Health Education

Degree Type: 

Master of Arts

Department: 

Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation

Programme Duration: 

2 years (Standard Entry)

Modes of Study: 

Sandwich

About Programme: 

Demand for personnel with expertise in Health Education is currently on the increase. This need is due to the rising health needs of the nation. Malaria is killing children and keeping adults out of work; HIV/AIDS is keeping the entire nation on edge; cardiovascular diseases are stealing lives; diabetes is disabling people; children are getting pregnant and becoming child parents. Children and women are being abused; and the youth are wasting away their future on drugs, especially alcohol. The morbidity and mortality burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases is so great that concerted efforts are required to handle the situation.

There is a need to adopt a holistic approach in tackling the health problems of the country effectively. A corps of health professionals is required to provide effective health education and promotion to all sectors of the country. It has been observed that a large number of both governmental and non-governmental organizations have been running programmes that require non-teaching health education expertise. A large number of personnel in health education and promotion activities outside the school system have a non-health education bachelor’s degree and have had to learn on the job. Such people lack the professional training as well as the academic credentials for effective job performance and career advancement. A Master of Arts (MA) in Health Education sandwich programme is in response to this felt need.

Although the department currently runs an MPhil programme in Health Education, it appears the academic nature of the programme and its residential requirement does not meet the needs of most of the expected clientele. In the light of the foregoing, the Department running MA sandwich programme to supplement the regular MPhil programme.

Target Groups

The following categories of personnel, or those aspiring for such positions, will find this programme useful:

  • Personnel of NGOs in health related activities
  • Corporate and private fitness management personnel
  • Public and community health service providers
  • Professionals in sports administration and management positions

Entry Requirements: 

Candidates apply for the MA (Health Education) programme should meet one of the following requirements:

  1. A good first degree in a health or physical education related field and a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a health or physical education related job.
  2. A good first degree, but not in a health or physical education related discipline, and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a health related job.

Goal / Aim / Objectives: 

The goals of the Sandwich MA programme are to:

  1. Produce highly qualified, competent and confident health, physical education personnel outside the Ghana Education Service.
  2. Provide opportunity for specialization in aspects of health and physical education, such as community health education, corporate fitness management, health promotion and sports administration with special relevance to the manpower needs of Ghana.
  3. Provide customer friendly postgraduate programmes that are convenient for practicing professionals.
  4. Provide postgraduate education tailored to the specific needs of organizations that provide health, physical education and sports services.
  5. Provide quality postgraduate programmes with a high turnout rate.
  6. Generate income to expand and improve upon services provided by the department.

Career Opportunities: 

The goals of the Sandwich MA (Health Education) programme are to:

  1. Produce highly qualified, competent and confident health, physical education personnel outside the Ghana Education Service.
  2. Provide opportunity for specialization in aspects of health and physical education, such as community health education, corporate fitness management, health promotion and sports administration with special relevance to the manpower needs of Ghana.
  3. Provide customer friendly postgraduate programmes that are convenient for practicing professionals.
  4. Provide postgraduate education tailored to the specific needs of organizations that provide health, physical education and sports services.
  5. Provide quality postgraduate programmes with a high turnout rate.
  6. Generate income to expand and improve upon services provided by the department.

Programme Structure

Level 800

First Semester

EPH 801S: Research Methods in Health and Human Performance
3 Credit(s)

This course is an examination of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to scholarly enquiry. It looks at fundamental designs under each approach and the methodological issues involved. The course is designed to assist students to design, implement and report their research projects. In EPH 801, most illustrations are selected from Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
EPH 861S: Foundations of Health Education
3 Credit(s)

Theoretical, Philosophical, psychological and Ethical issues applied in Health Education. Theories of health behaviour change may include health beliefs, planned behaviour, stage and social cognitive theories. Philosophical issues in the definition and conceptualization of health are considered. Application of philosophical principles to the provision and funding of health in society. There will be an introduction to health psychology. The course will also examine general principles of ethics in health and education, such as equity and utilitarianism.
EPH 862S: Intermediate Epidemiology
3 Credit(s)

This course builds on introductory knowledge in epidemiology. It revises descriptive data collection and analysis in epidemiology. It covers elementary standardization of crude rates and ratios. It will focus mainly on designing, conducting and reporting case control and cohort studies.
EPH 873S: Common Childhood Diseases
3 Credit(s)

The course aims at introducing the common childhood diseases, what is the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical presentation (sign and symptoms), how they are managed and preventive measures or prophylaxis. This course is designed to equip the students with information and knowledge about causative agents of childhood diseases and how to prevent these diseases. It will also give them understanding of the diseases and thus the capacity to design appropriate health education messages to enable the public prevent the diseases.

EPH 873S: Common Childhood Diseases
3 Credit(s)

The course aims at introducing the common childhood diseases, what is the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical presentation (sign and symptoms), how they are managed and preventive measures or prophylaxis. This course is designed to equip the students with information and knowledge about causative agents of childhood diseases and how to prevent these diseases. It will also give them understanding of the diseases and thus the capacity to design appropriate health education messages to enable the public prevent the diseases.

EPH 874S: Seminar in Assessing Health Needs of School Age Children
3 Credit(s)

Students are taken through the process of identifying health needs of children from pre-school through the teen ages. The course helps students to identify different health needs of students using the broad wellness approach. Health needs will be assessed through the physical, social, emotional, psychological, mental, spiritual and environmental dimensions.

Level 850

First Semester

EPH 803S: Introduction of Computer Application in Health, Physical Education and Recreation
3 Credit(s)

This is basically a computer literacy course. It aims at equipping students with various intermediate techniques of analysing and reporting data. The course involves a practical component that interfaces students with extensive use of computer data analysis tools, such as SPSS. It also involves word processing, spreadsheet, CD-ROM, the use of internet tools for research and information (such as supercourse, listservs, and database search), and e-mail. The main emphasis of the course is to explore how teaching and learning can be done effectively with available computer services.
EPH 844S: Curriculum and Instruction in Health and Physical Education
3 Credit(s)

The course examines the major theories of curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation, Political, economic, philosophical and sociological implication in curriculum development are examined.  Practical examination of curricula and curricular issues from pre-school to university level are discussed. The course considers traditional and contemporary methods of instruction.  Emphasis is placed on the development of interactive learning strategies.  A variety of methods of evaluating student learning are presented.
EPH 863S: Nutrition, Exercise and Health
3 Credit(s)

The course is an examination of the interrelation between nutrition and health. The course will discuss both macro and micro nutrients, effects of their deficiency or excess, and ways to prevent or correct such problems. Issues will be related to different age groups, occupations, geographic locations, etc.
EPH 864S: Health Behaviour Change
3 Credit(s)

Theoretical and practical considerations in health behaviour change are examined. Health behaviour is defined and different kinds of health behaviour identified (e.g. health-seeking behaviour, illness behaviour, health compromising behaviour, and health promoting behaviour). Discussions will cover both volitional and addictive behaviours. General techniques of behaviour change (both passive and active) and their strengths and weaknesses will be examined. The course may include a practical component. 

EPH 865S: Organization and Administration of School Health Programmes
3 Credit(s)

The course examines the components and principles of the school health program. Human and material resource development and management is discussed in the context of different environments.