Major in Health and Exercise Science, Health Promotion Concentration

Program Overview

Colorado State University's Health Promotion concentration within Health and Exercise Science equips students with the knowledge and skills to promote positive health behaviors through an emphasis on exercise science, behavior change, and health promotion program development. The four-year program includes practical field experiences and prepares graduates for careers in diverse allied health fields. Students can accelerate their graduation through an optional accelerated program and have the opportunity to participate in internships in areas such as cardiac care and fitness facility management.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Health Promotion concentration within the Health and Exercise Science major at Colorado State University focuses on promoting positive health behaviors. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to address various health concerns, including physical activity, weight management, stress management, and chronic disease prevention. The curriculum emphasizes exercise science, behavior change, health promotion program development, and practical field experiences. This concentration prepares students for careers in diverse allied health fields, serving individuals of all ages, from youth to older adults.

Outline:

The Health Promotion concentration is structured across four years, with a detailed course schedule outlined for each semester.

Freshman Year:

• Semester 1:
• College Composition (GT-CO2)
• Health and Wellness
• College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)
• Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)
• Biology (select one group):
• Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)
• Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)
• Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Semester 2:
• Survey of Human Nutrition
• Introduction to Exercise Physiology
• Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)
• Chemistry (select one group):
• Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)
• Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)
• General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
• General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)
• Arts and Humanities

Sophomore Year:

• Semester 3:
• Anatomical Kinesiology
• General Psychology (GT-SS3)
• Public Speaking
• Arts and Humanities
• Historical Perspectives
• Semester 4:
• Principles of Human Physiology (BMS 300 or HES 300)
• Biomechanics and Neurophysiology
• Electives

Junior Year:

• Semester 5:
• Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)
• Techniques of Teaching Group Exercise
• Exercise Prescription
• Theory of Health Behavior
• Fundamentals of Marketing
• Health Promotion Guided Electives
• Semester 6:
• Integration of Health Behaviors
• Practicum – Adult Fitness
• Physiology of Exercise
• Physiology of Exercise Laboratory
• Statistics (select one course):
• General Statistics (GT-MA1)
• Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• Health Promotion Guided Elective

Senior Year:

• Semester 7:
• Population Health and Disease Prevention
• Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan
• Health Promotion Programming
• Practicum – Wellness Program Management
• Electives
• Semester 8:

Careers:

Graduates of the Health Promotion concentration are prepared for careers in a wide range of allied health fields, including:

• Clinical rehabilitative settings
• Corporate health and wellness programs
• Fitness facility management
• Strength and conditioning
• Non-profit organizations
• Public health
• Chiropractic fields
• Therapeutic recreation
• Firefighting
• Health/wellness areas

Other:

• The Health Promotion concentration offers an accelerated program option for students seeking to graduate on a faster schedule.
• Students with prior credit (AP, IB, transfer, etc.)
may use applicable courses to further accelerate their graduation.
• Students enrolling in internships in cardiac care must take HES 420 prior to the internship.
• It is recommended, but not required, that students enrolling in cardiac care internships take BMS 420 and BMS 450.
• MATH 155 or MATH 160 can be substituted for MATH 118, MATH 124, and MATH 125.
• CHEM 111/CHEM 112 can be substituted for CHEM 107/CHEM 108.
• Students may substitute HES 307 and HES 319 for HES 303.
• Students must select enough elective credits to bring the program to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).