What Can I Do With a Major In Health Promotion?
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
Finding Research:
- On-Campus: use the UGA Career Guide for templates and guidance on reaching out to faculty to gain research experience, the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) at UGA can also support you in finding research opportunities.
- Off-Campus: Research Experiences for Undergraduates offered through the National Science Foundation and ORISE Fellowships offered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education are great options. The Career Center can help you prepare your materials for research fellowship applications. You can also search for research internships and full and part-time positions in Handshake.
Pre-Health Students: The UGA Career Center offers support specifically for you through Pre-Health Appointments, which can be scheduled through Handshake. The Career Center can help you:
- explore roles in healthcare
- prepare application materials
- prepare for interviews
- navigate growth years.
You can self-enroll in our Career Development Resources eLC for Pre-Health Students for helpful information that you can access from anywhere at any point. If you have questions specifically about GPA, application walkthroughs, and prerequisite course requirements for professional programs, schedule an appointment with the Pre-Professional Advising Office.
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
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
General
- Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)
- LinkedIn (this popular networking site also has a job board!)
- Idealist (non-profit jobs)
- USAJobs (federal jobs)
- Health Promotion Jobs
- Online Sports Jobs
- Public Health Jobs
- CDC Employment Opportunities
- American Public Health Association Job Board
- Georgia State Department of Health Job Board
- Public Health Employment Connection
- National Association of County & City Health Officials Job Board
- Premier Health and Fitness Resources
- University Positions
- Cool Works (Summer and Seasonal Positions)
- Northeast Health District-Athens (Jobs and Internships)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Internships
Professional Associations/Resources
- American Journal of Health Promotion
- American College Health Association
- American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
- American Public Health Association
- Association of Schools of Public Health
- Society for Public Health Education
- Centers for Disease Control
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- Coach U (For students interested in coaching)
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 |
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 |