HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE
WEBSITE INFORMATION
WHAT IS HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE?
Health Behavior Science majors explore and analyze how human actions, cognitions, communications,
and environment affect health, relationships, chronic disease, and quality of life across the lifespan.
More specifically they work to promote healthy lifestyles through education, policy change, assessing
needs, developing and implementing programs, counseling and coaching individuals, creating media and
materials, and evaluating the impact and outcome of their efforts.
As medical costs skyrocket, it has become clear that the health of individual Americans has an effect on
society as a whole. The cost of treating preventable conditions is passed on to everyone via increased
taxes and health insurance premiums. Health behavior science majors and health promotion
professionals emphasize improvements in:
Diet
Exercise
Positive Attitudes and Behavior
Stress Management
This may seem simplistic, but students who take on health behavior science as a career become
intimately familiar with the intricacies of physical and mental health, and the challenges of motivating
individuals, communities, and societies toward health improvements.
Students majoring in health behavior science have a strong interest in health issues, education,
business, and behavior change.
WHAT DOES A HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DO?
Health Behavior Science professionals work within a variety of settings and among a diversity of
population groups. Within medical facilities they work one-on-one with patients or families, or engage in
efforts to reach out to a community or at-risk population. Within college settings they work to promote
student health via resident life, recreation and health programs, or counseling and educational
programs. In public health settings they work primarily with local and state public health departments,
and often serve on statewide councils or national committees that address specific health issues. In
non-profits, they work to address the health issues of interest to the organization via program
development, needs assessment, marketing and communication, and community outreach. Within
worksites they work in wellness or worksite health promotion programs, medical offices, and employee
assistance programs. Due to their skills and training, health behavior science majors also work well in
health-related businesses that provide a specific product or service. In this capacity, marketing and
market research, or delivery of a specific service is common.
Issues that health behavior science majors address include:
Obstetrics
Tobacco
HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health
Heart Disease
Obesity
Diabetes
Teenage Pregnancy
Bone Disease
Personal Fitness
Maternal and Child Health
Global Health
Mental Health
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
The particulars of this career depend on your chosen specialty. Many positions require professionals to
perform some or all of the following tasks:
Planning health promotion and education activities
Conducting workshops, training sessions, and courses on health concerns
Identifying target populations for health behavior interventions
Developing and implementing public media or social marketing campaigns
Conducting pre-program and post-program surveys
Providing screening services for individuals
Conducting program evaluations to determine impact and effectiveness
Coaching or counseling individuals so that they can obtain optimal health
KEY SKILLS
Presentation and Writing skills--must develop the ability to express their knowledge, research, or
opinions in a clear, concise, and engaging manner
Critical thinking and problem solving--must be able to see patterns that emerge in individual behavior,
as well as among population groups, and identify those factors that are contributing to illness or health.
Project management skills--must learn to coordinate efforts of other health professionals, researchers,
or agencies to effectively implement programs
Interpersonal communication skills--must be able to communicate, educate, and motivate others
through the communication with individuals and groups.
Data analysis skills--must be able to utilize math and statistics to analyze data sets to determine what is
causing a behavior or health outcome, or to determine the impact of a program, or to determine the
health needs of individuals and communities.
Understanding of dynamic development--health behavior science majors examine how people and
groups grow and change over time. They learn to apply theories to understand the behavioral choices
people make, as well as to guide their efforts to promote health and reduce disease.
Health knowledge--must understand mechanisms for achieving optimal health, as well as mechanisms
that lead to chronic disease.
Other Key Skills Include:
Assessing individual and community needs
Planning and developing health promotion programs
Implementing health promotion programs
Managing programs and personnel
Evaluating health promotion programs
Acting to change health policies
Building coalitions
Identifying resources and making referrals
Developing audio, visual, electronic, Internet, and print materials
WHAT COURSES ARE WITHIN THE HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE MAJOR?
Personal Health Management
Anatomy and Physiology
Health Behavior Theory and Assessment
Nutritional Concepts
Nutrition and Activity
Behavior Change Strategies
Physical Activity Behavior
Development of Health Promotion Programs
Research Methods and Statistics for Health Behavior Sciences
Health Behavior Science Internship
PERSONNEL QUALITIES OF A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL
When you embark on a degree path as health behavior science you should consider whether your
personal qualities are suited for this career. Some important questions to ask yourself are:
Do I like working with people?
Do I work well with others in a collaborative manner for a single purpose?
Am I interested in how we use and care for our bodies?
Am I interested in working as an educator, researcher, or manager?
Would I consider myself a "people person"?
