Ghana’s approach to improving the quality of health involves a gradual shift of emphasis from curative health to health promotion. The paradigm shift has created the need to develop a new generation of health personnel with a new orientation toward health promotion. This new orientation requires the services of top leadership personnel to develop, monitor, evaluate and shape relevant health systems and strategies that will lead to achieving national health goals and objectives. The doctorate in Health Promotion is meant to open dialogue in the new directions of health care delivery and produce personnel who will use the knowledge and skills to redirect the health delivery system toward health promotion.
The upgrading of the Colleges of Education into first degree awarding institutions, the lecturers who have the capacity to further their studies, will need this programme. Furthermore, with the policy of employing only people with PhD to lecture in the public universities, the re-accreditation of the programme is very necessary for the continuous production of human resource and the sustenance of the existence of the Department. A challenge of the Department has been attracting teaching staff, therefore coupled with the already expressed concerned, the importance of this programme in bringing out these high quality staff who will effectively handle the students under their tutelage cannot be overemphasised. Furthermore, most of the graduates in the various Health Training Institutions and those in the Ministry of Health have no avenues to upgrade themselves to the PhD level. Therefore most of them will access the Health Promotion programme.
Target Groups
The programme is designed for the following categories of persons:
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- staff of relevant Departments in tertiary institutions.
- personnel in the training institutions and in the Ministry of Health.
- public health workers of the Ghana Health Service.
- persons aspiring to teach health related programmes in tertiary institutions.
- persons aspiring for higher positions in health research institutions.
Goal
To produce scholars with expertise in health promotion and research to assume teaching and research positions in academic and research institutions.
Objectives
The objectives are to prepare students to be able to:
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- conduct comprehensive health needs assessment.
- translate theory and research knowledge into health promotion interventions.
- design, implement, and evaluate health promotion programmes in various settings.
- conduct original research on the identification of the determinants of health.
- advocate for health interventions in vulnerable groups.
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The programme is designed for the following categories of persons:
- Staff of the Department of HPER of UCC.
- Staff of relevant Departments in tertiary institutions.
- Tutors in the training institutions of the Ministry of Health.
- Public health workers of the Ghana Health Service.
- Persons aspiring for teaching jobs in tertiary institutions.
- Persons aspiring for positions in health research institutions
Candidates seeking admission into the PhD degree programme must:
- have an MPhil degree in a health related disciplinefrom a recognised university.
- have MA/Med/MSc/ degree in an appropriate field, with CGPA of 3.5 or better with not more than one grade C+. Also, have scored B+ or better in Research Methods course.
- submit an official transcript of academic record.
- submit at least three reference reports, one of which must be from a former lecturer.
- submit a proposal of 3-5 pages of intended area of study including a working bibliography.
- applicants will also have to pass a selection interview.
Numerous entrepreneurial opportunities thus exist in the agriculture sector for graduates from the programme. There are several government support projects for such industries that could be accessed. The programme also exposes students to operations management, which makes it possible for them to pursue careers in industries beyond the agricultural sector. Opportunities include the following: Business start-up in agro-processing Employment with food processing companies such as Nestle, Unilever, Blue Skies etc Food and nutrition experts at hospitals Employment by NGOs engaged in food processing interventions University Lecturers and Researchers in postharvest technologies Exporter of processed foods Food Biotechnology Principles of food processing engineering Food and nutrition Principles of food processing, preservation and storage Agricultural produce processing Food packaging technology Entrepreneurship and business development
The Department believes that, as a training institution for agriculture, and hence a corporate catalyst for sustainable community and national development, the University of Cape Coast in general and School of Agriculture in particular, need to respond to the challenge of community development and the professional development of its students hence graduates. Consequently, the Department has proposed this curriculum that will prepare graduates as change agents, who are capable of spurring on sustainable growth and development of the agricultural sector, its allied sectors, and communities. These graduates will provide the critical professional support base for all development initiatives and interventions at the community level.
The main goal of the BSc (Agricultural Extension and Community Development) Programme is to prepare graduates, who are competent learners, good communicators, system thinkers, problem analysts and solvers, and possess desirable leadership attributes and skills that will enable them conceptualize, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate agricultural and related development programmes and projects at the community level.
Post-Senior Secondary School Candidates Holders of Senior High Certificate must have the minimum aggregate of 20. Candidates must have passes in core English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science.
