College of Education > Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences > Health, B.S.
Health Overview
Communities need increasing numbers of public health educators, health promotion specialists, and allied health professionals with a B.S. degree. Not only will recent healthcare reforms demand greater number of healthcare providers and educators, this need is exacerbated as a generation of health professionals are retiring. This program prepares students to meet the opportunity, with passionate and accomplished health faculty, who have extensive experience in health education and research in the areas of health disparities, obesity, smoking prevention and treatment, HIV, and cardiovascular disease.
Students with a 2.3 cumulative UH GPA may declare a major in Health. The Bachelor of Science in Health offers three degree tracks: public health; health promotion; and health promotion for allied health professionals.
All three tracks may be designed to meet the coursework criteria for eligibility to become a CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist). The CHES national competencies are generic to the practice of health promotion and health education, whether it takes place in schools, colleges, workplaces, health care settings, or other settings within a community.
Please see department advisor for more information.
The Public Health Track and the Health Promotions Track for the Bachelor of Science in Health degree require a declared minor; for the Health Promotions for Allied Health Professionals Track, a declared minor is optional. All degree requirements for a declared minor must be satisfied prior to awarding of the degree.
Below, is a description of each degree track, followed by a list of course requirements for each degree track.
Public Health Track
The Public Health Track degree option provides courses required for entry-level public health jobs found in government agencies, health corporations, community non-profit organizations and health care facilities. The Public Health Track consisting of 30 hours of Public Health Track Core courses, combined with required Health Electives, offers numerous strong opportunities to public health majors for employment. It also provides a feeder-program for graduate study in our College of Education programs, local Schools of Public Health, and health professional schools in the Texas Medical Center and statewide.
Health Promotion Track
The Health Promotion Track degree option provides courses required for entry-level health promotion jobs found in state/county health departments, medical facilities, and community organizations. The Health Promotion Track consists of 21 hours of Health Promotion Track Core courses and required Health Electives designed to provide the student with the flexibility to develop areas of individual competencies desirable for future employment. Socio-cultural, behavioral, psychological, and biological factors contributing to wellness and disease are emphasized. It is an ideal major for students interested in public/community health practice, health behavior research, program planning and delivery, and pre-professional preparation for medicine, pharmacy, optometry, and dentistry.
Health Promotion Track For Allied Health Professionals
The Health Promotion Track for Allied Health Professionals degree option provides courses required for entry-level health promotion jobs for allied health professionals that promote disease prevention, treatment, and administration and management skills. The Health Promotion for Allied Health Professionals Track consists of 21 hours of Health Promotion for Allied Health Professionals Core courses, required health electives, and 15-30 hours of associate degree transfer credits and approved electives. Students who have completed a two-year associate degree program in an allied health field (e.g., dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, health information technology, speech-language pathology assistant, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, pharmacy technician, radiologic technology, physical therapy) may transfer University core course requirements and advisor-approved courses from their allied health field associate degree. This curriculum provides a program that coordinates well with previous backgrounds and training and allows students to progress to a Bachelor’s Degree.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Health offers three tracks from which students may choose:
Return to: