The Health Education and Promotion Network (HEP Network) will began offering web-based instructional courses in health education and promotion in January 2005. The courses are currently offered as graduate credit offered through various colleges and universities. In addition, several of the courses will be cross-listed as undergraduate courses by some universities.

At a future date, these courses will also be offered for professional development (CEU) credits leading in two formats:

• Qualified professional development for teacher certification
• Category I credit for Certified Health Education Specialists

Descriptions of the courses are below:

Foundations of Health Education - This course experience introduces the learner to concepts fundamental to Health Education and to a larger extent, health promotion. Contemporary health education philosophy, Healthy People: The Health Objectives for the Nation, The Certified Health Education Specialist Process, Ethical Issues in Health, etc. will be discussed.

Health Behavior: Theory and Program Planning – A study of determinants of health behavior, factors influencing health behavior, health behavior theories and application methodology are examined. Contemporary models to plan health education programs will also be discussed.

Health Education Curriculum and Instruction – This course provides teachers with the competencies and knowledge needed to teach school health education. An examination of the school health program, national health education curricula, national health education standards, and pedagogy and teaching resources in health education form the focus of the course.

Health Education in the Elementary Schools - This course provides elementary teachers with skills and knowledge necessary to work in the area of school health education at the elementary level. The focus of the course is on the relationship between elementary education and health education and on current issues and content in elementary school health education within coordinated school health programs.

Health Education in the Secondary Schools - This course prepares teachers with skills and knowledge necessary to work in the area of school health education at the middle school and secondary level. The course will focus on the coordinated school health program, national health education curricula, national health education standards, pedagogy and assessment methodology across content areas, as well as teaching resources. (Future Projection)

Drug Education and Prevention - The Course "Drug Education and Prevention" will provide an overview of the major drugs of abuse and their effects on the body as well as the biological, sociological, psychological, and legal issues associated with drug use and abuse in our culture. An emphasis will be given to effective educational approaches and prevention programs that address the problems of use and abuse.

Research Methods in Health Education - An examination of methods and techniques of conducting research in health education. Emphasis will be placed on helping students to develop skills in analyzing research, research problem identification, and research design. The ethics of research, reading research literature and measurement techniques will also be examined.

Applied Epidemiology - this course provides an overview of principles and methods of contemporary epidemiological practice. Epidemiological investigation and research are discussed with an emphasis on application of epidemiological method in health education, health promotion, and disease prevention practice.

Drug Education - This course provides an overview of the major drugs of abuse and their effects on the body as well as the biological, sociological, psychological, and legal issues associated with drug use and abuse in our culture. An emphasis will be given to effective educational approaches and prevention programs that address the problems of use and abuse.

Human Sexuality - The course focuses on three primary goals: enhancing knowledge, increasing comfort, and facilitating communication about sex. The success of this course will be achieved in the students' ability to translate what one knows intellectually into the realm of personal relationships. Students should learn to choose what is responsible and right for them. A healthy respect should be gained for the differences among individuals and their perspectives.

Worksite Health - This course provides a careful examination of strategies to design, implement, and evaluate health programs in worksites; including health risk assessment, marketing, and cost-benefit analysis.

Women's Health – This course provides insight into a broad range of health issues that are either unique to women or of special importance to women; information for the health consumer; preparation as an advocate of healthy lifestyles; awareness of the role health plays in the life of all women.

Health Behavior: Theory and Planning - This course provides a study of determinants of health behavior, factors influencing health behavior, health behavior theories and application methodology are examined. Contemporary models to plan health education programs will also be discussed.

Multicultural Health - This course explores factors that influence the excess morbidity and mortality of minority populations in the U.S.; understanding culture's influence on the adaptation of health practices; health indicators for special populations.

The HEP Network has resulted from collaboration between the American Association for Health Education (AAHE) and the Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education (FAHE). Expert Health Data Systems, Inc will support the instructional technology being used for these courses and staff in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University is providing administrative services.

The HEP Network will allow universities that have health education faculty to expand their offerings, and those which do not have health education faculty to fill that void through the use of courses on the HEP Network. Although a number of the first courses on the HEP Network are focused on school health education, it is anticipated that a number of courses and/or certificate programs will be added during the next few years. Expansion of the Network will be on going in several ways:

       1. New University partners will be added
       2. New courses will be added
       3. Non-university credit continuing education opportunities will be added.

Further information is available on:
      1. How universities can offer the Network courses at your university
      2. State-wide agreements with State Departments of Education
      3. New courses or certificate proposals
      

Please contact: James Eddy, HEP Network Administrator at jeddy@hlkn.tamu.edu or 979-458-2217 or Becky Smith, Executive Director, AAHE at bsmith@hepnetwork.org or (800-213-7193, Ext 441).