Health Promotion (B.S.)
Welcome to the perfect starting point for an exciting career in Health Promotion! This growing field offers limitless possibilities in career choices and locales, and Coastal Carolina University's outstanding program is second to none.
Coastal Carolina University's Health Promotion major is one of only 21 programs in the nation and the 1st in South Carolina that has been awarded the designation of SABPAC Program Approval. This prestigious designation is an indication of academic rigor, program quality, and high academic standards in the field of health education.
Our Health Promotion program features four different areas of study so that students may personalize their studies based on career or graduate school aspirations:
- Health Promotion with General Cognate (designed for students with general health interests or those seeking graduate work in allied health careers)
- Health Promotion with a Communication Option
- Health Promotion with a Exercise Science Option
- Health Promotion with a Health Services Leadership Option
Please explore this site and contact me if you would like more information about starting your future here with us.
John F. Yannessa, PhD, Chairperson
Department of Health Sciences
College of Science
Coastal Carolina University
P. O. Box 261954
Conway, SC 29528
Telephone: 843-349-6460
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Health Promotion is an exciting, rewarding, and growing field that is geared toward serving others. Those employed in the field help to protect the public’s health today and in the future by “… enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health (World Health Organization, 1986)."
Students majoring in health promotion have the flexibility of choosing between one of four areas of study: Cognate, Communication Option, Fitness Option or Health Services Leadership Option.
Option 1: Health Promotion major with Cognate
This selection provides students flexibility in planning a cognate or minor area of study. The fifteen-credit cognate will consist of 300-400 level courses outside of major or basic science credits (need faculty approval). Students desiring careers in allied health/medical fields might select the cognate area of study to complete recommended pre-requisite courses. This area might also be selected by students who wish to complete a minor.
Option 2: Health Promotion major with Communication Option
This option will introduce students to the growing discipline of health communication and prepare them for entry-level positions and graduate level education in the field. Health communication is beneficial to promoting and protecting the public’s health in that it can increase knowledge and awareness of health issues, problems and solutions or influence perceptions, attitudes and beliefs that may affect social norms. Health communication is effective at demonstrating or illustrating healthy skills for behavior change and showing the benefit of that change. Additionally, health communication can prompt individuals and communities to act as well as serve as a venue for healthy policy advocacy.
Option 3: Health Promotion major with Fitness Option
This option is designed for students who desire to work in the areas of corporate wellness, personal training, wellness centers, or nonprofit/municipal fitness programs. The area of health and fitness is a rapidly expanding area of work in both the public and private sectors. The Health Promotion degree with the fitness option will provide specialized educational and practical experiences to those interested in the fitness industry. In addition, students are provided the theoretical framework and skills needed to be eligible to sit for professional certifications from national fitness and health education organizations.
Option 4: Health Promotion with Health Services Leadership Option
The Health Services Leadership Option is a directed course of study to broaden students’ understanding of the complex issues facing future health care and public health professionals. It is intended to introduce students to best practices of leadership, advocacy, and delivery of services within a health care context so that they can work in supervisory and governing roles in health care and public health organizations. This option is recommended for those who wish to go directly into the workforce upon graduation.
What are the career opportunities for Health Promotion graduates?
- 7 of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the United States are health-related.
- 250,000 workers are needed in public health by 2020 – which is three times the number of students who are projected to graduate from public health programs – to meet public health work needs.
- Over the next eight years, it is estimated there will be:
- 26% increase in health education positions;
- 16% increase in medical and health management positions, and;
- 21% increase in health services.
Career choices in public health are numerous and broad in scope. In the public health sector, on any given day, there are between 2,500 and 5,000 employment vacancies. Future career opportunities are expected to grow for baccalaureate health promotion graduates because of the following three trends: 1) the evolution of health care to a more “wellness focused” industry; 2) increases in accountability that accompany the evolution of managed health care; and 3) a growing trend toward more community based health programs.
