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.  

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.

Learn more about the Health Promotion concentration on the Department of Health and Exercise Science website.

Effective Fall 2024

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
FSHN 150Survey of Human Nutrition 3
HES 145Health and Wellness for Everyone (GT-SS3)1C3
HES 202Introduction to Exercise Physiology 3
MATH 1181College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 1241Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 1251Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)1B1
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 Humanities3B3
Electives 3
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
BMS 300 or HES 300Principles of Human Physiology
Physiology for Clinical Health Professions
 4
HES 207Anatomical Kinesiology 4
HES 3033Biomechanics and Neurophysiology 3
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3)3C3
SPCM 200Public Speaking 3
Arts and Humanities3B3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Electives 6
 Total Credits 29
Junior
 
CO 301BWriting in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)23
HES 232Techniques of Teaching Group Exercise 1
HES 340Exercise Prescription 3
HES 354Theory of Health Behavior 3
HES 355Integration of Health Behaviors 3
HES 386Practicum–Adult Fitness 2
HES 403Physiology of Exercise4B3
HES 404Physiology of Exercise Laboratory4B1
MKT 305Fundamentals of Marketing 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 345Population Health and Disease Prevention 3
HES 434Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan 3
HES 455Health Promotion Programming4A,4C3
HES 486Practicum–Wellness Program Management 3
HES 487Internship 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 Individual and Family Development (GT-SS3) 3C 3
HDFS 201 Perspectives in Gerontology 3
HDFS*** Upper-division course(s) 3-6
HES*** Upper-division course(s) not required elsewhere 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. 

HES 420Electrocardiography and Exercise Management3
It is recommended, but not required, that students enrolling in cardiac care internships take the following courses using elective credit:
BMS 420Cardiopulmonary Physiology3
BMS 450Pharmacology3
1

 MATH 155 or MATH 160 can be substituted for MATH 118, MATH 124 and MATH 125.

2

CHEM 111/CHEM 112 can be substituted for CHEM 107/ CHEM 108, and should be seriously considered by students who want to go on to graduate studies.

3

Students may substitute HES 307 and HES 319 for HES 303.

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 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
HES 145Health and Wellness for Everyone (GT-SS3) X1C3
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) X1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) X1B1
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 
Electives   3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
FSHN 150Survey of Human Nutrition X 3
HES 202Introduction to Exercise Physiology X 3
MATH 125Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)X 1B1
Chemistry - Select one group from the following: X 5
Group A    
Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) X3A 
Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) X3A 
Group B    
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) X3A 
General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) X3A 
Arts and Humanities X3B3
AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) and CO 150 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HES 207Anatomical Kinesiology X 4
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3) X3C3
SPCM 200Public Speaking X 3
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Historical Perspectives X3D3
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 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
BMS 300 or HES 300Principles of Human Physiology
Physiology for Clinical Health Professions
X  4
HES 303Biomechanics 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 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 301BWriting in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) X23
HES 232Techniques of Teaching Group ExerciseX  1
HES 340Exercise PrescriptionX  3
HES 354Theory of Health Behavior X 3
MKT 305Fundamentals of Marketing X 3
Health Promotion Guided Electives (See course list on concentration requirements tab) X 3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HES 355Integration of Health BehaviorsX  3
HES 386Practicum–Adult Fitness   2
HES 403Physiology of ExerciseX 4B3
HES 404Physiology of Exercise Laboratory X4B1
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 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HES 345Population Health and Disease PreventionX  3
HES 434Physical Activity Throughout the LifespanX  3
HES 455Health Promotion ProgrammingX 4A,4C3
HES 486Practicum–Wellness Program ManagementX  3
ElectivesX  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 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HES 487InternshipX  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