Graduate Certificate in Program Planning in Public Health and Physical Activity

The Graduate Certificate in Program Planning in Public Health and Physical Activity is offered through the Department of Kinesiology in the School of Public Health. The certificate introduces students to evidence-based health promotion and program planning grounded in physical activity, with attention to community health needs, equity, and the built and social environments that shape opportunities for active living.

Mentoring and advising are central to the program. Students work closely with faculty and the academic program director to align their academic progress with their career learning and development goals.  For specific academic questions, students may contact Dr. Valerie Cholet at vcholet@umd.edu.

The Graduate Certificate in Program Planning in Public Health and Physical Activity provides working professionals the opportunity to learn the concepts necessary to develop health intervention programming utilizing physical activity as the foundation to improve health outcomes.

• The 13-credit, five-course program emphasizes evidence-based practices in health intervention programming and prepares students to design community-based public health programs that recognize the whole person and highlight the role of physical activity in supporting health.
• The certificate is embedded in the Master of Public Health in Physical Activity program and can be completed in 12 months of continuous part-time enrollment. See Designation of Full-time/Part-time Status.

Registration Overview

Students should use the sample plan of study below as a guide when developing their academic plan with the program director.

• Course offerings are determined by the program and may vary by term. Students should review course requirements carefully, including any prerequisites or corequisites.
• Specific class meeting information, including days and times, is available through the Office of the Registrar. In Testudo, students can select “Schedule of Classes,” choose the appropriate term and year, and search by academic unit.
• The program uses specific section codes for registration, which are listed on the sample plan of study.

Sample Plan

Courses

For a listing of program courses, see the Graduate School Catalog program requirements for Z177. For course descriptions that include pre-requisites or co-requisites, see KNES and SPHL.

Overview

• Instruction provided by UMD faculty and professionals in the field.
• Uses the semester academic calendar with classes held during fall and spring semester (16 weeks each) and Summer Session (two 6-week sessions).

Online Learning

• Features 100% online instruction with engaging and interactive learning.
• Using advanced audio and video technology, UMD’s online learning environment delivers dynamic and interactive content. 
• Featuring convenience and flexibility, online instruction permits asynchronous or synchronous participation.
• Lectures are video archived. Students who are unable to attend in real time can review the session through asynchronous participation.

Upon successful completion, graduates will have mastered the following competencies:

• Explain how physical activity integrates within the core areas of Public Health
• Apply evidence-based knowledge and understanding of the relation of physical activity to health and function across the life span.
• Design, implement, and evaluate physical activity interventions in a variety of populations.
• Utilize a conceptual understanding of social, behavioral, and cultural theories to promote and implement physical activity programs and policies.
• Evaluate the impact of physical activity and sedentary behavior at the community level.
• Develop and utilize the ability to collaborate with public health professionals at local and/or federal levels to promote physical activity research, practice, and policy.