and online sections); and, implemented the use of group advising to foster a greater sense of cohesion among cohorts of newly admitted students, as well as encouraging participation in free webinars and conferences to foster professional identity development.
Use of the M.A. Degree Worksheet to Guide Students’ Academic Program
Ensuring student progress in meeting degree requirements, the Program also uses the M.A. Degree Worksheet (https://tinyurl.com/MA-Degree-Worksheet-10-2022). This single page document outlines the suggested course progression that students should follow—meaning the order in which courses are listed is the order that students should follow, while some flexibility is also permitted.
Convenient Class Times for Working Students
The MA Degree Program in Health Education also offers courses that are accessible at hours conducive to the schedules of working professionals, or those with job obligations during the typical 9:00 to 5:00 work day schedule. Most classes are offered at 5:10 – 6:50 p.m. and 7:20 – 9:00 p.m. Many students make arrangements to use their lunch time in a flexible manner so they are able to travel to Teachers College, Columbia University in time for the 5:10- 6:50 p.m. class time slot—often followed by attending a second class from 7:20-9:00 p.m. A smaller percentage of our classes are offered during the afternoon, while some of these are also hybrid with an online option (e.g. Zoom Live or Zoom Video).
Enjoy Many Online and Hybrid Class Options
The MA Degree Program in Health Education also offers courses that are accessible online or in a hybrid format (in-person and online), which is ideal for many parents and those professionals who frequently have to travel for work, or during flu season when no one ill should attend class in person—as well as in the event of severe or extreme weather events. Some online class options are only available upon special request from the professor who will seek to accommodate a student if at all possible. Consider what we typically offer, below, with most classes being primarily offered in-person, unless specified as also having the options indicated:
- HBSS4100 Behavioral and Social Science Foundations of Health Education (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS4102 Principles of Epidemiology in Health Promotion
- HBSS4118 Principles of Health-Related Behavioral & Social Change: Initiation to Maintenance (online)
- HBSS5110 Determinants of Health Behavior (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS5111 Planning Health Education Programs (online)
- HBSS5112 Social Marketing and Health Communications (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS 4110 Health Promotion for Children and Adolescents
- HBSS 4114 Competency with Multicultural Populations: Research & Practice (hybrid & online options, including via zoom live and zoom video)
- HBSS 4111 Addictions and Dependencies (online)
- HBSS 4112 Social Policy and Prevention (online)
- HBSS 4113 Human Sexuality Education
- HBSS 4116 Health Education for Teachers (online)
- HBSS 4117 HIV/AIDS Epidemiology (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS 4012 Eating Disorders (online)
- HBSS 4122 Women's Health (online)
- HBSS 4161 Environmental Health (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS 5113 Community Health Analysis (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS 6100 Program Evaluation
- HBSS 5040 Research Methods in Health and Behavior Studies (online)
- HBSS 4160 Introduction to Biostatistics for Community Health Educators (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS 4901 Research and Independent Study in Health Education (hybrid & online options)
- HBSS 5410 Practicum in Health Education (hybrid & online options)
Completing the M.A. Degree Capstone Project for Research, Scholarship and Inquiry: The Two Options Via HBSS 4199 and HBSS 5410
The CAPSTONE PROJECT FOR RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND INQUIRY (2 points) provides an important opportunity to work closely with one’s advisor while integrating much of what has been learned across the MA curriculum’s coursework—and producing a final product such as a Major Research Paper or Curriculum, or health education (e-health) video, as examples. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking either one of the following courses: HBSS 4199 Research and Independent Study (2 point), or HBSS 5410 Practicum in Health Education.
Research and Independent Study Via HBSS 4199
By taking HBSS 4199 (2 points), as an option for completing the CAPSTONE PROJECT FOR RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND INQUIRY, a student can enjoy the opportunity of working closely with their advisor or a faculty member of their choice who agrees to work with them on a project such as a Major Research Paper, or a Curriculum. Or, there can be a focus on a student’s particular area of interest, as well as professor’s research project.
Fieldwork/ Internship Option for the M.A. Capstone Requirement Via HBSS 5410
All students have the option of enrolling for 2 points in the HBSS 5410 Practicum in Health Education (offered in the fall in-person and online) – as an option for completing the CAPSTONE PROJECT FOR RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND INQUIRY. By taking for 2 points the course HBSS 5410 Practicum in Health Education, students engage in a Supervised Fieldwork/Internship Placement. This involves creating a Log of Fieldwork Notes detailing experiences across a 180 to 150 hour fall fieldwork experience—as well as completing a specified Project.
It is highly recommended that MA students select the option of HBSS 5410 Practicum in Health Education for 2 points so as to enjoy the powerful experience of Supervised Fieldwork. While this is an exciting option for MA students, it is a requirement for MS Degree Students in Community Health Education—so MA students will be learning alongside MS students in HBSS 5410. However, by taking the course for just 2 points, MA degree students are not required to fulfill all the rigorous requirements, as suggested by their having to submit a Fieldwork Log and evidence of completing just one Project. The selected Fieldwork should be aligned with the student’s goals for professional development and future employment. During the practicum, students are engaged in a collaborative relationship with a supervisor, staff, and selected consumers within their fieldwork setting.
MA students can learn more about Fieldwork by using the same resource used for our MS students: the MS Degree Students’ Fieldwork Guidebook: Providing an Orientation to Fieldwork, Timeline, and Forms for Completion available via this link: https://tinyurl.com/MS-Students-Fieldwork
The M.A. Degree Audit: A Final Step for Being Cleared for Graduation by the College
The college uses an online platform to host what is called the student’s “degree audit,” as a process of reviewing and confirming coursework taken and the requirements fulfilled within the online degree audit document. This record of their academic progress in taking courses is maintained via the degree audit. It is the responsibility of the student to review and seek corrections to their Degree Audit, including with the assistance of the Office of the Registrar, their Faculty Advisor, and the Program Director—as needed. This also includes having their faculty advisor and/or the Program Director sign off on their Degree Audit as final clearance for graduation.
For the MA degree, there must be evidence of completing 32 points, including submission of the final CAPSTONE PROJECT FOR RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND INQUIRY.
HEALTH EDUCATION GUIDEBOOK FOR THE MA AND EDD DEGREES—PROVIDING AN INTRODUCTION TO AND NAVIGATIONAL TOOL FOR THE 32 POINT MA AND 90 POINT EDD DEGREES IN THE PROGRAM IN HEALTH EDUCATION © 2022
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 32
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time, Part-Time
Application Deadlines
Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
---|---|---|---|
Spring | November 15, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | N/A |
Summer | January 15, 2025 | June 1, 2025 | N/A |
Fall | January 15, 2025 | July 1, 2025 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
Requirement | |
---|---|
Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
$75 Application Fee | |
Two (2) Letters of Recommendation |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact HAEPadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2023-2024)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 terms.