The Health Promotion concentration provides academic content and experience in promoting positive health behaviors such as physical activity, weight management, stress management, identification of risk factors associated with chronic disease (cardiovascular rehabilitation, cancer rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation) and exercise prescription. The curriculum focuses on exercise science, behavior change, health promotion program development, and practical field experiences. This concentration prepares students for careers in a wide variety of allied health fields for all ages, from youth to older adults. Graduates of this concentration pursue careers working in clinical rehabilitative settings, corporate health and wellness programs, fitness facility management, strength and conditioning, non-profit organizations, public health, chiropractic fields, therapeutic recreation, firefighting, and health/wellness areas. Students in this concentration have also been very successful in continuing their formal education with graduate school.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Demonstrate critical thinking and the ability to apply knowledge related to the key concepts, issues, and tools fundamental to health and exercise science.
- Understand the importance of physical activity in optimizing physical and mental health and preventing/treating disease and disability in people of all ages and provide a detailed explanation of physical activity guidelines and recommendations.
- Develop and demonstrate practical knowledge and understanding in human anatomy and physiology through active classroom learning, laboratory, supervised college teaching, capstone projects, research involvement, practicums, and/or internship experiences.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through writing and oral presentations. Writing skills will focus on the ability to synthesize and apply health and exercise science disciplinary knowledge. Presentation skills will focus on the ability to find and summarize scientific information, develop complementary visual aids, and speak with confidence.
- Demonstrate the ability to design and implement a comprehensive community-based health promotion program.
- Develop a depth of knowledge that enables them to critically evaluate health-related programs and products and distinguish between evidence-based facts and popular fads.
- Develop collaborative skills necessary to work as a cooperative, productive, and accountable team member while working with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
Accelerated Program
The Health Promotion concentration includes an accelerated program option for students to graduate on a faster schedule. Accelerated programs typically include 15-16 credits each fall and spring semester for three years, plus 6-9 credits over two to three summer sessions. Students who enter CSU with prior credit (AP, IB, transfer, etc.) may use applicable courses to further accelerate their graduation. Visit the Office of the Provost website for additional information about Accelerated Programs.
Effective Fall 2025
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUCC | Credits | ||
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
| FSHN 150 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| HES 145 | Health and Wellness for Everyone (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| HES 202 | Introduction to Exercise Physiology (GT-SC2) | 3A | 3 |
| MATH 1181 | College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
| MATH 1241 | Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
| MATH 1251 | Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
| Biology - Select one group from the following: | 4 | ||
| Group A: | |||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Group B: | |||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Chemistry - Select one group from the following:2 | 5 | ||
| Group A | |||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Group B | |||
| General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| BMS 300 or HES 300 | Principles of Human Physiology Physiology for Clinical Health Professions | 4 | |
| HES 207 | Anatomical Kinesiology | 4 | |
| HES 3033 | Biomechanics and Neurophysiology | 3 | |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| SPCM 200 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| Total Credits | 29 | ||
| Junior | |||
| CO 301B | Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | 3 |
| HES 232 | Techniques of Teaching Group Exercise | 1 | |
| HES 340 | Exercise Prescription | 3 | |
| HES 354 | Theory of Health Behavior | 3 | |
| HES 386 | Practicum–Adult Fitness | 2 | |
| HES 403 | Physiology of Exercise | 4B | 3 |
| HES 404 | Physiology of Exercise Laboratory | 4B | 1 |
| MKT 305 | Fundamentals of Marketing | 3 | |
| HES *** Upper Division Elective | 3 | ||
| Statistics - Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| General Statistics (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||
| Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | |||
| Introduction to Biostatistics | |||
| Health Promotion Guided Electives: Select a minimum of 6 credits from the guided electives list below. | 6 | ||
| Total Credits | 31 | ||
| Senior | |||
| HES 345 | Population Health and Disease Prevention | 3 | |
| HES 434 | Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan | 3 | |
| HES 455 | Health Promotion Programming | 4A,4C | 3 |
| HES 486 | Practicum–Wellness Program Management | 3 | |
| HES 487 | Internship | 12 | |
| Electives4 | 6 | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||
Health Promotion Guided Electives List
| Code | Title | AUCC | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT 205 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 | |
