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Department of Health Studies

Offering programs in health promotion, nutrition education, and public health.

Department of Health Studies

The mission of the Department of Health Studies (DHS) is to educate and empower future leaders in the field to improve the health status and wellbeing of individuals, communities, organizations, and societies. This mission is achieved through innovative education, creative partnerships, policy-change advocacy, and transformational research. Health issues are of universal interest and relevance, transcending the boundaries of race, religion, culture and national origin.

Degree Programs

Graduate

Undergraduate


Our graduates put their expertise to work promoting health outcomes, policy, and research locally, nationally, and globally. Here are just a few recent examples of alum career paths:

Health Promotion students in front of the Capitol building

  • Research Associate at National Institute of Health
  • Nutrition Educator at Maryland Snap-Ed
  • Program Associate at Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
  • Wellness Coordinator at NFL Players Association
  • Assistant Fitness Director at Sport & Health
  • Health Communications Specialist at USAID
  • Senior Director, Customer Engagement at Cigna
  • Research Associate at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
  • Lifestyle Educator at Kaiser Permanente
  • Education Specialist at the Capitol Area Food Bank
Tim Doud with his Art at Amtrak mural “A Great Public Work”

Research ·

College Faculty Receive 80 Awards Totaling Over $11 Million in 2023

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Bulletins

Elizabeth Cotter received a $142,743 grant from the NIH for “Reducing Maternal Stress to Improve Obesity-related Parenting Practices.”

Public health alumna Maeve Alterio is first author on A Geospatial Analysis of Abortion Access in the US after the Reversal of Roe v. Wade. Maeve is a medical student at Washington State University.

Health faculty discuss the US Farm Bill and national food and nutrition programs:

See more Health Studies News.

News

Food Matters Team

Food Matters: DC Ward 7 Shoppers Spin-to-Win for Better Health

AU’s Department of Health Studies brings nutrition expertise & tips to DC shoppers

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Healthy food. Healthy eating background. Fruit, vegetable, berry. Vegetarian eating.

Transforming the Food System to Serve All

Prof. Stacey Snelling receives a 3-year, $2.8M grant to address food security in DC’s Wards 7 and 8

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To the Point

Surgeon General Raises Alarm: Is Loneliness a National Crisis?

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27

Number of grants awarded to our department to promote health in Washington, DC

126

Students, faculty, staff, and volunteers working with us

69

Number of publications, reports, and presentations to disseminate this work