Health Promotion Dalhousie University

Overview

Health promotion is about encouraging the health and well-being of individuals and their communities.

Dalhousie University 's Bachelor of Health Promotion  programme is unique in Canada, accepting only 40 students each year. From day one, you will form close ties with professors and fellow students through small class sizes in a supportive and collaborative learning environment both inside and outside the classroom. 

You will benefit from all that Dalhousie has to offer as a world-class institution, including study abroad opportunities, interprofessional health education and access to professionals in the field, in our own community and beyond. Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a meaningful career and ready to make an impact on populations both locally and globally.

Programme options

The enriched honours option will provide you with a valuable opportunity to gain research experience in your chosen area of study. As an honours student, you will research and write a thesis under the mentorship of a faculty member. Past honours students have tackled topics including e-bike use, gay men’s health, gambling, and teenage pregnancy. 

In your final year you'll complete a 14-week internship, taking you out of the classroom and providing you with hands-on work experience. Over the years our students have completed internship placements with a wide variety of agencies from all over the world, giving them the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge - and learn new skills - in a real-world work environment.

What you will learn

The Health Promotion programme offers you the chance to take a variety of unique courses that will prepare you for a successful career. In the first year, you’ll take a broad range of introductory courses in the School of Health and Human Performance, such as Determinants of Health and Introduction to Health Systems, as well as courses in other areas such as Sociology, Anatomy and Physiology.

After first year, you'll mix required coursework with many electives to tailor your degree to your interests.  In the final year, you'll complete a full semester internship, taking you out of the classroom and providing you with valuable hands-on work experience.

After graduation, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to support the health and well-being of populations and reduce health inequities. You will be ready to start your career or to pursue future studies in health promotion.

Careers

Graduates of the programme are able to work as health promotion specialists, researchers, and consultants in various settings, including health-related organizations and agencies, government agencies, private industry, community health settings, and many others. Core competencies for Health Promotion practitioners include enabling change, advocating for health, mediating partnerships, communication, and leadership. 

Through these competencies, those in the field will assess needs and assets of populations and communities, plan and implement health promotion interventions, and conduct evaluation and research. 

Possible careers include:

• Health and Wellness Specialist

• Health Solutions Consultant

• Health Equity Advisor

• Regional Health Educator

• Health Policy Analyst

Future studies could include programs at the graduate level in health services research, medicine, or business administration.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE).