School of Professional Studies

Health Promotion & Exercise Sciences

Community Health Option

BS Health Promotion Studies: Community Health  

Description: The mission of the Health Promotion Studies program is to develop career professionals who are revolutionary leaders empowered to impact health promotion using an experiential, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach. This program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). 

Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: 64 SH.  

Health Promotion Studies Core 
BIO 105 Anatomy & Physiology I (SI)  4 SH 
BIO 106 Anatomy & Physiology II (SI)  4 SH 
CHE 110 General Chemistry OR CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI)  4 SH 
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW) pre-req PSY 100  3 SH 
HPX 103 Introduction to Health Promotion & Practice  3 SH 
HPX 200 Intro to Community Health Assessment (IL), pre-req HPX 103 C+ or better  3 SH 
HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease  3 SH 
HPX 270 Health Education Theory & Application pre-req HPX 200 C+ or better.  3 SH 
HPX 370 Health Promotion Program Planning & Introduction to Evaluation (W3), pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better, Co-req HPX 371  3 SH 
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better  3 SH 
HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE) pre-req HPX 370 C+ or better  3 SH 
HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 490  12 SH 
HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 491  1 SH 
Community Health Option (C or better in all courses) 
HPX 301 Health Promotion, Policy, Advocacy & Partnerships  3 SH 
HPX 353 Environmental & Global Health  3 SH 
Three (3) Community Health Electives from the list below 
HPX 203, 230, 240, 241, 242, 253, 254, 255, 313, 314, 318, 343, 344, 348, 352, 355, 369, or 380.  9 SH 
Cognates 
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (CT, OC)  3 SH 
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (CT, IC)  3 SH 
MAT 115 or 120 Biostatistics or Elementary Statistics (QR)  3 SH 
SW 220 Cultural Diversity (IC)  3 SH 
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology  3 SH 
PSY Elective (any)  3 SH 
Students must earn a C (2.0) or better in BIO 105, 106, CHE 110/102, PSY260, HPX 202, HPX 491. 
Students must earn a C+ or better in HPX 103, 200, 270, 370, 371, 470 
Minimum GPA for the BS in Health Promotion Studies (HPX) = 2.5 overall. 


General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.  


Sample Four Year Plan: BS Health Promotion Studies: Community Health
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1  SH  Semester 2  SH 
HPX 100 Intro. to Health & Wellness (FY)  3  HPX 103 Introduction to Health Promotion & Practice  3 
SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT, IC)  3  CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI)  4 
WRT 101 Composition I (W1)  3  Writing Tier 2 (W2)  3 
MAT 100/100(P) Intermediate Math OR MAT 115/120 Statistics (QR)  3  MAT 115/MAT 120 Biostatistics or Statistics (QR) or Free Elective  3 
PSY 100 Intro to Psychology  3  Gen Ed: Breadth  3 
Semester 3  SH  Semester 4  SH 
HPX 200 Intro Community Health Assessment (IL)  3  HPX 270 Health Education Theory & Application  3 
HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease  3  HPX 353 Environmental & Global Health  3 
BIO 105 Anatomy & Phys I (SI)  4  BIO 106 Anat. & Phys II (SI, RPT 2)  4 
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (CT, OC)  3  PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW)  3 
SW 220 Cultural Diversity (IC, RPT 1)  3  Community Health Elective 1  3 
Semester 5  SH  Semester 6  SH 
HPX 370 Health Program Planning & Intro to Eval (W3)  3  HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE)  3 
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials  3  HPX 301 Health Promotion, Policy, Advocacy & Partnerships  3 
Community Health Elective 2  3  Community Health Elective 3  3 
Gen Ed: Creative Process  3  Gen Ed: Breadth  3 
Free Elective  3  Free Electives  3 
Semester 7  SH  Semester 8  SH 
PSY Elective  3  HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies  12 
Free Electives   10-12  HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar   1 
Total Credits Required for the BS in HPX = 120; Minimum GPA 2.5