In addition to the above, they must have passes not lower than ‘D7’ (C) in elective subjects under option 1 or 2 or 3 below: • Option 1: General Agriculture, Chemistry, Physics/Elective Mathematics. • Option 2: Biology, Chemistry, Physics/Elective Mathematics. • Option 2: UCC Remedial Agriculture, Remedial Science Programme, Biology/Horticulture/Agro-forestry
Post-Diploma Candidates Candidates must possess a Diploma in Agriculture (at least a Second Class Lower Division), from a recognised institution together with five (5) credit passes at GCE ‘O’ Level in English Language and Mathematics and in at least three (3) other science subjects or six (6) passes (3 core and 3 elective subjects in SSSCE or WASSCE) with at least two in science subjects. All Post-Diploma candidates must pass a selection interview.
Since its inception in 1986, the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation has turned-out a number of Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates in Health and Physical Education. The growth in both the undergraduate and graduate programmes has created the need to: (a) expand the graduate programme and (b) create additional options for students. This need was also evident from a general dissatisfaction with a lack of variety in the current programme of Physical Education. While still maintaining focus on Teacher Education which is the main mission of the Department of HPER, the time has come to provide a more diverse programme that caters for the complex developmental needs of the nation.
The current structure of the Bachelor of Education (Health, Physical Education and Recreation) Degree was reviewed and started in 2008/2009 academic year. The programme diversified the options to make graduates more versatile in the job market. Besides, the increasing need for highly trained leaders in Physical Education, Recreation and Sports in schools, the department has recognised the need to extend leadership training in movement education, fitness, sports, recreation and leisure services to the non-school sector. This is a forward-looking initiative aimed at meeting the demand for movement education, fitness, sports, recreation and leisure experts outside our educational institutions. This review is therefore aimed at the continuous production of physical education, sports, recreation and leisure professionals needed in our educational institutions and other areas of our national economy such as the professional sports industry, fitness industry, recreational and leisure industry.
Target Groups
The programme targets the following groups of persons.
- Teachers in public Basic, Senior High Schools, Colleges of Education, and Technical Universities;
- Teachers in private Basic, Senior High Schools, Colleges of Education, and Technical Universities;
- Physical Education coordinators at the Regional/Municipal/Metropolitan/District/ Circuit levels;
- Sports coaches in tertiary institutions;
- Staff of National Sports Authority
- Corporate and private fitness management personnel;
- Professionals in sports administration and management positions.
Goals
The goals of the programme are to provide opportunities for candidates to:
- teach students at various levels of the educational system;
- upgrade their current academic status to higher ones; and
- occupy upper level managerial positions in various physical education, sports, fitness, recreation and leisure fields.
Objectives
The objectives of the programme are to:
- equip students with the requisite knowledge, techniques and skills that will enable them develop and upgrade themselves in specialised areas in physical education, sports, fitness, recreation and leisure, for both teaching and non-teaching employment;
- enable students acquire an appreciable level of intellectual capacity necessary for doctoral progression in physical education programmes.
The programme is open to people who possess the following qualification:
A good first degree (at least a second class) in physical education from a recognised university/analogous institution.
Candidates seeking admission to Master of Philosophy (Physical Education) programme must:
- submit an official transcript of academic record;
- submit at least two reference reports, one of which must be from a former lecturer;
- submit a 2-3 page proposal on intended area of study including references;
- applicants will also have to pass a selection interview.
Opportunities abound for students who successfully graduate with this degree programme in areas of scientific research, as well as professional and technical occupations. Most biochemists are employed as researchers in universities, research institutes and large companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals. Small companies also employ biochemists to provide specialist services, such as toxicological studies. Biochemistry graduates also go into other sectors, such as commercial and public sector management and business and finance professions.
You can also be employed as:
- Research Officers in Medical Laboratories
- Medical Lab assistant in hospitals
- Research officer with Pharmaceutical industry
- Plant Pathologist
- Nutritional Scientist
The minimum admission cut-off is 36 and 24 for WASSCE and SSSCE applicants respectively with passes (A1 – C6) (A – D) in Core English, Core Mathematics and Integrated Science or Social Studies. In addition, candidates must have obtained passes in three elective subjects preferably Biology, Chemistry, Physics and elective Mathematics with grades not lower than C6/D at the WASSCE/SSSCE levels respectively.
