Health Studies Program
The health studies major prepares students to improve the health of individuals, families and communities by addressing the systems and conditions that shape well-being. Through a foundation in program-planning, policy analysis and health education, students learn to:
- Collect and analyze health data
- Identify and plan for health needs
- Create, implement and evaluate health programs
- Draft and advocate for effective health policy
- Think critically and creatively about health challenges
Students explore how health is influenced by genetics, environment, behavior and social systems, developing skills to lead change in all communities.
A Flexible, Career-Focused Degree
The health studies curriculum is designed to be highly customizable, allowing students to tailor their academic experience to match their career goals.
There are three pathways to completion within the health studies program 1) general health studies (most flexibility for electives and customization), 2) health promotion specialization and 3) innovative healthcare leadership specialization.
With greater flexibility in elective coursework, students are able to:
- Add complementary minors in areas like health communication, leadership and management of nonprofit organizations, or mental health services (additional complementary minors listed below)
- Complete graduate school prerequisites for programs such as Masters in Public Health or Occupational Therapy (additional graduate school pathways listed below)
- Transfer credits into the program from associate degrees or other institutions for specialized health care pathways
The health studies major is designed to prepare students to use program planning, policy analysis and education to change the conditions and the systems that affect the health of people.
The curriculum engages students in thinking critically about creative solutions to health problems and recognizing that health is related to many issues, including genetics, environment, personal choices and behaviors.
The health promotion specialization will prepare students to promote health and wellness in individuals, communities and populations.
Graduates will enter a growing job market and be equipped to work in a variety of settings, including community health organizations, schools, health care facilities, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Students can also use this specialization as a preparatory degree for advancement into health care-related graduate programs.
The innovative healthcare leadership specialization will prepare students for roles in health care leadership and assist in meeting the need for health services managers and leaders in the current health care system.
These roles reflect the interdisciplinary and flexible nature of the general track:
- Community health educator
- Patient navigator
- Health and wellness coach
- Corporate wellness specialist
- Health communications specialist
- Telehealth coordinator
- Case manager
- Health program assistant
- Community health worker
This track prepares students for CHES® or CWP certification and emphasizes health behavior change, policy and education:
- Certified health education specialist (CHES®)
- Certified wellness practitioner (CWP)
- Wellness program coordinator
- Behavioral health educator
- Health and wellness coach
- Public health program specialist
- Health and safety coordinator
This track focuses on leadership, management and informatics in health care settings:
- Health care administrator
- Clinical manager
- Health information manager
- Nursing home administrator
- Social and community service manager
- Health policy analyst
Graduate School Preparation
Work with professional academic advisors to ensure that graduate school prerequisites are incorporated into students’ plan of study.
- Masters in Public Health (MPH)
- Health Care Administration (MHA)
- Counseling (LPC, LMHC)
- Social Work (MSW)
- Occupational Therapy (OTD)
- Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Physician Assistant (P.A.)
- Medical School (M.D., D.O.)
- Chiropractic School (D.C.)
Certification Preparation
- Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
- Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP)
- Health Coach (NBC-HWC)
- Public Health Certificate (CPH)
Recent Employers
Graduates have gone on to work at:
- State and local health departments
- Regional and national health care systems
- Nonprofit health organizations
- Corporate wellness programs
- Enroll in graduate and professional programs
Complementary Minors
- Digital and Social Media
- Entrepreneurial Studies
- Food Safety
- Gerontology
- Health Communication
- Human Development and Family Studies
- Human Resources
- Leadership
- Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations
- Mental Health Services
- Nutrition
- Rehabilitation Services
- Social and Human Services
- Sport Management