Do I care if people are healthy?
Am I concerned about how people eat, exercise, act or think as it relates to their well-being?
Am I interested in helping people improve their health and quality of life?
Am I concerned about how our environment can impact our individual and societal health?
If you answered yes to the above questions, than Health Behavior Science, and Health Promotion is a
good fit for you.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE?
EXAMPLE JOBS AND TITLES
Wellness Program Coordinator
Community Health Educator
Case Manager Specialist
Program Coordinator
Community Resource Educator
Health Promotion Coordinator
Cancer Community Educator
Health Fitness Specialist
Health Coach
Health Educator
Manager Health and Wellness
Health Promotion Manager
Health Promotion Director
Worksite Health Specialist
Risk Reduction Program Coordinator
Account Manager
Director/Program Promotions
Event Coordinator
Instructor/Teacher
Marketing Representative
Marketing Services Coordinator
Market Researcher
Social Marketing Professional
Operations Coordinator/Manager
Health Policy Analyst
Public Health Professional
Epidemiologist
Exercise Specialist
Project Director
Nutritionist
SAMPLE WORK SETTINGS
Alternative Health Care Center
Assisted Living Facility
Birthing Center
Chiropractic Office
Community Centers
Dance Studio
Dentist Office
Hospitals
Health Insurance Company
International Health Organization
Mental Health Facility
Non-Profit Organization
Nursing Care Facility
Pharmaceutical Sales Industry
Pharmacy
Private Health Clinic
Public Health Agencies
Rehabilitation Institutes
Research Center
Spa/Health/Fitness Club
Substance Abuse Clinic
University/College Health Center
Youth Center
Multiple Private Health Product/Service
Businesses
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
Air Force Medical Services
Army Medical Department
Center for Disease Control and
Prevention
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Department of Agriculture
Department of Labor
Department of Social Services
Department of Veteran Affairs
National Institutes of Health
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
Office of Personnel Management
Employee Health Programs
Office of Public Health and Science
Office of the Assistant Secretary of
Defense (Health Affairs)
Office of the Surgeon General
State and Territorial Health
Departments
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services
LINKS TO HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE JOBS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Public Health Partners: http://phpartners.org/jobs.html
National Strength and Conditioning Association: http://www.nsca-lift.org/
National Mental Health Association: http://nmha.org
Society for Public Health Education: http://www.sophe.org
American Public Health Association Career Site: http://www.apha.org/career/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Chronicle Careers: http://chronical.com/jobs/
Coalitions for Health Communication Job Postings: www.healthcommunication.net/jobs.html
Health and Wellness Jobs: www.healthandwellnessjobs.com
Health Career Web: www.healthcareerweb.com
Healthcare Jobs: www.healthcarejobstore.com
Health Promotion Career.Net: www.hpcareer.net
Idealist.Org: www.idealist.org
Wellness Connection: www.wellnessconnection.com/careers.html
CAREER POTENTIAL
United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects behavioral science careers
will grow by about 10% through the year 2016. As more behavioral scientists demystify their work,
many more businesses and organizations will carve out room in their budgets to explore ways that they
can help them achieve their goals. Others predict expected growth by 18% through 2018. Growth is
being primarily driven by the rising cost of health care.
PREPARING FOR UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE--HEALTH BEHAVIOR SCIENCE
In your junior or senior year, take the SAT and have your scores sent to the University of Delaware
You will have to take courses in most of the subjects under the university core curriculum required of all
undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about
preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT) that you should take during your junior year.
In your senior year, submit your application for admission by March 1 (apply online at www.udel.edu)
and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UD admissions office.
Advanced Placement courses can count toward college credit at UD. For details, visit....www....
HOW TO PICK A MINOR
Within the Health Behavior Science major students are required to complete a minor. Minors provide
an opportunity to specialize in a specific discipline related to the major, AND position you better for jobs
within the field of health behavior science. Options include:
Business Administration
Coaching Science
Disability Studies
Entrepreneurial Studies
Leisure Service Management
Nutrition
Psychology
Strength and Conditioning
Your choice of minor will depend on what your career goals and aspirations are. Your academic advisor
can help you make this choice during your first or second year of college.
CHARTING YOUR PATH THROUGH ACADEMIC ADVISING
Behavioral Health and Nutrition faculty members will help you each semester to select the courses you
will need to take to obtain your degree and achieve your career goals. You should meet with a faculty
member (who you will be assigned to once accepted into the major) each semester. If you are not in the
major and wish to talk to someone about the program please contact Sue Coffing at scoffing@udel.edu
or 302-831-2252.