Community Health Education (CHE) - Courses

CHE 220 Cr.1

Medical Terminology for Health Education

Skill development for working with the special language used in clinics, hospitals, and other health agencies. Students in various health fields will learn to use medically related terms in their professional communication. Offered Fall, Spring.

CHE 360 Cr.3

Methods and Strategies for Health Education

The purpose of this course is to help participants develop skills and strategies in relation to facilitation, instruction, as well as the use of theoretical concepts to more effectively implement health education and health promotion programs. Course participants will gain an understanding of the various ways in which people learn and develop a variety of skills to create effective learning strategies. Participants will also comprehend the fundamentals of social marketing as well as health literacy and how these concepts should be used to create more effective health education and health promotion programs. Additionally, participants will learn how to use health behavior theories and models to create culturally appropriate health education materials. Prerequisite: admission to the public health and community health education major. Offered Fall, Spring.

CHE 370 Cr.3

Motivational Interviewing for Health Educators

This course introduces participants to principles, concepts, and spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI), which is an evidenced-based method, grounded in theory meant to facilitate behavior change. Participants will learn the process of exploring and resolving the ambivalence that often creates barriers to change in various populations. Participants will also learn how to properly share information, give advice, and plan for action using the spirit and methods of MI. Additionally, participants will also gain an understanding of how to interpret and apply a behavioral screening or diagnostic questionnaire as they relate to the referral individuals for MI with various health concerns that need to be addressed. Prerequisite: admission to the public health and community health education major. Offered Fall, Spring.

CHE 380 Cr.3

Assessment and Program Planning in Health Education

Grounded in the responsibilities of a health education specialist, this course requires groups of students to assess community needs and resources as well as plan health education programs. Following models commonly used in public health, students collect primary data as well as utilize secondary data to perform a comprehensive assessment of a population of interest. Reliable and valid resources that explain the health status of a population from the perspective of theories and ethically conducted research are used when prioritizing needs and planning interventions. Students learn about the necessity of early alignment between assessment and health education program goals and objectives. Professional competencies related to evaluating capacity and prompting community involvement are emphasized as essential to planning best practices solutions to community health needs. Prerequisite: PH 335, PH 340; CHE 360, CHE 370; junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

CHE 400/500 Cr.3

Health Policy, Advocacy, and Community Organizations

This course focuses on the process of engaging communities in health education and behavior change programs of various kinds. Several organizing paradigms for fostering healthy communities are examined, and their practical and ethical implications are considered. Skill development for community assessment, constituency-building, and leadership of participatory planning efforts is emphasized. Students are paired with health and human services, health policy and social justice agencies, and coalitions to gain an in-depth knowledge of agenda setting, legislative research, and legislative advocacy in relation to specific legislation being proposed in the Wisconsin state legislature. Course will tie policy theory to real-world practice. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: PH 335; PH 340; CHE 360; CHE 370; junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

CHE 405 Cr.3

Physical Activity and Public Health

This course is designed for public health and community health educators who plan to work with individuals, clients, and/or patients in a variety of health, clinical, and community settings. Students will come away with an understanding of how to advance the use of physical activity for the prevention and treatment of chronic disease and other health issues. The course will explore how physical activity improves health, including cardiorespiratory and metabolic diseases, overweight and obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, cancers, and mental health. Data on the prevalence and economic costs of physical inactivity are presented to demonstrate the scope of the health issues and the importance of addressing them. Evidence-based strategies for increasing physical activity in individuals and communities using three approaches (informational, behavioral and social, and environmental and policy) will be explored. Strategies for implementing physical activity opportunities in communities will also be addressed. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Spring.

CHE 430/530 Cr.3

Grant Writing and Resource Management

The grant seeking enterprise is studied and applied to community and public health organizations, in areas of perceived community need. Content includes locating and communicating with funding agencies, writing and reviewing grant proposals, analyzing requests for proposals, using technology in grant seeking, and implementing and evaluating grant funded projects. Project planning and administrative competencies are incorporated. Budget planning and grant administration is identified and applied. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: CHE 350 or CHE 380; CHE 400; junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

CHE 450 Cr.3

Implementation, Administration, and Evaluation of Health Education Programs

Students will implement, administer, and evaluate a community health education program. Interventions will be based on professional best practices and social and behavioral theories and models. Data will be collected that allow students to evaluate goals, objectives, and activities. Students will be required to generate a report at the end of the semester that can be used to inform decision makers on the success of the program and can be added to the professional evidence base. Prerequisite: CHE 380, CHE 400. Offered Fall, Spring.

CHE 475/575 Cr.1-3

Workshop in Health Education

Group study of varying health education topics, community agencies, and educational institutions. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Repeatable for credit under different topics - maximum six credits. Departmental option for pass/fail or letter grade. Prerequisite: junior standing. Consent of instructor. Offered Occasionally.

CHE 480 Cr.3

Senior Capstone

This course is designed as a culminating course that will engage participants in applying the skills and concepts they have developed throughout the program curriculum. In particular, students will apply the profession's areas of responsibility as well as ethical standards in various activities, discussions, and projects. In addition, participants will 1) review selected community health topics in our Public Health and Community Health Education program, 2) be introduced to current issues in community health education, public health and population health, 3) be introduced to the employment, educational, and political dynamics in selected occupational settings, and 4) assess and discuss their specific pre-professional needs at this point in time. Prerequisite: CHE 350 or CHE 380; CHE 400. Offered Fall, Spring.