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Health Promotion Majors
Health Promotion Majors
A bachelor's degree program in health promotion teaches you about biology, chemistry, nutrition, fitness and health behaviors, and it may require an internship. Find out more about earning a degree in this field, and learn about job duties you may have in a health promotion career and potential places of employment.
What Classes Will I Take in the Health Promotion Major?
Courses in the program cover topics in biology, chemistry, nutrition, fitness, epidemiology and health behavior. Some programs offer concentrations in areas, such as community health, pre-health professions and worksite health promotion. Other programs may prepare you for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam. The curriculum for a program like this might be built on the seven areas of responsibility for certified health education specialists.
Degree completion programs in health promotion are available as well. In a program like this, you'll complete your bachelor's degree in less then four years. The program may have a part-time, year-round structure.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td>Biology, chemistry, nutrition, fitness, epidemiology</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Program Minor</b></td><td>Sometimes required</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Other Requirements</b></td><td>Internships sometimes required; associate's degree required for degree completion programs</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Duties</b></td><td>Design , implement and assess health programs; educate individuals and communities about health and wellness</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $56,500 (<i>for all health educators</i>)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 11% growth (<i>for all health educators</i>)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAboutChoosingAMinor">What About Choosing a Minor?</h3><p>Declaring a minor may not be required for some health promotion degree programs. Still, some programs come with a pre-selected minor in an area such as business. Additionally, some programs sponsor several minors, which may include public health, health communication, nutrition, substance abuse prevention and cinema-television for the health professions.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatRequirementsCanIExpect">What Requirements Can I Expect?</h3><p>For the degree completion program, you'll need an associate's degree prior to admission. Make sure it's an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree. An Associate of Applied Science degree may not meet core requirements since it is not intended for students who wish to further their studies, but rather for those who intend to enter the workforce immediately upon graduating.
</p><p>Depending on the program, you may be required to complete an internship. For the online programs, it may be possible for you to arrange a local internship opportunity. This will take place in a supervised setting and prepare you for career opportunities.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatCanIDoWithABachelorSDegreeInHealthPromotion">What Can I Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Health Promotion?</h3><p>As a health promotion professional, you'll design intervention programs; plan and implement disease-prevention programs; educate individuals and societies about the behavioral, biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors affecting wellness; evaluate health promotion programs and more. You'll typically find employment in places such as hospitals, health clinics, schools, government agencies, college and university wellness departments, worksite health promotion departments, and nonprofit organizations like Planned Parenthood and the American Heart Association.
</p><p>A bachelor's degree in health promotion can also prepare you for graduate study. For example, the pre-health professions concentration prepares you for entry into a graduate health professional school, in areas such as medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry and veterinary sciences.</p>
