Your journey in completing the MAEd is a fulfillment of small steps!

Graduate Offerings from the CHHS Program
The CHHS program offers three online graduate certificate programs (health education, health coaching, & health promotion across the lifespan). We also offer a fully online master’s program in community health as well as a Ph.D. program in community health promotion and another Ph.D. in educational studies in diverse populations (health disparities concentration). For more information about CHHS graduate offerings, please visit https://www.uab.edu/education/home/graduate/chhs.

Comprehensive Exam for the MAEd in Community Health

Each course is a step in your academic journey. A test of your academic training is the Comprehensive Exam.

Comprehensive exams (COMPS) are the culminating event for our students in the masters program. The process requires the application of the core components of health education, health promotion, and community health. Often referred to as COMPS, successfully completing the comprehensive exam will require demonstrating an ability to communicate student mastery of the Responsibilities and Competencies for Health Education Specialists, including needs assessment, planning, implementing, application of health behavior theory, and evaluation of a health education/promotion intervention in a target community.

COMPS are generally initiated during 8th – 11th week of the Fall or Spring semester. There are no summer offerings for COMPs, so advance planning is necessary if you desire to graduate during a summer semester. The COMP is take home exam and students generally have about two weeks to complete it. Students may only register for COMPS after completing CHHS 610, CHHS 631, CHHS 642, CHHS 689 (allowed while enrolled), CHHS 697 (allowed while enrolled), & EPR 607/8 with a letter grade of C or higher. Studying the learning materials, assignments and textbooks from these courses will benefit student preparation for COMPS. Students are also encouraged to re-visit final assignments/semester long projects in each course that simulate health intervention creation for a target community or population sub-group.

Tip: Students are strongly encouraged to master the PRECEDE-PROCEED planning model; understand how to apply & evaluate strategies guided by health behavior theory (i.e., HBM, TTM, SCT, & TPB/TRA) after reviewing the scientific literature; and explain how individuals and communities are influenced by socioecological factors.

Typically, students will take COMPS during their last semester. Students may register for the Comprehensive Exam here: https://www.uab.edu/education/home/web-forms/comps-registration-masters-in-community-health at the beginning of semester they are eligible and desire to take COMPS. Students WILL NOT graduate until successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam. Additionally, if a student does not successfully complete a comprehensive exam in two (2) attempts, students WILL NOT be eligible for graduation with a MAEd in Community Health. In this vein, students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the integrated preparation for the comprehensive exam (COMPS) through their coursework with particular attention to course final products (i.e., theory application assignments, program plans, intervention plans, advocacy plans, social marketing plans, evaluation plans, and grant proposals).

***Special Note: Students completing a thesis option in the MAEd program will NOT take a traditional Comprehensive Exam. Instead, a student completing a thesis option will complete a thesis-based comprehensive exam as part of the thesis process.***

Best Practices for the Successful Completion of the MAEd in Community Health

Students who are also employed full-time [i.e., working 30+ hours according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)] are strongly encouraged to enroll in no more than 7 course hours per semester. Course hour enrollment is an important consideration as for each course hour enrolled, graduate students are expected to spend 2 – 3 hours weekly on related reading, studying, and coursework. Understanding that many students are employed while completing the MAEd in Community, the following course maps may be used as general advisement for most MAEd students. The provided course maps are designed for optimal benefit of learning and understanding, while providing a manageable enrollment schedule.

Advisement | Prescribed Course Map for Students Entering the MAEd in Community Health degree program during a Fall Semester

Blaze your trail! Work at a pace that matches your drive and considers your health, wellness, & responsibilities! Contact US to support your academic and professional development.

The CHHS Faculty are here to support you as you progress on your academic journey. Use GPS and BlazerNet which are your best tools to support your academic ascension. The UAB libraries are another great resource to support your intellectual thirst and development.

Work to keep us informed of any changes in your life, especially those that may impact your academic progress. Use the webpage as a resource, and visit it regularly (i.e., beginning, middle, & end semesterly) to check for any updates. Also, contact the CHHS Program Director regarding degree options and training. Please see faculty information and corresponding expertise below as you may desire mentorship and professional advisement during your MAEd journey. We are here to help!

Tips for Applying for UAB Clinical Based Jobs

– Place all paid and unpaid research/evaluation/intervention experience in your application and on your resume.
– Notate educational experience and pertinent training (i.e. IRB, survey, community-based participatory research) that is aligned with your position for which you are applying.
– Learn and use research tools like RedCap and/or Qualtrics. Volunteer with faculty if you don’t have this type of experience. Get the experience you that will propel your career!!!!
– NETWORK!!!!! Network with your peers and CHHS faculty regarding information and support of UAB affiliated jobs. A phone call can go a long way, especially for a student who did well in specific courses or volunteered with a faculty member.
– Do well in your courses and highlight learning gained in your resume.
– Use software like MS Word to create your resume.
– Spell and grammar check your resume and cover letter.
– Apply for these and other UAB affiliated positions at https://www.uab.edu/humanresources/home/careers.

Pregnancy & Title IX Considerations

Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. This law protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. For more information about programs and services offered through the Title IX Office within the Division of Student Affairs at UAB, please visit: https://www.uab.edu/titleix/.