Health Education and Behavior
The Department of Health Education and Behavior, with a foundation in the social and biological sciences, focuses on health information and theory application. Students learn techniques to promote healthy lifestyle choices in individual and group settings, with special attention given to diversity and culturally appropriate health education methodologies.
About This Major
- College: Health and Human Performance
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Education
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Minor: No
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: heb.hhp.ufl.edu/
Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Health Education degree program allows students maximum flexibility to choose department specialization coursework during the junior and senior years that relates to personal interests in the health field. Students can focus their studies on interest areas in community and public health education, health promotion in the worksite setting or general health studies as they prepare for professional health occupations.
Students with an interest in community and public health education complete coursework focused on illness and disease prevention among special target groups within a particular community, with the ultimate goal of providing practical health information to diverse population groups through the use of theory-driven educational methods. Community health and public health educators generally find employment in local, state or national government health agencies (state or county health departments, CDC, NIH) and in voluntary public health units such as the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes and Planned Parenthood.
Students with interests in health promotion complete coursework that prepares for careers in employee-assistance programs and corporate or hospital-based wellness centers. Many companies utilizing large employee populations have noticed a significant decrease in absenteeism and an increase in work productivity for those employees actively participating in an employee wellness program. In addition, insurance rates tend to be lower for those employees thus providing an incentive for employers to offer such programs. Employee wellness programs can include sessions for smoking cessation, nutritional guidelines, stress relief and injury prevention, and might include running an on-site gym.
Students who want in-depth knowledge of health concerns can complete coursework in general health studies. This interest area allows students to gain knowledge on a variety of health issues plaguing diverse population groups. Students are also able to complete required prerequisite coursework for professional health programs such as nursing, medical school, physician assistant, occupational therapy and physical therapy, as well as graduate programs in health education or related fields (public health, health administration, epidemiology and disease prevention).
Students majoring in health education and behavior are also eligible for the Bachelor/Master of Science combined degree program, thus receiving both degrees within approximately five years. Students interested in this program should schedule an appointment with the department academic adviser.
Critical Tracking
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-8
- 2.8 GPA on critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-4
- Complete 2 of 7 critical-tracking courses: APK 2100C, APK 2105C, BSC 2010/2009L or MCB 2000/2000L, CHM 1030 or CHM 2045, MAC 1105 or MAC 1140 or MAC 1147, PSY 2012, STA 2023
Semester 2
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses
Semester 3
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses
Semester 4
- Complete all 8 critical-tracking courses including labs
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Recommended Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. Students are required to complete HUM 2305 The Good Life (GE-H) in semester 1 or 2.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
CHM 1030 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications 1 or
CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 ** (both GE-P) |
3 |
| HSC 3102 Personal and Family Health (GE-S) * |
3 |
| HUM 2305 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
MAC 1105 Basic College Algebra (3) or
MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra (3) or
MAC 1147 Precalculus Albegra and Trigonometry (4) |
3-4 |
| Writing requirement course (WR-6) |
3 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
| PSY 2012 General Psychology (GE-S) |
3 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) |
3 |
SYG 2000 Principles of Sociology or
SYG 2010 Social Problems (both GE-S) * |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Writing requirement course (GE-C and WR-6) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication or
SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking * |
3 |
| APK 2100C Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory (GE-B) |
4 |
BSC 2009 Biological Sciences (3) and BSC 2009L Laboratory in Biological Sciences (1) ** or
MCB 2000 Microbiology (3) and MCB 2000L Microbiology Laboratory (1) (all GE-B) |
4 |
| Humanities (international focus) and writng requirement course (GE-H, N and WR-6) |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| APK 2105C Applied Human Physiology with Laboratory (GE-B) |
4 |
| HUN 2201 Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (GE-B) * |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
| Humanities (diversity focus) and writing requirement course (GE-H, D and WR-6) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
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* Complete AEC 3030C or SPC 2608, SYG 2010 or SYG 2000, HSC 3102 and HUN 2201 by the end of Semester 4.
** Pre-health students are strongly encouraged to complete the higher level math and science course options to satisfy the critical tracking requirements as well as prerequisite requirements for various health profession programs.
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| HSC 3032 Foundations of Health Education |
3 |
| HSC 3537 Health and Medical Terminology |
3 |
| HSC department specialization courses |
6 |
| Elective, 3000/4000 level |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| HSC 3201 Community and Environmental Health |
3 |
| HSC 4713 Planning and Evaluating Health Education Programs |
3 |
| Elective, 3000/4000 level |
3 |
| HSC department specialization courses |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| HSC 4302 Methods and Materials in Health Education |
3 |
| HSC 4800 Health Education Professional Development |
3 |
| Elective, 3000/4000 level |
3 |
| HSC department specialization courses |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| HSC 4876 Internship in Health Education |
15 |
| Total |
15 |
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HSC Department Specialization Courses – 18 hours
| HSC 3133 Human Sexuality Education |
3 |
| HSC 3134 Drug Education |
3 |
| HSC 3143 Emotional Health and Counseling |
3 |
| HSC 3232C Exercise Therapy, Adapted Physical Activity and Health |
3 |
| HSC 3301 Health Education in Elementary Schools |
3 |
| HSC 3574 Nutrition Education for Special Populations |
3 |
| HSC 4174 Behavioral and Environmental Determinants of Obesity |
3 |
| HSC 4233 Patient Health Education |
3 |
| HSC 4579 Women's Health Issues |
3 |
| HSC 4593 HIV/AIDS Education |
3 |
| HSC 4623 Minority Health Issues |
3 |
| HSC 4624 Trends in International Health |
3 |
| HSC 4663 Community Health Methods in Injury Prevention and Control |
3 |
| HSC 4664 Health Communication of Consumers |
3 |
| HSC 4694 Worksite Health Promotion |
3 |
| HSC 4950 Current Topics in Health Education |
3 |
Students must see an adviser before registering for these three courses:
| HSC 4813 Practicum in Health Education |
1-3 |
| HSC 4905 Individual Study |
1-4 |
| HSC 5XXX Any non-combined 5000-level course offered within the department |
1-3 |
Refer to the course descriptions for specific course prerequisites.
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