School of Professional Studies

Health Promotion & Exercise Sciences

Department Vision and Mission:

Department Vision:
The HPX Department is the premier health promotion/education program in the Northeast.

Department Mission:
The mission of the HPX Department is to link education and research with service learning, student teaching, and internship experiences. In addition, the department educates and creates opportunities about making healthy lifestyle choices.

The strategies that we use to achieve this mission include an experiential learning approach that incorporates team building, knowledge enhancement, skill building, volunteerism, and continuous quality improvement. Students create health promotion programs for the university and surrounding community organizations. The service learning approach provides students with an opportunity to gain “real-life experience” and help the community at the same time. Mentoring, advising and leading by example are key components of our student-centered approach.

The curriculum is driven by competency-based objectives derived from ongoing internal and external program evaluations. Our graduates’ performances in pre-professional activities and worksite placements with schools, public and private health agencies, fitness centers and corporations assist in the realization of the department’s mission. We strive to meet the educational needs of a diversified student body so that our majors will be prepared to address health education and health promotion in a global society.

Degree Programs:

There are two distinct degree programs within the health promotion and exercise sciences area:

  • B.S. Health Education (PK-12)
    Bachelor of Science degree and teaching certification as a school health educator
  • B.S. Health Promotion Studies
    Bachelor of Science degree as a health promotion studies educator, with options in community health, wellness management, Holistic and Integrative Health, and allied health professions

Following completion of a Bachelor of Science in Health Education or Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion Studies, students will be prepared to sit for the national CHES examination (Certified Health Education Specialist – the credential for health educators).

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