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MS Health Promotion: Online or on Campus

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Take the next step in your career with a Master of Science in Health Promotion Management and help guide individuals, organizations, and communities to live healthier lifestyles. By blending business, science, and the art of health promotion, this program equips you for today’s workforce by developing managerial skills combined with broad health knowledge and innovative practical applications.

Led by renowned faculty who integrate the latest research and best practices into coursework, our program stands out for its academically rigorous and time-tested curriculum. Engage directly with faculty and gain hands-on experience through internships, class assignments, and community projects that prepare you to be a leader in health promotion management.
Request Info    How to Apply

  • Mode of Study
    On campus or online.
  • Time to Complete
    16-24 months: on-campus 3 terms + 1 summer, or online 4 terms + 2 summers
  • Requirements
    10 courses / 30 credits.
  • Course Scheduling
    Evening on-campus classes or online 8-week asynchronous courses.
  • Tuition and Funding
    $2000 per credit. All applicants automatically considered for merit scholarships; visit Tuition and Funding.
  • Admissions
    Start in Fall, Spring or Summer. No GRE scores required; visit Admission and Requirements.

DC Connections &
Global Network

Students and faculty engage in cutting-edge research district-wide with opportunities at Washington’s renowned public health institutions, private businesses, national and international associations, whether attending on campus or online. All students benefit from our worldwide alumni network. Online students gain peers from across the nation. From local to global—it’s all available to you.

Career Readiness

This program

  • Prepares you to apply to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam
  • Meets eligibility requirements for Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) certification
  • Primes graduates for leadership roles in corporate wellness, health program management, health communication, health policy, and global health

Academic Leadership

What’s in a name? Earning a master’s degree from AU’s HPM program says you’ve proven yourself at the highest academic and intellectual level. With over 40 years of curriculum development and delivery—and a reputation that draws top-tier faculty—you can be confident that this is one of the best master’s in health promotion management available today.

Group in AU courtyard chatting amiably.

Specialize Your Studies & Your Career

The Health Promotion Management masters program provides flexible options tailored to meet your needs and interests:

  • Full-time & Part-time Options: Pursue your degree at a pace that fits your current schedule or employment situation.
  • Flexible Scheduling: We offer on-campus courses in the evening once per week to accommodate working professionals. We offer online courses in an accelerated 8-week format taught asynchronously. Students in our online program typically take just one class every 8-week term.
  • Customized Learning Paths: Choose from program courses and student project options best suited to your goals and expertise. Students interested in corporate wellness, individual coaching, and other health management options typically choose to complete an internship. Students interested in research, publication, or advanced studies have the option to complete a thesis.
  • Diverse Internship Opportunities: Gain real-world experience through sought-after internships due to extensive faculty relationships cultivated over decades. These internships ensure maximum exposure and practical experience in your chosen field that add to your resume in the process. Visit our Student Project & Internships for examples.

Curriculum

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The Master of Science in Health Promotion Management curriculum teaches you how to lead others in creating healthier lifestyles based on the latest research and best practices. Coursework spans many topics, including the science of health promotion, behavior change, health communication, strategic planning, data analysis, the U.S. Healthcare system, and programming, among others.

Established in 1980, our program was the first of its kind in the U.S. to combine the concepts of health and wellness with business and management principles. A winner of the Distinguished Academic Program Award (DAPA) from the National Wellness Institute, our proven curriculum meets the eligibility requirements for Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) certification. It also prepares you to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam—100% of our graduates who’ve taken the exam in the last five years have passed.
 

Master's in Health Promotion Degree Requirements
 

  1. 30 credit hours of approved graduate work broken out into
    • 21 Credits of Core coursework
    • 3 Credits of Evaluation and Research Methods coursework
    • 3 Credits of Management coursework
    • 3 Credits in a Capstone Experience 
    • Nonthesis Option: Choose HLTH-685 Organizational Health (3) or HLTH-691 Internship (1-6)
    • Thesis Option: HLTH-797 Master's Thesis Research (1-6)
  2. One written and one oral comprehensive examination.
     

See complete Course Requirements & Descriptions.

Alumni Spotlight: Lisa Joseph

Lisa Joseph.“Each of my professors have played a key role in my success at AU. From my very first conversations with Dr. Snelling, I immediately felt supported when weighing my financial options. Since attending AU, I have had professors consistently provide wisdom and career advice, send job postings, and serve as references, supporting both my professional development and job applications.”
—Lisa Joseph, MS Health Promotion Management alumna, '22
Senior Program Coordinator at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Career Outlook

3 AU health students smiling at CDC entrance.

Health promotion experts are in demand given rising healthcare costs and greater personal interest in healthy living. The health promotion management skills you gain in this program can be applied to various environments, preparing you for diverse job opportunities. This adaptability also ensures your career remains flexible with industry changes. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment for health educators and community health workers is projected to grow 7 to 13 percent (respectively) between 2023 and 2033—higher than the 4 percent rate for all other occupations.1,2

Currently, senior health educators earn a median annual salary of $78,655;2 with the salary range varying depending on your position, employer, and geographic location. Consult the Occupational Outlook Handbook and Salary.com for the most updated figures for your career interest areas.1,3

A master's in Health Promotion Management opens the door to further advanced study—many of our graduates go on to pursue PhDs in fields such as health policy, public health, kinesiology, and health education—or to leadership roles in many career pathways:

  • Director of Community Health
  • Health Communications Manager
  • Health Programs Manager
  • Health Coach / Consultant
  • Director of Health and Wellness
  • Workplace Well-Being Consultant
  • Population Health and Wellness Manager
  • Fitness Director

Organizations employing our graduates include the following:

  • American Heart Association
  • American Kidney Fund
  • American Society of Nephrology
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Capital Health, LLC
  • Headspace for Organizations
  • Mayo Clinic
  • National WIC Association
  • NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Pan American Health Organization
  • Partnership to Promote Healthy Eating and Active Living
  • Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union
  • Supreme Orthopedic Systems
  • US Department of Health and Human Services


For more career information, see our expanded health promotion Career Pathways page.

