Health Promotion
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Curriculum and Delivery
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What is Health Promotion?
Health promotion is a field designed to enable people to increase control over, and improve, their health. Health promoting interventions facilitate lifestyle changes that enhance awareness, change behavior, and create environments that support good health practices. Health promotion also focuses on the individual, social, physical, economic, and political factors that affect health, and includes efforts to prevent ill health through risk reduction or early detection, to reduce morbidity and mortality, and to improve quality of life.
Why Choose a Minor in Health Promotion?
The Health Promotion minor at Springfield College is designed to assist students in gaining a deeper understanding of health issues and their impact on overall quality of life. Students in this minor believe that health and wellness should be accessible to everyone—and are passionate about making it happen. The course options provide a basis for personal and professional growth, emphasize positive lifestyle choices, and explore health and wellness concerns.
What will this minor prepare me for?
The minor prepares students for entry into health-related graduate programs. The minor also adds a distinctive health focus to any program of study, allowing students to pursue their interests in majors and career tracks such as:
- Education
- Allied Health
- Nutrition
- Counseling
- Kinesiology
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Social Work
- Education
- Criminal Justice
- Human Resources
- Mental Health
- Human Services
Is the minor right for me?
Students in all majors with an interest in learning more about health can obtain a minor in Health Promotion. You might like this program if:
- You want to gain personal and practical information on how to improve your physical, mental, social, and emotional health
- You are passionate about wellness and healthy living and want the knowledge and skills to help others become healthy as well
- You want to broaden your perspective on your future profession, and gain knowledge that will enhance a school, community, or public health-related career
- You are interested in health and want a minor that can serve as a stepping stone to pursuing a graduate degree.
- You are fascinated by the way health is influenced by social determinants, like gender, race, age, and socioeconomic status, and want to translate this interest into future solutions for a healthier world
What are my career options?
The Health Promotion minor can enrich your understanding of your chosen field and, in turn, enhance your career prospects. Depending on your major, following are examples of places you might want to work with a minor in Health Promotion:
Community Health Organizations
With a Health Promotion minor, you can work in community health education programs, designing and implementing health promotion campaigns, conducting workshops, and developing educational materials to raise awareness about various health issues.
Nonprofit Organizations
With a Health Promotion minor, you can find opportunities in nonprofit organizations, such as health centers and advocacy groups. You may work on initiatives related to disease prevention, access to health care, health equity, policy advocacy, or community outreach.
Government Agencies
Health Promotion is a critical component of government agencies at the local, state, and national levels. You can contribute to public health initiatives, assist in data analysis, participate in policy development, or work on health education and promotion programs.
Global Health
With a Health Promotion minor, you can explore opportunities in international health organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), or global health initiatives. You may engage in projects related to infectious disease control, maternal and child health, health infrastructure development, or health education in resource-limited settings.
Allied Health Professions
Allied Health professionals are involved with the delivery of health or related services pertaining to the identification, evaluation and prevention of diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, rehabilitation, health systems management, and others. A minor in Health Promotion enhances the ability of certified professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, cardiac rehabilitation specialists, and physician assistants to perform their job responsibilities.
Occupational Health and Safety
A Health Promotion minor can provide a foundation for working in occupational health and safety roles. You can focus on assessing and reducing workplace hazards, promoting employee well-being, and developing policies and programs to ensure a safe working environment.
Health Consulting
With a Health Promotion minor, you can pursue careers in health consulting firms, where you can contribute to projects involving health policy analysis, program evaluation, health care quality improvement, or health data management.
Health and Wellness Coaching
A Health Promotion minor can help develop the background knowledge you need to pursue a career in health and wellness coaching. Health and wellness coaches help clients to establish goals related to their wellness and then help them to explore the obstacles and areas of challenge on the pathway to those goals.
Graduate Studies in Health Promotion and Health Equity
If you develop a strong interest in health promotion, a minor can serve as a stepping stone to pursuing advanced degrees, such as Springfield College’s graduate program in Health Promotion and Health Equity or a related field. This can open further opportunities in research, academia, and leadership roles within the school, community or public health sector.
