Master of Science in Public Health Education and Promotion

• 30 credits
• 8 semesters; minimum of 30 months to complete
• $1,140 per credit hour
• Fall and Spring intake
• Hybrid or In-Person*
• Accredited by SACSCOC

*in-person classes pending enrollment demand

• Although a bachelor’s degree in a specific discipline is not required, degrees in exercise science, health science, kinesiology, nutrition, and public health are ideal
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Transcripts from all undergraduate programs attended
• 2 narrative letters of recommendation from educators or employers
• Personal Statement: 250-500-word professional essay describing your motivation for seeking the degree and your professional goals
• Professional résumé
• Interview with a core Marymount faculty member may be required

HPR 501: Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion

Introduces the basic principles, philosophies, and functional areas of health promotion and education. Describes prevalent educational and psychological theories of learning and behavior change used by health educators in a variety of work settings.

HPR 502: Introduction to Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Provides an overview of the field of public health, with an emphasis on prevention of chronic and communicable diseases. This is a required course for Public Health Education & Promotion students who have no undergraduate degree in health education or related fields.

HPR 520: Principles of Epidemiology

Study of the nature, prevention, control, and treatment of injuries and communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Examines epidemiological principles, methods, and strategies and the use of morbidity, mortality, and other vital statistics data in the scientific appraisal of community and organizational health.

HPR 540: Designing and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs

Focuses on the design of effective learning programs by emphasizing objectives, learning activities, and program assessment. Evaluation includes the construction and use of health-risk appraisals and a variety of health-related measures.

Employment opportunities for graduates of Marymount’s Public Health Education & Promotion program include:

• Individual and group education
• Training and counseling
• Audio-visual and computerized educational materials development
• Community development
• Social action and behavior change planning
• Public health advocacy
• Coalition building

Median salaries for Public Health Education & Promotion graduates are approximately $74,000.

Welcome to the School of Health Sciences in the College of Health and Education at Marymount University. We are extremely proud of our programs and are excited to share some of the features that make us unique. Our School is dedicated to providing quality education to improve the lives of our patients and clients in the ever-changing health care landscape.

The School has undergraduate programs (Bachelor’s in Health Science with specializations in Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Professional, Public Health, and Exercise Science), graduate programs (Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master’s in Public Health Education & Promotion), and post-professional transitional doctoral programs (t-Doctor of Physical Therapy and t-Doctorate in Occupational Therapy).

The faculty and staff in our programs are committed to the success of our students, and have built a curricular framework that focuses on critical thinking, professionalism, and leadership. Our emphasis on intellectual curiosity, service to others, and a global perspective allows us to provide a learning environment that respects each individual student. The School has a deeply-held belief in servant leadership and prepares our students to advocate for the health of individuals and communities.

Our campus is placed in an ideal location at the intersection of expert practice and policy. The success of the School is facilitated by our excellent relationship with multiple internship sites, which include clinics, businesses, hospitals, and health-related nonprofits in the D.C. metro area. Our connection to several national associations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) enriches the connection between learning in the classroom and best practices in these disciplines. Our location in Arlington, Va., is a mere 5 miles from several of these associations.

I am honored to be the Director of a School that is grounded in excellence and service. Please explore our website to learn more about our faculty, students, and staff, and our many initiatives that are shaping the future of health across the globe.

Skye Donovan, PT, PhD
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Professor and Director, School of Health Sciences
Department of Physical Therapy

Click here to view our Faculty

“My experience in Marymount’s Public Health Education & Promotion program has surpassed all of my expectations. Something that makes Marymount unique is the small class sizes, allowing for individualized attention and the building of meaningful relationships with both the faculty and other students. In the Public Health Education & Promotion program, students are encouraged and supported to not only research health topics most interesting to them, but also to become involved in community efforts addressing these topics. As part of my Capstone research project, I have been able to apply my research on adverse childhood experiences to work with RAISE, the City of Alexandria’s Trauma Informed Community Network. After expressing my interest in NARCAN, our wonderful Program Directors – Dr. Skye Donovan and Dr. Amy Allnutt – have empowered me to become a NARCAN trainer for Arlington County, bringing trainings onto campus when possible.” – Emma Driscoll, Class of 2022

“The global health and culture Global Classroom trip to Costa Rica during Spring Break was my favorite Marymount University experience. This was my first time traveling and I met wonderful and kind people. I was not only able to learn about Costa Rica, but also know more about their health system and the Bribri culture.” – Keily Molina, Class of 2022