Health Education Opportunities

Click here for the Department of Health Education.

The goals of the Department of Health Education are to create and respond to opportunities for students to both examine their personal behavior in order to enhance the health of the community, and analyze and challenge the cultural and peer norms which affect their health and the health of the broader community. We seek to create these opportunities through teaching, community service, and community development. We work with students on all campuses by focusing on leadership, advocacy, community building, and skill development.

Classes for Academic Credit:

Theories, Assessment, and Practice of Health Behavior, 01:377:252 (also called Individual and Community Change, 10:832:252), is a four-credit course (includes one credit for community service -- 40 hours of community service work, 10:832:253). Students can discover new ways of understanding their own health behavior and become involved with community health issues through direct community service.

A "REAL WORLD" EXPERIENCE: HEALTH, CULTURE, COMMUNITY, AND YOU


Learn about... sex... drugs... nutrition... community-building... multiculturalism...
self-awareness... reaching out... social justice... leadership...
health advocacy... racism... classism... sexism... ableism... ageism

EARN 3 CREDITS and 1 CASE CREDIT: Tuesday & Thursday 5 (2:50-4:10 pm), CAC. Register for:

Individual and Community Change: 01:377:252, sec:01, plus 10:832:253#68264 (CASE)
or Developing a Wellness Lifestyle: 10:832:252, sec:01, plus 10:832:253#68264 (CASE) 

Special permission numbers required.

Questions? Call the Department of Health Education -- ask for Adrienne Coleman.
(732) 932-7710 x 269

• The purpose of this class is to examine basic principles, processes, and methods of personal and community health interventions. Through active learning strategies, students engage in problem solving, individual and group projects, simulations, and application. Also, this class is used to train stress, nutrition, alcohol and other drug health advocates.

• Sexual Health Advocate Training Class, 10:832:301, is a two-semester class which prepares students to advocate for health. SHAs facilitate programs and discussions on sexual health and other topics by learning about issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, safer sex, etc. If interested in becoming a sexual health advocate, come to the Department to fill out an application.

• Advanced Instruction, 10:832:352, is available for 1-3 credits for pursuing special projects in specific health areas by arrangement with Health Education staff, especially for those students who have completed other courses and training with us.

Other Opportunities:

Many opportunities exist in the Department of Health Education for students wishing to play an active part in health education at Rutgers. The Department provides part-time jobs and internships/independent studies, special projects, community service, and volunteer opportunities.

Program coordinator, sexual health advocates, department assistants, Student Patient Representatives, graphic artists, and HTML programmers are just a few of the many positions open each year.

For more information, contact the Department of Health Education:

College Ave. Campus
Room 324, Hurtado Health Center
11 Bishop Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 932-7710 x 273

Student Health Advocates:

Who Are the Student Health Advocates?

Student Health Advocates (often called peer educators) are students who have learned the skills to lead programs/small discussion groups on sexual health, stress management, alcohol and other drug education, and nutrition to groups of students in classrooms, fraternities, sororities, organizations, and residence halls. In addition, student health advocates learn to critically examine their environment for social injustice which affects community health.

How Can I Become an Advocate?

Visit the Department on the second floor of Hurtado Health Center and fill out an application. If you want to find out more information on a particular advocacy, you may call the department at (732) 932-7710 x 273 and ask to speak to one of the following people:

Fern Goodhart:	Director of Health Education
Jane Malyska:	Secretarial Assistant
Adrienne Coleman:	Coord. of Alcohol and Other Drug Ed /Training Program
Francesca M. Maresca:	Coord. of Health Promotion and Producer, SHADES Theater

*** It is strongly recommended that the course Individual and Community Change is taken to become and advocate. ***

How Can I Contact an Advocate?

Call the Department and leave a message for an advocate to talk to you if there is not one available at the time. Advocates are a good resource concerning either a personal question or becoming an advocate yourself.

Student Health Advocate Programs/Small Discussion Groups

Call the Department at (732) 932-7710 x 273 to schedule a program/discussion for your dorm/club/fraternity/sorority/etc. Upon request, we can work with you to design a targeted program or activity for your group. Please call at least two weeks in advance of intended date for a program/discussion.

Types of Programs Offered:

Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program for Training (ADEPT)
Coordinator: Adrienne Coleman

• Alcohol, Advertising, and You
• Drugs and College Students: Information for Decisions
• Party Planning
• Love on the Rocks
• Values and Responsibilities
• Women and Alcohol
• Imagine That!
• Breathe Easy Kits

Nutrition Management
Coordinator: Peggy Policastro

• Mood and Food
• Consuming Passions
• Take a Better Bite
• Where's the Beef?

Sexual Health
Coordinator: Francesca M. Maresca

• Exploring the Options (Contraception)
• Do the Right Thing (When Looking for Love)
• Let's Talk About Sex(uality)
• A Little More Respect (Homophobia/Heterosexism)
• Outer Course and Alternatives
• Love on the Rocks

Very important note:

These programs are not the extent of the Department. Advocates can adjust to your needs. We can combine programs, create one based on your situation, or simply facilitate a discussion. We are available for training sessions in residence halls, organizations, etc.