Health Science
Influencing Worldwide Health
The Department of Health Science prepares students to solve health problems that will affect the daily lives of literally thousands of people throughout the world. Students who graduate from the department enter various health fields that all have one central focus--the prevention of disease and injury among people throughout the world. Unlike clinical health professionals who treat patients with specific injuries or diseases, graduates from the Department of Health Science monitor, diagnosis, and promote on-going health programs that can impact communities and nations for generations.
Understand the Impact of Health Education
Students in Health Science are taught to live by an eternal principle taught by Elder Boyd K. Packer, "Your body really is the instrument of your mind and the foundation of your character." Students are encouraged to begin with self and reach outward to families, communities and nations in an effort to promote global health. Graduates in Health Science are prepared to become effective public or school health professionals, with bachelor's degrees in School or Public Health Education or a master's degree in Public Health.
Promoting Health Across Diverse Demographics
With issues as basic as the cleanliness of the water we drink and the air we breathe, to subjects as diverse as determining mortality rates among various ethnic populations and reversing the causes of chronic diseases, students focus on health topics as varied as the nations of the world. Studies include subjects such as epidemiology, first aid and emergency care, drug education and intervention, health behavior and stress management. Students are taught to identify and evaluate needs in order to plan health education and promotion programs for specific demographics including families, women and children, adolescents, minorities and the aged.
Implementing Community Health Interventions
Public health educators provide population-based strategies to address a variety of health needs. Studies include reproductive health, environmental health, spiritual/mental health, fitness, and nutrition. Graduates draw upon training in epidemiology, behavior change, social marketing, and health communication to facilitate positive changes in public health. Careers include community health specialists, patient educators, health promotion specialists, trainers and health program managers.
Helping Adolescents Get a Healthy Start
A degree in School Health Education allows graduates to integrate health education, physical education, health and nutrition services, as well as mental health services in order to establish healthy school environments that extend to families and communities. As professionals, graduates provide health information to youth during one of the most critical stages in their lives, helping adolescents establish life-long habits that promote good health.
Incorporating Service with Scholarship
The Master's of Public Health program focuses on training graduate students to address some of the most significant chronic and infectious disease problems in the world. BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are united in the effort to improve global health, establishing an unprecedented world presence. This partnership provides unique opportunities for students working on their Master's of Public Health to complete fieldwork in the multicultural settings--domestic and abroad--addresing a broad array of health promotion strategies and interventions, effectively reforming global health.