The health promotion and education minor provides students with a basic framework of knowledge and skills regarding the health promotion and education profession. The minor allows students with an interest in health promotion to incorporate formal coursework into their existing major.
Health educators work to improve the health of individuals or communities, depending on their work setting and job responsibilities. For example, health educators working in health departments often are concerned with the health of the community they serve and may develop programs to impact people living in the community. Health educators working in business/industry may be working one-on-one with individuals to help them modify and improve their diet, increase their physical activity, reduce their stress levels, stop smoking, etc.
The seven basic responsibilities of health educators include:
- assessing individual and community needs for health education
- planning health education strategies, interventions and programs
- implementing health education strategies, interventions and programs
- conducting evaluation and research related to health education
- administering health education strategies, interventions and programs
- serving as a health education resource person
- communicating and advocating for health and health education