MAJOR: HEALTH PROMOTION
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The Health Promotion major in the College of Education prepares students for careers in health promotion and disease prevention in community health settings, school health, corporate fitness and wellness, government and nonprofit agencies, and personal training. Many of our students pursue graduate degrees in health promotion or related fields of study such as public health, physical therapy, nursing, nutrition, or counseling. The major includes required courses in epidemiology, foundations of health promotion I and II, evaluation and research design, physiology, and anatomy. There are also opportunities for training in clinical testing and personal training.

Declare This Major

The College of Education has established specific GPA requirements that students must meet in order to transfer into the Department. Students with 36 or more total hrs (UT + transfer hrs + Credit by exam) at the end of the current semester must have a 3.0 or better overall UT GPA. Students with less than 36 total hrs (UT + transfer hrs + Credit by exam) at the end of the current semester must have a 2.0 or better overall UT GPA. View the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education internal transfer policy for additional information.

Current undergraduate students at UT Austin who would like to transfer into the College of Education should meet with an academic advisor in BEL 1005 in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education Advising Center to go over a proposed degree plan and complete the form to change colleges.

Prospective University of Texas at Austin students should visit to learn about the application process and how to declare a major.

Required Courses

View a degree plan to see the required courses for the Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Education Health Promotion major.

Specializations

Students are required to complete a 15-hour minor in a field of study of their interest or they will complete one of the Department of Kinesiology's ten specializations available to Kinesiology and Health students.
Any of the following Specializations are suitable for this major:

  • Aquatics
  • Athletic Health Care
  • Coaching
  • Community Health and Wellness
  • Disability Studies
  • Golf
  • Health Fitness Instructor
  • Health Sciences
  • Medical Fitness and Rehabilitation
  • Strength & Conditioning Coaching
The Specializations in Community Health and Wellness, Health Fitness Instructor, Health Sciences, and Medical Fitness and Rehabilitation are recommended for this major.
Due to their chosen Specialization area, many Health Promotion students will complete a semester-long internship and seek professional certifications such as Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), Personal Training Certification through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Certified Personal Trainer (NCA-CPT), and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), amongst many others.

Personality

Health Promotion students need to possess strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable conducting research via the internet, journal articles, and other resource materials. Students in Health Promotion typically describe themselves as outgoing, people-oriented individuals who have a special interest in learning and researching past, new and upcoming health issues.