What You’ll Walk Away With

Advanced Technical & Scientific Skills

  • Deep understanding of human health, prevention and promotion strategies, allowing you to create and manage effective health promotion programs.
  • Expertise in behavioral psychology and data analysis, providing you with the analytical skills to evaluate and address health issues.
  • Practical training in using motivational interviewing one-on-one to support individuals making self-directed behavior changes.
  • Social marketing skills for developing health communication campaigns.


Health Promotion Industry-Specific Expertise

  • Comprehensive knowledge of health strategies, health communication, and global health trends, equips you to excel in the health promotion field.
  • Training in approaches that influence health behaviors at every level—from individuals to policy-makers—to help people live well.
  • Your choice of an internship or thesis that demonstrates you can deliver value to the field of health promotion. 

Competitive Advantages

  • Industry-leading faculty with collaborative professional relationships throughout the DC area built over 40+ years.
  • An extensive network of over 600 American University HPM alumni — 150,000 overall AU alumni — working across the globe who recognize the exceptional academic credibility of an AU degree.
  • Your own personal and professional community—either in the DC metro area (on-campus students) and/or nationwide (online students)—cultivated during your degree program.


Professional Skills

  • Strong communication and leadership capabilities, essential for advocating health initiatives and managing diverse teams.
  • Expertise that enables you to impact wellness within any community or organization.

Application & Admission

See Admissions at a Glance to learn what materials you need to submit by set deadlines — applications are accepted year round, including summer. GRE scores are no longer required. A graduate admissions advisor is available to assist with your submission and answer questions about your application status.
 

Admissions Requirements

  • Application and fee
  • Statement of Purpose*
  • Transcripts
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume or CV

*A successful statement will illustrate the candidate's career goals, highlight how this program will advance their career goals, and explain how their experience may be relevant to this program. Please try to limit your statement of purpose to 500-750 words.
 

Review Process

  • Applications are reviewed by the university and the Health Promotion Management graduate committee.
  • Selected candidates who meet all the requirements are invited to interview.
  • Acceptance is based on the interview and educational background.
  • Decisions are typically provided within 1-2 weeks of completing the application.

Ready to dive in?
Start Application

Kaitlyn Kelley.“When I was first beginning to look at graduate programs, I used the link on the AU website to talk to an advisor in order to get more information about the program. The advisor that I spoke with that entire time was very helpful. …He answered any questions that I had and connected me with Dr. Anastasia Snelling, Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Studies. Honestly, learning more about the program through Dr. Snelling was a deciding factor. I felt well-supported throughout my journey while trying to pick which graduate school.”

—Kaitlyn Kelley, Student in MS Health Promotion Management
Research Coordinator at the AU Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Lab

FAQ

Most graduate students receive financial support. There are merit-based tuition awards and stipends for being a teaching assistant. In a typical academic year, around 64% of our students receive some level of AU funding through research or teaching. Of those not supported by AU, 25% were funded by other sources. For more details, please check Graduate Funding resources or contact our graduate admissions coordinators.

Yes! In addition to what your agency or employer may offer, please see further military personnel and families benefits available through AU.

Students can choose to pursue this master’s program on a full or part-time schedule. Full-time students typically complete the MS in HPM in less than two years. The time to completion for part-time students depends on the number of courses they take each semester.

A full-time program sequence for on-campus students includes three courses each semester (fall and spring) and two summer session courses, usually in combination with an internship or other job-related experience.

Online students typically take one course at a time during each 8-week term, for a total of 10 terms. There are five 8-week terms per year: two in fall, two in spring, and one in summer. Online students usually complete the program in about 22 months.

See Admissions at a Glance to learn what materials you need to submit by set deadlines. GRE scores are no longer required. A graduate admissions advisor is available to assist with your submission and answer questions about your application status.

Review Process:

  • Applications are reviewed by the university and the Health Promotion Management graduate committee.
  • Selected candidates who meet all the requirements are invited to interview.
  • Acceptance is based on the interview and educational background.
  • Decisions are typically provided within 1-2 weeks of completing the application.

We have learned the best predictors of student success in this program—and in future careers—are a student’s strong belief in health promotion, a desire to help others, and enthusiasm for learning about various health sciences topics. The Health Promotion Management program recruits and admits students from a wide range of backgrounds, undergraduate degrees, occupations, and nationalities.

Yes. When you complete the program you are qualified to apply to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam and can pursue the Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) credential from the National Wellness Institute. Contact your graduate admissions advisor for more information.

Today, the health of individuals and communities ranks highly across social, business, environmental, and political landscapes. Recent curriculum changes, faculty research, and new program initiatives have been developed to respond to the emerging trends in the U.S. and the world. These trending topics include mental health, climate impacts on health, telehealth, wearables (wellness tech), mind-body connection and integrated health, and social connections.

Yes, most AU campus offices and student services now cater to online students too. From the library and Office of Information Technology to the writing center and career center, all offer online appointments. Online students can easily request a Student ID online to take advantage of all the same resources as our on-campus students.

Our application deadline varies based on the term you are applying for. The earlier you submit your application, the sooner you’ll know whether you’ve been awarded a merit scholarship. Discuss your target starting term with your graduate admissions advisor to learn specific submission timelines.


Still have questions?

Please send us an email:
healthstudies@american.edu.

Sources

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2023). Health Education Specialists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2023). Community Health Workers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  3. Salary.com (2024). Senior Health Educator Salary. Retrieved October 22, 2024.