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 2021 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/Considerations

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  (click on Find Occupations)
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook  (type in general term for career of interest)
  • Georgia Career Information Center  (accessible only on campus computers)
  • Firsthand  (Company rankings/profiles, industry career guides, and advice articles)
  • Candid Career  (View professionals speaking about their careers under the "Resources" tab and select "Online Resources")
  • UGA Mentor Program - Networking with your Bulldog family can help you get ahead in life and career, but where do you even start? The UGA Mentor Program narrows down the world of possibilities to meaningful connections.  It personalizes the mentoring experience; connecting you with mentors that are just right for your commitment.. There's a better way to network.  Visit mentor.uga.edu today and find a mentor who can help you see your future.

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 2021 Health Promotion majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 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)
ACLU of Georgia Policy Intern
Adaptive Medical Partners Business Development
Athens Pregnancy Center Administrative Assistant
Atlanta Dental Center New Patient Coordinator
CDC Public Health Advisor
Chanel Barnes Consultant
Chanel Barnes Consultant
Cobb Internal Medicine Medical Assistant
Cohen and Caproni, LLC Paralegal
GA Northeast Health District Administrative Support
Georgia Department of Public Health Contact Tracer
Georgia Department of Public Health Case Investigator
GI Care For Kids Medical Assistant
GIA Gratitude in Action Foundation AmeriCorps VISTA
Insight Global KDHE Covid-19 Case Investigator
Jericho Health Patient Care Manager
Kathy Cothran Clinical Medical Assistant
Kathy Cothran Clinical Medical Assistant
Legacy Link Database Resource Specialist
MediRevv Revenue Cycle Specialist
Medtronic Associate Account Manager
Megan Smith Evaluation Assistant
MetroDerm P.C. Medical Assistant
MTG Logistics Career Sales Respresentative
New American Pathways Health Service AmeriCorps Member
North Atlanta Dermatology Medical Assistant
North Atlanta Dermatology Medical Assistant
North Georgia Nephrology Consultants Medical Assistant
Oconee Valley Healthcare Medical Assistant
Optomi Professional Services Technical Recruiter
Optum Sales Account Executive
Our Family Health Center Medical Assistant
Piedmont Healthcare Graduate Medical Education Program Administrator
Precision Orthopedics Medical Device Sales Representatives
Resurgens Orthopaedics Certified Medical Assistant
Tanaq Support Services LLC Public Health Analyst I
United States House of Representatives Staff Assistant
UT Southwestern Clinic Staff Assistant
Vidant Medical Center Specimen Assistant
* 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 2021 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 2021 Health Promotion majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 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)
Augusta University Medicine, MD
Augusta University Nursing, MS
Augusta University Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leadership, MSN/CNL
Augusta University Clinical Nurse Leader, MSN
Augusta University Nursing, MSN/CNL
Augusta University Dental Medicine, DMD
Augusta University Nursing, MSN
Augusta University Medicine, MD
Augusta University Nursing, MSN CNL
Augusta University Nursing, MSN
Augusta University MSN-CNL Program, MSN
Case Western Reserve University Medical Physiology, MS
Dental College of Georgia Dental Medicine, DMD
Duke University Not Specified
East Carolina University Science in Occupational Therapy, MSOT
Emory University Nursing, MSN
Emory University Nursing, MSN
Emory University Public Health, MPH
Emory University Public Health, MPH
Emory University Nursing, MSN
Emory University Epidemiology, MPH
Emory University Nurse Practitioner Program, MN , MSN
Emory University Medicine, MD
Florida International University Physical Therapy, DPT
Georgia Southern University Public Health, MPH
Georgia State University Public Health, MPH
Georgia State University Program, MHA/MBA
Georgia State University Occupational Therapy, OTD
Georgia State University Nursing, MSN
Georgia State University Business Administration/Health Administration, MBA/MHA
Johns Hopkins University Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, MSPH
Life University Chiropractics, DC
Marian University Biomedical Sciences, MS
Medical University of South Carolina Nursing, BSN
Medical University of South Carolina Nursing, LPN
Mercer University Physician Assistant, MS
South College Physician Assistant, MPAS
University of Chicago Treat and Response Management, MS
University of Georgia Epidemiology, MPH
University of Georgia Epidemiology, MPH
University of Georgia Public Health, MPH
University of Georgia Health Policy and Management, MPH
University of Georgia Health Promotion, PhD
University of Georgia Public Health, MPH
University of Georgia Health Promotion and Behavior, MPH
University of Georgia STEM Business Administration, MBA
University of Georgia Public Health, MPH
University of Georgia Public Health, MPH
University of Georgia Epidemiology, MPH
University of Georgia Pharmacy, PharmD
University of Maryland Public Health Emphasis in Physical Activity, MPH
Yale University Public Health, MPH
* denotes no responses received.