The Health Studies programs division takes a holistic and humanistic approach to promoting wellness, improving the quality of life, and encouraging children to develop healthy lifestyles. The programs incorporate the core values of the School of Education—scholarship, reflective practice, social justice, inclusive community, wellness, creativity and the arts—and strive to meet the following goals:

• Leadership
• Diversity
• Partnership
• Growth
• Health Education

Leadership
Health Studies prepares students to assume leadership roles in the field of health education. It encourages students to be advocates for the profession, to contribute to scholarship and the development of innovative curricula, and to provide service to the community.

Diversity
Reflecting its abiding commitment to diversity, Health Studies focuses on increasing the cultural competence of candidates and on developing their ability to react to the rapidly changing social, demographic, and cultural changes in society.

Partnership
The expansion of collaborative relationships with regional school districts and community health providers give candidates relevant field-based experience and exposure to different opportunities within the areas of Health Studies.

Growth
Anticipating the future needs of candidates, the faculty has initiated plans to facilitate program expansion.

Health Education
The programs explore the true meaning of total health, wellness enhancement, the prevention of diminished qualities of living, and the promotion of a higher quality of life.

The objectives of its graduate programs are to:

• prepare dynamic health education specialists to work in schools, work sites, health care and community settings, and public and private health care agencies
• further the frontiers of information about human health and the process of health education
• differentiate the practice of health education from that of other helping professions by emphasizing the teaching-learning process for improving the health status of defined populations
• promote and enhance high quality health status among the Adelphi community and members of surrounding communities.