| ANTH 340 | Medical Anthropology | 3 | |
| or ANTH 379 | Evolutionary Medicine and Human Health | ||
| BMS *** Upper-Division course(s) | 2-6 | ||
| BUS 205 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Business | 3 | |
| or BUS 220 | Ethics in Contemporary Organizations (GT-AH3) | ||
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 | |
| ECON 325 | Health Economics | 3 | |
| FACS 320 | Finance-Personal and Family | 3 | |
| FIN 200 | Personal Finance and Investing (GT-MA1) | 1B | 3 |
| FIN 305 | Fundamentals of Finance | 3 | |
| FSHN 200-500 course(s) | 3-6 | ||
| HDFS 101 | Lifespan Development (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| HDFS 201 | Perspectives in Gerontology | 3 | |
| HDFS*** Upper-division course(s) | 3-6 | ||
| HES*** Upper-division course(s) | 1-6 | ||
| LIFE 103 | Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1) | 3A | 4 |
| OT 215 | Medical Terminology | 1 | |
| PH 121 | General Physics I (GT-SC1) | 3A | 5 |
| PSY 252 | Mind, Brain, and Behavior | 3 | |
| PSY 260 | Child Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY *** Upper-Division course(s) | 3-6 | ||
Cardiac Care Internship Requirements
Students enrolling in internships in cardiac care must take HES 420 prior to the internship. Students may use elective credits in the sophomore, junior, or senior year to do so. A minimum grade of B (3.000) is required in HES 420 prior to internship placement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HES 420 | Electrocardiography and Exercise Management | 3 |
| It is recommended, but not required, that students enrolling in cardiac care internships take the following courses using elective credit: | ||
| BMS 420 | Cardiopulmonary Physiology | 3 |
| BMS 450 | Pharmacology | 3 |
- 1
MATH 155 or MATH 160 can be substituted for MATH 118, MATH 124 and MATH 125.
- 2
CHEM 111/CHEM 112 should be seriously considered by students who want to go on to graduate studies.
- 3
- 4
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).
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
| HES 145 | Health and Wellness for Everyone (GT-SS3) | X | 1C | 3 | |
| MATH 118 | College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
| MATH 124 | Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
| Biology - Select one group from the following: | X | 4 | |||
| Group A | |||||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Group B | |||||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| FSHN 150 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | X | 3 | ||
| HES 202 | Introduction to Exercise Physiology (GT-SC2) | X | 3A | 3 | |
| MATH 125 | Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
| Chemistry - Select one group from the following: | X | 5 | |||
| Group A | |||||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) | X | 3A | |||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | |||
| Group B | |||||
| General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | X | 3A | |||
| General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | |||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| AUCC 1B and CO 150 must be completed by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| HES 207 | Anatomical Kinesiology | X | 4 | ||
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | X | 3C | 3 | |
| SPCM 200 | Public Speaking | X | 3 | ||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
| CHEM 107/CHEM 108 or CHEM 111/CHEM 112 and LIFE 102 or BZ 110/BZ 111 must be completed by the end of Semester 3. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| BMS 300 or HES 300 | Principles of Human Physiology Physiology for Clinical Health Professions | X | 4 | ||
| HES 303 | Biomechanics and Neurophysiology | X | 3 | ||
| Electives | 6 | ||||
| BMS 300 or HES 300, FSHN 150, HES 145, and HES 207 must be completed by the end of semester 4. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 13 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CO 301B | Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | X | 2 | 3 | |
| HES 232 | Techniques of Teaching Group Exercise | X | 1 | ||
| HES 340 | Exercise Prescription | X | 3 | ||
| HES 354 | Theory of Health Behavior | X | 3 | ||
| MKT 305 | Fundamentals of Marketing | X | 3 | ||
| Health Promotion Guided Elective (See course list on concentration requirements tab) | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| HES 386 | Practicum–Adult Fitness | 2 | |||
| HES 403 | Physiology of Exercise | X | 4B | 3 | |
| HES 404 | Physiology of Exercise Laboratory | X | 4B | 1 | |
| HES *** Upper Division Elective | 3 | ||||
| Statistics - Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| General Statistics (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||||
| Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | |||||
| Introduction to Biostatistics | |||||
| Health Promotion Guided Elective (see course list on concentration requirement tab) | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| HES 345 | Population Health and Disease Prevention | X | 3 | ||
| HES 434 | Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan | X | 3 | ||
| HES 455 | Health Promotion Programming | X | 4A,4C | 3 | |
| HES 486 | Practicum–Wellness Program Management | X | 3 | ||
| Electives | X | 6 | |||
| The benchmark courses for the 7th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study (except for HES 487). | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 18 | ||||
| Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| HES 487 | Internship | X | 12 | ||
| The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 12 | ||||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||||