The concentration in the Health Department  is intended to provide students with the background and skills needed to function on college campuses as health promotion and prevention specialists. These individuals typically work in a variety of health education areas including sexuality, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, stress management, and health promotion. Responsibilities often involve conducting campuswide activities, developing peer education programs, and working with college offices in promoting the health of students.

Colleges across the country have been establishing campus programs and services which have as their central focus the reduction of health threatening behaviors and the promotion of student health. The focus of this concentration is to prepare individuals with the background and skills needed to work in this rapidly growing field.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills of a health literate health educator as currently defined by the field.
2. Assess needs, resources and capacity to determine priorities for school health education.
3. Plan effective, culturally and developmentally appropriate school health education curricula and programs.
4. Develop and deliver health education based on current best practices in the field.
5. Implement health education instruction so learners meet state and national standards in health education.
6. Assess learner performance to improve instruction and learner outcomes.
7. Plan and coordinate a school health education program based on current state and national frameworks.
8. Serve as a resource person in health education.
9. Communicate and advocate for health and school health education.

Career Potential

• College health promotion specialist
• College prevention specialist
• College health educator