Associate Professor

Erica Thomas, DHEd

Erica Thomas, DHED, CHES, ACSM-PT is a professor of Kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Services. Thomas is the author of College student health, Exercise is Medicine implementation. Dr. Thomas has a background in health promotion and exercise science and teaches in the Kinesiology and Master of Public Health programs.

Her research focus has been on higher education health and wellness curriculum with other interests in health behavior change, sports performance, and wearable fitness technology.

Dr. Thomas is also currently serving as the President of the Iowa Society for Health Education and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

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Hayes Hall 236

563-333-5864

ThomasEricaG@sau.edu

Education and Training

Doctor of Education in Health Promotion, AT Still University
MS, Des Moines University, Biomedical Sciences
BS, Rockford University, Biology

Courses Taught

Practical Application in Program Design

This course will integrate all of the student's previous coursework, to enable them to assess health and fitness, prescribe appropriate exercise, and optimize human performance for a variety of populations. This will be completed, first through practical classroom experience, followed by a 6 week hands-on personal training project. Critical reading, scientific writing, and oral presentations will be required for students to incorporate current physiological principles and theories with the design and prescription of exercise programs. This course is the capstone course for Human Performance and Fitness majors.

Health, Illness, and Well-being

This course will introduce the physical, psychological, and social changes that occur with aging. Course covers several themes, including understanding social determinants and consequences of health and development, measuring population health, assessing the implications of health disparities, and the contributions of biological and environmental factors (including physical activity) to health, human development, and chronic disease.

Health Promotion and Communication

This course will examine the social and behavioral issues that challenge the health and wellness of individuals and populations. The students will explore health behavior and communication theories and models and integrate these models to develop a health education program. The students will explore media-mass, social, and participatory communication campaign to promote health and wellness.

Qualitative Research

Research is essential to the profession of public health. Within this course, students will explore qualitative research methodologies. Examination of the aim and priorities of qualitative research related to the profession, the types of qualitative research, characteristics of effective scientific inquiry and the necessity of evidence based practice to the profession of public health will be studied. An important emphasis is ethics in research and an understanding of the relationship obligations between researchers and people involved as participants in qualitative research.

Erica Thomas, DHEd

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Education and Training

Courses Taught

Professional Service

Professional Memberships