Master's Degree with Specialization in Health Promotion

Welcome to the KHP Department’s Health Promotion Graduate Program homepage. We believe that health promotion is a process that enables individuals, groups, and communities to become empowered to take control of their health. This process involves health education as well as the many ecological supports of health.

The M.S. degree with a specialization in Health Promotion is directed primarily at preparing students to be employed in worksite health promotion. However, our graduates are also employed in a variety of other settings such as schools, health departments, health/wellness related businesses, and colleges and universities. For those students interested in school health education, the program is NCATE-approved and designed to enable students to demonstrate the areas of responsibility and competencies based on A Competency-Based Framework for Health Educators - -2006.  Students who have initial teacher certification have the opportunity to pursue Rank II advanced teacher certification.

Our Health Promotion specialization offers students the choice between the Thesis Option (24 hours of course work, 6 hours thesis) and Course Work Option (30 hours of approved course work). Students in our M. S. program complete a core of 15-18 hours of required health promotion and research related courses within the KHP Department and College. Students complete an additional 6-15 hours of elective course work (depending upon thesis option or course work option) that may be selected from within the KHP Department; other departments in the College of Education; College of Medicine; College of Health Sciences; College of Public Health; College of Nursing; College of Social Work; College of Communications and Information Studies; plus many more.

The University of Kentucky has several specialized research centers on campus providing students the opportunity to collaborate with professionals in many other disciplines. Some examples of these Centers include: the Sanders-Brown Center for Aging Research, the Center for Tobacco and Health Research, Center of Drug and Alcohol Research, Prevention Research Center, and the Barnstable Brown Kentucky Diabetes and Obesity Center. In addition, the health promotion program has close ties to the University of Kentucky’s Health and Wellness Program for faculty and staff, offering unique employment and internship opportunities.

We believe that health promotion is a dynamic and growing field with untold opportunities for personal and professional growth and employment. Come join us for the opportunity to become part of a team that seeks to enable and empower individuals and communities to gain control of their health.