Health Science: Health Promotion

The World Health Organization defines Health Promotion as "the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health."  Health educators and other health promotion practitioners seek to improve health  by  addressing the health knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and skills of individuals alongside environmental factors, social determinants of health, and inequities.

Students in the Health Promotion concentration study the Core Functions and Essential Services of Public Health  and the Eight Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists

The B.S. in Health Science: Health Promotion emphasizes disease prevention and both public and personal health promotion. The health promotion concentration prepares students for entry-level positions in a variety of health care settings as well as for graduate study in public and community health. The health promotion concentration also prepares students to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) Exam. 

General Education Requirements: 60 Credits
Major Concentration: 55 Credits
Open Electives: 5 Credits

Total: 120 Credits

For a full curriculum listing visit our catalog.

Major Requirements

1. Any student who receives a grade below a C in a major course will be required to retake the course. Major courses may be retaken once.
2. Students who have selected the Health Science: Health Promotion concentration must adhere to the Mercy University policy regarding maintenance of a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.0.
3. Any exceptions to program guidelines require approval by the Program Director.

The Health Science: Health Promotion program offers students the opportunity to complete a semester long internship as part of the program (HLSC 399 Field-based Experience in Health Science.) This course is designed for the student to study the professional world of health care environments. Students will make meaningful connections between their classroom learning and the healthcare internship or job experience. Topics focused on ethics, diversity, communication skills, stress management and other key topics help the student integrate their classroom knowledge with their experiences in the field. Students can review current internship opportunities on the University's Career Services page.

Download a copy of the sequence map for:

B.S. in Health Science: Health Promotion

Archive:

• 2022-2023 B.S. in Health Science: Health Promotion
• 2021-2022 B.S. in Health Science: Health Promotion
• 2020-2021 B.S. in Health Science: Health Promotion
• 2019-2020 B.S. in Health Science: Health Promotion

A wide-range of areas such as licensed rehabilitation professions, environmental and occupational health, public health or health promotion. Graduates may also pursue careers related to health care and health promotion in various public and private, clinical and non-clinical settings.

Yes, faculty are always ready to help students with questions about what courses to take, the sequencing of courses, and career opportunities, including internships and cooperative education.

Full-time students can complete the 120-credit degree program in four years.

Very. You can take classes as a part-time or full-time student, at various times including evenings and weekends.

Yes. Acceptance of transfer credits is determined by Admissions. They consult with any graduate program to which you intend to apply. To be eligible for a B.S. in Health Science, which is a 120-credit degree, students must complete a minimum of 30 undergraduate credits at Mercy University. Mercy may transfer up to 90 undergraduate credits from a four-year college and up to 75 credits from a two-year community college.

If an employer requires a college degree with a health care focus, a B.S. in Health Science is usually preferred. A B.S. in Health Science is the most effective route to completing a Bachelor's degree that includes all the graduate program prerequisite courses for programs such as the Health Promotions Concentration as well as the Graduate Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Programs.