There is a high demand for postgraduates in Health, Physical Education and Sports. Nationwide, postgraduate personnel are needed as coordinators of Physical Education programmes; curriculum and instruction experts in Physical Education and Sports; managers and administrators of sports. With the upgrading of teacher training colleges to diploma-awarding status, the requirement is that all tutors should have a postgraduate degree. At the moment very few PE teachers in the training colleges possess postgraduate degrees. The M.Ed. programme being run by the Institute of Education to upgrade teacher training college tutors does not provide for Physical Education.
An increase in the demand for postgraduates in Physical Education, Sports and fitness in non-school environments has been observed. This is due to the emergence of a growing market for corporate fitness facilities. This is due to the increased incidence of hypokinetic health conditions that require physical activity to prevent or manage. Most of the existing personnel in this field are holders of first degrees and who need additional expertise in the management of their market driven programmes. Additionally, there is a growing national demand for sports administrators, recreation specialists, sports psychologists, and exercise scientists. So far, there are no postgraduate programmes in Ghana in these areas.
Nationwide, postgraduate personnel are needed to coordinate School Health Programmes, and to act as curriculum and instruction experts in Health Education. With the upgrading of teacher training colleges to diploma-awarding status, the requirement is that all tutors should have a postgraduate degree. Additionally, the introduction of HIV/AIDS as a required course in teacher training colleges requires that personnel be produced to teach the course. Meanwhile, an M.Ed. programme being run by the Institute of Education to upgrade teacher training college tutors does not provide for Health Education.
Although the department is currently running diversified MPhil programmes that meet the qualitative manpower needs of the nation, the academic nature and residential requirement of the programme does not meet the needs of most practicing professionals within the Ghana Education Service. For instance, district and regional coordinators of physical education programme are unable to leave their posts on study leave even if the study leave could be obtained. Indeed, the majority of students enrolling in the MPhil programmes do not obtain study leave and a number of them have had to shuttle between programme and work.
In the light of the foregoing, the department proposed a professional M.Ed. sandwich programme to supplement the regular MPhil programmes. This will help to reduce the problems listed above and also enable the department to respond more quickly to the rising demand for postgraduates in physical education and sports.
Target Groups
The following categories of personnel, or those aspiring for such positions, will find this programme useful.
- Physical Education coordinators
- School health programme coordinators
- Physical Education tutors in teacher training colleges
- Teachers of the HIV/AIDS course in teacher training colleges
- Physical Education teachers
The goals of the M.Ed. programme are to:
- Produce qualified, competent and confident health, physical education and sports management personnel for educational institutions.
- Provide opportunity for specialization in aspects of health and physical education, such as teaching and administration.
- Provide customer friendly postgraduate programmes that are convenient for practicing professionals.
- Provide quality postgraduate programmes with a high turnout rate.
- Generate income to expand and improve upon services provided by the department.
The goals of the M.Ed. (Physical Education) programme are to:
- Produce qualified, competent and confident health, physical education and sports management personnel for educational institutions.
- Provide opportunity for specialization in aspects of health and physical education, such as teaching and administration.
- Provide customer friendly postgraduate programmes that are convenient for practicing professionals.
- Provide quality postgraduate programmes with a high turnout rate.
- Generate income to expand and improve upon services provided by the department.
Candidates who apply for the M.Ed. programme should meet requirement 1 in addition to 2 or 3
- Must be a professionally trained teacher
- Must have a good first degree in a health or physical education and a minimum of 2 years’ experience in teaching.
- Must have a good first degree but not in health or physical education and minimum of 3 years’ experience in a physical education related job.
Demand for personnel with expertise in Health Education is currently on the increase. This need is due to the rising health needs of the nation. Malaria is killing children and keeping adults out of work; HIV/AIDS is keeping the entire nation on edge; cardiovascular diseases are stealing lives; diabetes is disabling people; children are getting pregnant and becoming child parents. Children and women are being abused; and the youth are wasting away their future on drugs, especially alcohol. The morbidity and mortality burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases is so great that concerted efforts are required to handle the situation.
There is a need to adopt a holistic approach in tackling the health problems of the country effectively. A corps of health professionals is required to provide effective health education and promotion to all sectors of the country. It has been observed that a large number of both governmental and non-governmental organizations have been running programmes that require non-teaching health education expertise. A large number of personnel in health education and promotion activities outside the school system have a non-health education bachelor’s degree and have had to learn on the job. Such people lack the professional training as well as the academic credentials for effective job performance and career advancement. A Master of Arts (MA) in Health Education sandwich programme is in response to this felt need.
