Skip to main content

Health Promotion Emphasis

Public health students in health promotion, also known nationally as health education specialists, study the biological, behavioral, and social factors that affect the public's health.

    With a bachelor's degree in health promotion graduates may serve a variety of populations for largely preventable issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and harm from alcohol and drugs. Additionally, Health Promotion students at BYU are eligible to be nationally certified as a health education specialist (CHES) through their coursework.

    The following list gives a general idea of career settings:

    • Federal, state, and local health agencies
    • Relief agencies
    • Crisis centers
    • Substance abuse centers and agencies
    • Centers for the aging
    • Worksite wellness
    • Advocacy organizations
    • Consulting firms

    The median salary for health promotion specialists is $41,830/year. Although local communities may vary, the national job outlook “expects to grow by 21% from 2012-2022 [which is] faster than average,” as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The book 101 Careers in Public Health can be a valuable resource for students looking for information on a specific career within Public Health. See the student secretaries in 4103 LSB to check out a copy.