The Bachelors of Science in Health Studies program will provide students with knowledge to become successful leaders in the field of health promotion. The degree leads to multiple options in the health professions, particularly in the area of public health. The curriculum will focus on the sociology and economics, as well as introduce students to health informatics, community-based prevention models, global health issues, and policy as it pertains to public health. The capstone project will embed students within a public health entity as interns, giving them workforce experience. The program will assist health educators or students wishing to enter other undergraduate or graduate programs, including Master’s in Occupational or Physical Therapy, a doctorate in Pharmacy, or a Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Health or Athletic Training. The 120-hour program could be completed in three years.

Graduates will be eligible to sit for the Health Educator exam. Twenty-five (25) semester credit hours of Health Studies can be accepted for student to be eligible to sit for the Certification Exam and become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

The BS in Health Studies course titles, descriptions and course objectives in the 33 semester credit hours were written to address the seven criteria for NCHEC:

Area I: Assess Needs, Assets and Capacity for Health Education
Area II: Plan Health Education
Area III: Implement Health Education
Area IV: Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education
Area V: Administer and Manage Health Education
Area VI: Serve as a health Education Resource Person
Area VII: Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education

The following requirements apply to all candidates for the BS in Health Studies.

1. Satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements for students entering college in Fall 1999 or after. See “General Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree .”
2. Major Requirements:
   Other Lower level Requirements - (10 hours)
   PSYC Requirements - (9 hours)
   HCAD Requirements - (6 hours)
   Health Studies Requirements - (39 hours)
3. Free Electives - (12 hours - see below) To satisfy 120 s.h. degree requirement and 36 s.h. upper-division requirement.