UGA Specific Information for Health Promotion

The Department of Health Promotion and Behavior (HPB), through research, teaching, and service, prepares professionals in process-related competencies in health promotion programming that are based on a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the determinants of health. Health promotion efforts are directed at influencing or facilitating health-related behavior, advocating public health policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and reorienting health services. Students are prepared to work in health promotion and wellness positions in public, community, health care, and worksite settings.

There are two areas of emphasis that you can choose from in this major:

Health Promotion - The health promotion area of emphasis prepares students for health promotion and wellness positions in public, community, worksite, and health care setting, as well as for graduate level work in public health.

Health Services - The health services area of emphasis prepares students for graduate level work with an emphasis on disease prevention and wellness. Graduate work may include pre-physician’s assistant, pre-medical or pre-dental, or other professional health services programs.

Behavioral Medicine - Behavioral Medicine Area of Emphasis in health promotion prepares up to 20 students a year in pre-medicine. This area of emphasis focuses on behavioral medicine and includes community, residency, and practical experiences.



Class of 2023 Career Outcomes for Health Promotion*

** Includes Self-Employed


Campus Resources

College of Public Health Activities, Clubs and Honor Societies

  • Future Health Promoters Club
  • Association of Teachers of Preventative Medicine
  • Student Chapter, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
  • Student Membership with the Gerontological Society of America

Find additional clubs and organizations here.

Connect with your Career Consultant


Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations

Where are health educators employed?

In schools health educators teach health as a subject and promote and implement Coordinated School Health Programs, including health services, student, staff and parent health education, and promote healthy school environments and school-community partnerships. At the school district level they develop education methods and materials; coordinate, promote, and evaluate programs; and write funding proposals.

Working on a college/university campus, health educators are part of a team working to create an environment in which students feel empowered to make healthy choices and create a caring community. They identify needs; advocate and do community organizing; teach whole courses or individual classes; develop mass media campaigns; and train peer educators, counselors, and/or advocates. They address issues related to disease prevention; consumer, environmental, emotional, sexual health; first aid, safety and disaster preparedness; substance abuse prevention; human growth and development; and nutrition and eating issues. They may manage grants and conduct research.

In companies, health educators perform or coordinate employee counseling as well as education services, employee health risk appraisals, and health screenings. They design, promote, lead and/or evaluate programs about weight control, hypertension, nutrition, substance abuse prevention, physical fitness, stress management and smoking cessation; develop educational materials; and write grants for money to support these projects. They help companies meet occupational health and safety regulations, work with the media, and identify community health resources for employees.

In health care settings health educators educate patients about medical procedures, operations, services and therapeutic regimens, create activities and incentives to encourage use of services by high risk patients; conduct staff training and consult with other health care providers about behavioral, cultural or social barriers to health; promote self-care; develop activities to improve patient participation on clinical processes; educate individuals to protect, promote or maintain their health and reduce risky behaviors; make appropriate community-based referrals, and write grants.

In community organizations and government agencies health educators help a community identify its needs, draw upon its problem-solving abilities and mobilize its resources to develop, promote, implement and evaluate strategies to improve its own health status. Health educators do community organizing and outreach, grantwriting, coalition building, advocacy and develop, produce, and evaluate mass media health campaigns.

*Taken from "What is Health Promotion & Behavior?," UGA College of Public Health

Supplemental Career Research Dashboard

Additional Career Research Resources

  • O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.  
  • My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.  
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.  
  • Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.  
  • Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.  
  • UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.  
  • Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance. 
  • Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.  
  • Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.

Employment Websites


Professional Associations/Resources

Tip: Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. Need help finding groups? Check out the Groups You May Like link under the Interests/Groups tab. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well.

Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2023 Health Promotion majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer Position Title(s)
ACE Pain and Spine Medical Assistant
Aesthetic Specialty Centre Medical Assistant
Aon Executive Benefits Specialist
Atrium Health Navicent Medical Assistant
Babcock Dermatology Medical Assistant
Bernard Health Team Member
Boston Children's Hospital Patient Experience Representative
Boys & Girls Clubs of America Program Director
Bright Horizons Teacher
Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic Medical Assistant
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Registered Behavior Technician
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Patient Care Technician
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Child Advocacy Intern
Clark Oconee Family Medicine Medical Assistant
Cloudmed Consultant
Costco Certified Pharmacy Technician
Curcio Dermatology Medical Assistant
Dermatology Office Medical Assistant
East Georgia Cancer Coalition Associate
East Georgia Cancer Coalition Community Health Worker
Emory University Research Coordinator
Employer Not Specified Healthcare Analyst
Georgia Department of Public Health Emergency Preparedness Training Coordinator
GI Care for Kids Medical Assistant
Latham & Watkins Business Services Trainee
Marietta Dermatology & the Skin Cancer Center Medical Assistant
Mercy Health Center Dental Assistant
North Atlanta Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Surgical Assistant
Northside Hospital ED Technician
Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians Lead Medical Assistant
OrthoAtlanta Medical Assistant
Parexel Clinical Research Associate I
Peachtree Women's Clinic Medical Assistant
Piedmont Patient Care Technician
Piedmont Patient Care Technician
Piedmont Medical Assistant for Colorectal Surgery
Premier Inc. Growth Marketing Intern
Sholes Women Center Medical Assistant
Sparrow's Nest Mission Intern
St. Mary’s Health Care System Intern
Summit Clinical Research Clinical Research Coordinator Intern
The Center for Plastic Surgery at MetroDerm Medical Assistant
The Cottage Sexual Assault Center & Children's Advocacy Center Child Services Intern
The Cottage Sexual Assault Center & Children's Advocacy Center Child Services Intern
The Sholes Center for Women's Health Medical Assistant
The Task Force for Global Health, Inc. Communications Coordinator
University of Alabama Clinical Research Coordinator
University of Georgia Alcohol & Other Drugs Well-Being Coordinator
Vitality Health and Wellness Medical Assistant
Vitality Health and Wellness Medical Assistant
Wellstar Health System Patient Access Specialist
Wheeler County Schools Elementary School Receptionist
Worldpay Strategic Business Process Analyst
* denotes no responses received.

*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2023 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2023 Health Promotion majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Graduate School Program(s)
Agnes Scott College Medical Certificate
Appalachian State University Marriage and Family Therapy, MA
Augusta University Nursing, BSN
Augusta University Nursing, Degree Not Specified
Augusta University Nursing, MSN
Augusta University Nursing, MSN
Augusta University Nursing, MSN
Augusta University Business Administration, MEd
Augusta University Occupational Therapy Residential Program, MOT
Augusta University Clinical Nurse Leader, MSN
Augusta University Clinical Nurse Leader, MSN
Brooklyn Law School Law, JD
Clayton State University Additional Coursework
Columbia University Epidemiology, MPH
Emory University Medicine/Public Health, MS
Emory University Nursing, BSN
Emory University Nursing, Degree Not Specified
Emory University Nursing, MS
Emory University Nursing, MS
Emory University Nursing, MSN
Emory University Nursing, MSN
Emory University Nursing, MSN
Emory University International and Global Studies, MS
Emory University Public Health, MPH
Emory University Public Health, MPH
George Washington University Environmental Health Science Policy, Master's
Georgia State University Public Health, MPH
Georgia State University Occupational Therapy, Doctorate
Georgia State University Occupational Therapy, OTD
Georgia State University Business/Health Administration, MBA/MHA
Georgia State University Additional Undergraduate Coursework
Gwinnett Technical College Certificate
Kennesaw State University Accelerated Nursing, BSN
Mercer University Physician Assistant, PA
Mercer University Medicine, MD
Mercer University Medicine, MD
Morehouse School of Medicine Medical Doctor, MD
National Taiwan University Global Health, MS
Not Specified College Physician Assistant Studies, MS
Nova Southeastern University Anesthesia, MSA
South College Physician Assistant, PA
South College Medical Sciences, MS
South College Physician Assistant Studies, MHS
South College Physician Assistant Studies, MHS
University of Georgia Health Policy And Management, MPH
University of Georgia Health Promotion and Behavior, MPH
University of Georgia Public Health, Degree Not Specified
University of Georgia Public Health, Degree Not Specified
University of Georgia Public Health, Degree Not Specified
University of Georgia Public Health, MPH/MSW
University of Georgia Public Health, MS
University of Georgia Public Health, Post Baccalaureate Certificate
University of Georgia Public Health, Post Baccalaureate Certificate
University of Georgia Epidemiology, MPH
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Physical Therapy, DPT
University of Texas at Austin Autism and Developmental Disabilities, MEd
* denotes no responses received.