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College of Education, Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion Kinesiology & Health Promotion (M.S.) - Health Promotion Specialization

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What can you do with this degree?

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.

Graduates of this program go on to pursue careers in:

  • Public health
  • Wellness coaching
  • Health education
  • Community health advocacy 

Graduates are also prepared to continue with doctoral studies.

The program is based on A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialists – 2010, making graduates eligible for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

Delivery Method: In-person (also available online)

Credit Hours: 33 (minimum)

Curriculum [pulled out of a PDF]

This specialization offers two tracks: 

  • Thesis Option (27 hours of course work, 6 hours thesis)
  • Internship Option (30 hours of approved course work, 3 hours internship)

Students in our M.S. program complete a core of 15 hours of required health promotion and research related courses within the KHP Department. Students complete an additional 12-15 hours of elective course work (depending upon thesis option) that may be selected from within the KHP Department or relevant courses across the University. Students selecting the non-thesis route will also be required to complete an internship in the field of health promotion. This opportunity reinforces the responsibilities and competencies set forth by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.

Prerequisites (Leveling Courses)

Students entering the master's program from fields other than health education/health promotion are required to take prerequisites (leveling courses). These may be taken prior to entering the master's program or concurrently while enrolled in graduate-level classes. Consult with an advisor prior to beginning the program to determine specific prerequisite courses you are required to take.

Suggested prerequisites:

  • Sexuality Education or Human Sexuality
  • Drug Education or Drug Prevention
  • Human Health and Wellness or Personal Health
  • Exercise Physiology or Concepts of Conditioning/Fitness
  • Nutrition

Required Courses

Health Promotion Core (12 hours required): 

  • KHP 674 Foundations of Health Promotion (3) 
  • KHP 673 Health Promotion & Behavior Change (3) 
  • KHP 677 Planning Health Promotion Programs (3) 
  • KHP 644 Research Techniques Applied to Kinesiology & Health Promotion (3) 

Statistics Course (3 Hours required): 

  • EDP/EPE 558, STA 569, 570, 580, or PSY 610 

** Students without a recent statistics course may need to take EDP 557 as a prerequisite (not toward degree credit hours). 

Non-thesis Option (Total of 3 hours internship required) 

  • KHP 577 Health Promotion Internship (3) 

Thesis Option (Total of 6 hours required): 

  • KHP 768 Residency Credit Master's Degree (1-6)

Possible Elective Courses (12-15, requires advisor approval)

*Course offerings vary and may change each semester.

Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion

  • KHP 509 Mental and Emotional Health or other rotating topical courses (3)
  • KHP 590 Advanced Health Concepts (3)
  • KHP 602 Promoting Physical Activity for Youth (3)
  • KHP 609 College Health Promotion (3)
  • KHP 609 Health Coaching (3)
  • KHP 609 Healthy Couples Relationship (3)
  • KHP 678 Sexual Health Promotion (3)
  • KHP 781 Proseminar in KHP: Worksite Wellness Strategies (3)
  • KHP 781 Proseminar in KHP: Leadership/Theory/Practice (3)
  • KHP 781 Proseminar in KHP: Contemporary Leaders in Sport and Society (3)
  • KHP 781 Proseminar in KHP: Event Management (3)

Other Colleges/Departments

  • ANT 646 Global Health: People, Institutions, and Change (3)
  • ANT 766 Gender, Ethnicity and Health (3)
  • ANT 774 Food & Food Security in a Changing World (BSC 774) (3)
  • BSC 626 Survey of Health Psychology (3)
  • BSC 774 Food & Food Security in a Changing World (3)
  • BSC 778 Behavioral Factors in Selected Diseases (3)
  • BSC 782 Women's Health and Aging (3)
  • CJT 671 Proseminar in Health Communication (3)
  • CJT 775 Seminar in Health Communication Campaigns (3)
  • CNU 502 Obesity C2C: Cell to Community (2)
  • CNU 605 Wellness and Sports Nutrition (3)
  • COM 571 Health Communication (3)
  • COM 572 Health Campaigns & Communities (3)
  • CPH 601 Environmental Health (3)
  • CPH 604 Public Health and Disease Prevention (3)
  • CPH 605 Epidemiology (3)
  • CPH 612 Infectious/Emerging Diseases Epidemiology (3)
  • CPH 642 Ecological Perspectives in Health Behavior (3)
  • CPH 644 Rural Health Disparities (3)
  • CPH 646 (001) Advanced Theory in Disease Prevention (3)
  • CPH 646 (002) Health Behavior in Adult Populations (3)
  • CPH 648 Health and Culture (3)
  • CPH 653 Public Health Law and Policy (3)
  • CPH 740 Introduction to Maternal and Child Health (3) 
  • CPH 751 Introduction to Global Public Health (3)
  • CPH 758 Public Health Policy and Governance (3)
  • EDP 600 Life Span Human Development and Behavior (3)
  • EDP 614 Motivation and Learning (3)
  • EPI 716 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3)
  • FAM 585 Aging and Environment (3)
  • GRN 644 Demography and Aging
  • GRN 770 (001) Aging: Physical Activity and Disease (3)
  • GRN 770 (002) Health Promotion and Aging (3)
  • HIS 506 History of Sexuality in the US (3)
  • HIS 584 Health and Disease in the US (3)
  • DHN 510 Advanced Nutrition (3)
  • DHN 516 Maternal and Child Nutrition (3)
  • DHN 607 Food Related Behaviors (3)
  • NS 605 Wellness and Sports Nutrition

Or other topical classes approved by advisor

Notes: Courses numbered 400 level courses labeled G courses may be used for
graduate credit if taken in a department other than KHP. Courses numbered 500-799
may also be used for graduate credit. Courses labeled 500-599 are not necessarily
taught by members of the graduate faculty, and may not take up more than ½ of the
minimum requirements.

M.S. students may complete up to 1/3 (10 hours) of their coursework in independent
study and/or independent research courses. Students who plan to enroll in KHP 695
(Independent Study in KHP) and/or KHP 782 (Independent Research In KHP) must
consult with and have their course approved by their advisor prior to enrollment in the
course

Specialized Research Opportunities

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:

  • Sanders-Brown Center for Aging Research
  • Center for Tobacco and Health Research
  • Center of Drug and Alcohol Research
  • Prevention Research Center
  • Barnstable Brown Kentucky Diabetes and Obesity Center
  • Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy
blue sky seen through palm trees

Collaborate with faculty and staff

Our students actively engage in research with health promotion faculty. We also have close ties with the University of Kentucky’s Health and Wellness Program for faculty and staff, University Health Services which provides program opportunities for UK students, and Campus Recreation, offering unique employment and internship opportunities.

Health Promotion faculty [link to profiles]

  • Stephanie Bennett, Ph.D.
  • Melinda Ickes, Ph.D.
  • Shemeka Thorpe, Ph.D.
  • Hildi Nicksic, Ph.D.
blue sky seen through palm trees

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