Are there opportunities for certification in health education?
Graduates in Health Promotion are qualified to apply to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam which was established in 1988. To qualify for CHES credentialing, one must hold a bachelor’s degree with 37 hours in health education and pass an examination given by the National Council of Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). The certification was established by health professionals to insure minimum competencies for entrance into the field through a comprehensive knowledge test and by encouraging continuing education through attendance at approved professional presentations. CHES certification is encouraged by many health professionals in the state and nation and is required in some states.
What are the advanced-degree study opportunities?
This degree program will also prepare graduates for advanced-degree studies. Areas of specialization available through graduate work available to a Health Promotion graduate include physical therapy, chiropractic, occupational therapy, biostatistics, dental public health, exercise physiology, environmental and industrial health, epidemiology, safety, hospital and molecular epidemiology, hospital or nursing home administration, health behavior and health education, health gerontology, health planning and administration, human nutrition, occupational medicine, medical care organization, population planning and international health, occupational hygiene, radiological health and toxicology. Outside the field of health, students majoring in Health Promotion also could complete graduate work in a variety of related disciplines including psychology, sociology, anthropology, or business.
Discussion of admissions criteria specific to the program
Students who desire to attend Coastal Carolina University and major in Health Promotion will be required to meet the regular requirements for admission to the University. These requirements include the completion of specific high school courses and reaching admission standards based on SAT or ACT scores and high school GPA.
Once admitted to Coastal Carolina University, students will be required to complete the general education requirements as specified by the core curriculum, foundation courses, major requirements, a cognate, and general electives. Admission criteria specific to the Health Promotion degree program are listed below.
HEALTH PROMOTION CURRICULUM
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Credits |
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I. Core Curriculum |
37-42 |
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II. Freshman Graduation Requirement |
0-3 |
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III. Foundation Courses |
17-25 |
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HPRO 121 Personal & Community Health |
0-3 |
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HPRO 201 Principles of Health Promotion & Education |
3 |
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PSYC 101 OR SOC 101 |
0-3 |
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MATH 130 |
0-3 |
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STAT 201 & L, CBAD 291, PSYC 225 & L |
0-4 |
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BIOL 232/L & 242/L |
4-8 |
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CHEM 101/ L OR CHEM 111/L |
0-4 |
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IV. Major Requirements |
40 |
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HPRO 235 Advanced Emergency Care & First Aid |
3 |
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HPRO 310 Issues in Family Life and Sexuality |
3 |
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HPRO 350 Community Health Prom Strategies. |
3 |
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HPRO 382 Diseases & Disorders |
3 |
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Health Promotion Electives |
6 |
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Select two 300-400 level Health Promotion electives not listed previously. |
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V. Minor, Cognate OR Option |
15 |
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CHOOSE ONE OF THE AREAS BELOW: |
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OPTION 1: COGNATE |
15 |
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OPTION 2: COMMUNICATION OPTION COMM 101 Intro to Communication COMM 274 Organizational Communication COMM 311 Survey in Health Communication COMM/JOUR 312 Writing for Media Relations COMM 410 Special Topics in Communication |
15 |
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OPTION 2: FITNESS OPTION EXSS 122 Lifetime Fitness & Physical Activity EXSS 350 & Lab Exercise Physiology EXSS 385 Exercise Testing and Prescription EXSS 398 Practicm in Fitness EXSS 415 Personal Fitness Leadership |
14
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OPTION 3: HEALTH SERVICES LEADERSHIP OPTION PHIL 317 Biomedical Ethics HPRO 380 Essentials of the U.S. Healthcare System HPRO 401 Issues in Health Services and Public Health HPRO 403 Leadership in the Health Professions HPRO 420 Health Policy |
15 |
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VI. Electives |
0-15 |
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TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: |
120 |
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POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS ADMISSION TO DEGREE CANDIDACY Prior to being admitted, a student must:
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