Although the department currently runs an MPhil programme in Health Education, it appears the academic nature of the programme and its residential requirement does not meet the needs of most of the expected clientele. In the light of the foregoing, the Department running MA sandwich programme to supplement the regular MPhil programme.
Target Groups
The following categories of personnel, or those aspiring for such positions, will find this programme useful:
- Personnel of NGOs in health related activities
- Corporate and private fitness management personnel
- Public and community health service providers
- Professionals in sports administration and management positions
The goals of the Sandwich MA programme are to:
- Produce highly qualified, competent and confident health, physical education personnel outside the Ghana Education Service.
- Provide opportunity for specialization in aspects of health and physical education, such as community health education, corporate fitness management, health promotion and sports administration with special relevance to the manpower needs of Ghana.
- Provide customer friendly postgraduate programmes that are convenient for practicing professionals.
- Provide postgraduate education tailored to the specific needs of organizations that provide health, physical education and sports services.
- Provide quality postgraduate programmes with a high turnout rate.
- Generate income to expand and improve upon services provided by the department.
The goals of the Sandwich MA (Health Education) programme are to:
- Produce highly qualified, competent and confident health, physical education personnel outside the Ghana Education Service.
- Provide opportunity for specialization in aspects of health and physical education, such as community health education, corporate fitness management, health promotion and sports administration with special relevance to the manpower needs of Ghana.
- Provide customer friendly postgraduate programmes that are convenient for practicing professionals.
- Provide postgraduate education tailored to the specific needs of organizations that provide health, physical education and sports services.
- Provide quality postgraduate programmes with a high turnout rate.
- Generate income to expand and improve upon services provided by the department.
Candidates apply for the MA (Health Education) programme should meet one of the following requirements:
- A good first degree in a health or physical education related field and a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a health or physical education related job.
- A good first degree, but not in a health or physical education related discipline, and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a health related job.
Since its inception in 1986, the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation has turned-out a number of Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates in Health and Physical Education. The growth in both the undergraduate and graduate programmes has created the need to: (a) expand the graduate programme and (b) create additional options for students. This need was also evident from a general dissatisfaction with a lack of variety in the current programme of Health Education. While still maintaining focus on Teacher Education, which is the main mission of the Department of HPER, the time has come to provide a more diverse programme that caters for the complex developmental needs of the nation in the area of health education.
The current structure of the Bachelor of Education (Health, Physical Education and Recreation) Degree was reviewed and started in 2008/2009 academic year. The programme diversified the options to make graduates more versatile in the job market. Besides, the increasing need for highly trained leaders in health education in schools, the department has recognised the need to extend leadership training in health education and promotion to the non-school sector. This is a forward-looking initiative aimed at meeting the demand for health education outside educational institutions. The demand for personnel with expertise in health education and promotion is currently on the increase, given the country’s policy shift from curative health to preventive health. This programme is therefore aimed at the continuous production of health professionals required to provide effective health education and promotion to all sectors of the country.
Target Groups
The programme targets the following groups of persons:
- Teachers in public Basic, Senior High Schools, Colleges of Education, and Technical Universities;
- Teachers in private Basic, Senior High Schools, Colleges of Education, and Technical Universities;
- School Health Education Programme (SHEP) coordinators at the Regional/Municipal/ Metropolitan/District/Circuit education levels;
- Personnel from Ministry of Health;
- Health related graduates;
- Personnel of NGOs in health related activities;
- Public and community health service providers.
The goals of the programme are to provide opportunities for candidates to:
- teach students at various levels of the educational system in the area of health education;
- upgrade their current academic status to higher ones; and
- occupy upper level managerial positions in various health related areas.
The objectives of the programme are to:
- equip students with the requisite knowledge, techniques and skills that will enable them develop and upgrade themselves in specialised areas in health for both teaching and non-teaching employment;
- enable students acquire an appreciable level of intellectual capacity necessary for doctoral progression in health promotion programmes.
Not Published
The programme is open to people who possess the following qualification:
- a good first degree (at least a second class) in health related discipline from a recognised university/analogous institution.
Candidates seeking admission to Master of Philosophy (Health Education) programme must:
- submit an official transcript of academic record;
- submit at least two reference reports, one of which must be from a former lecturer;
- submit a 2-3 page proposal on intended area of study including references;
- applicants will also have to pass a selection interview.