HLTH 205: Peer Education
Credit Hours: (2)
This course provides students with the core training to educate, intervene, listen
to, and help their peers make healthy lifestyle choices. It introduces students to
peer-to-peer health promotion, with focus on programming skills, listening and referral
skills, knowledge of college health topics, presentation skills, group development,
and service learning. Students who complete this course will sit for the exam to become
a BACCHUS Initiatives of NASPA Certified Peer Educator. Upon completion of the course,
students will have developed the leadership skills to successfully develop and implement
campus health presentations and programs. They will have the opportunity to join the
Radford University Peer Health Educator student club and continue to deliver presentations
to their peers in the residence halls and in other campus settings.
Detailed Description of Course
This course covers the following topics:
- Peer Education: Why peer education is an effective strategy and the impact it can
have on a college campus
- Strategies for change in high risk behaviors: introduction to several health promotion
approaches
- Effective Listening and communication skills
- Responding and referral skills: exploration of potential referral agents for various
health issues students may face
- Intervention and program facilitation skills: students will become more comfortable
addressing unhealthy behaviors
- Diversity: creating health promotion programs that are inclusive
- Media Literacy: students will learn to deconstruct media messages and how the media
impacts decision making, especially in terms of alcohol, drugs, and body image
- Programming and Presentation skills
- Skills and habits of effective peer groups
- Taking Care of Yourself
- In depth coverage of college health topics to also include sleep, stress management,
sexual assault and consent, drug use, healthy relationships, & nutrition.
- Service Learning Opportunities
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Course instruction strategies may include lecture, role-playing, group learning, case
studies, and oral communication activities.
Student Goals and Objectives of the Course
Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to:
1) create educational health programming with current and valid information on a variety
of topics
2) demonstrate planning, execution, and presentation skills for health programming
3) identify campus and community resources for health topics
4) collaborate with peers
5) demonstrate listening and referral skills with peers
6) apply strategies for change in high risk behaviors through individual, group, and
campus-wide interventions
7) Critically analyze and deconstruct media messages, especially related to “normal”
college student behavior
8) sit for the Certified Peer Educator Exam
Assessment Measures
Student learning may include but not be limited to: quizzes, worksheets, reflections
and group projects/presentations and certification exam.
Other Course Information
- The current BACCHUS Network Certified Peer Educator Training Kit
- current BACCHUS Certified Peer Educator Training workbooks
Review and Approval
April 20, 2017
April 16, 2012 Revised