Health Promotion and Management, M.S.

Minimum number of credits required to complete the program: 32

Minimum cumulative GPA required: 3.0

School: School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Learn more about the program

Prepare for a leading role in corporate health and wellness, public health, health education, health coaching, fitness programming and other health-related fields. Merrimack’s Master of Science in Health Promotion and Management degree provides a tightly integrated curriculum in health promotion, disease prevention, leadership, marketing, program administration and policy. Students will graduate with the well-rounded expertise and perspective required for a fulfilling career in health-related fields. Three concentrations are available that allow students to complete elective options that fit their career goals.

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a health-related field (such as public health, health education/health promotion, exercise science/ kinesiology or human nutrition), or a bachelor’s degree in another field plus professional experience in a health-related field, is required.

Students with a bachelor’s degree in a science field, but one that is not considered a direct healthcare profession (e.g., biology, biomedical sciences, etc.) and those with a non-health science degree from fields such as business, communications, psychology/ sociology, human development, education, or other field may be required to take an additional undergraduate health-related course (e.g., intro public health or health promotion with a grade of B or better) prior to enrolling or while concurrently taking courses during the first semester in the graduate program.

Program Requirements

The Health Promotion and Management degree requires the completion of 24 credits of required core courses and eight credits of concentration electives. Students choose a concentration from the following options: Health Promotion and Program Management, Community Health Education, or Health and Wellness Coaching.

Required Core Courses

Complete the following six required courses (24 credits):

HSC 5320 - Foundations of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Credits: 4
HSC 5350 - Research Methods Credits: 4
HSC 5360 - Health Promotion Programs Credits: 4
HSC 5385 - Social Marketing and Communications for Health Promotion Credits: 4
HSC 6500 - Public Health Policy and Management Credits: 4
HSC 6900 - Capstone Seminar Credits: 4

Concentrations

Students choose one of the following concentrations by completing eight credits as outlined below.

Community Health Education Concentration

Help individuals, families and whole communities live healthier lives. The Community Health Education concentration offers the resources, tools and hands-on training to encourage healthy lifestyles. By studying current population health issues and evidence-based professional practices, students will learn how to identify community health challenges-and work to solve them. Students choose from several course options, the following being the most common courses selected.

Choose two courses (eight credits) from the following:

HSC 6875 - Health Science Organizational Leadership Credits: 4
CME 6170 - Activism, Social Movements, and Community Engagement Credits: 4
CME 6220 - Community Organizing and Development Credits: 4
CME 6420 - School, Family, and Community Partnerships Credits: 4

Health and Wellness Coaching Concentration

Prepare for a rewarding career as a health and wellness coach. Students in this concentration learn to facilitate evidence-based skillful conversations and strategies to actively engage clients/patients in health behavior change. In addition to earning their master’s degree, students earn a health coaching certificate and as part of the coaching courses complete 50 hours of in-person health coaching under faculty supervision.

Complete the following two courses (eight credits):

HSC 5353 - Health Coaching: Foundation and Practicum Credits: 4
HSC 6850 Health Coaching: Application and Practice Credits: 4

Health Promotion and Program Management Concentration

Prepare for a leading role in corporate wellness, public health, fitness programming and other health-related fields. Health Promotion and Program Management concentration provides a tightly integrated curriculum in health, wellness, leadership, marketing, administration and policy. Students will graduate with the well-rounded expertise and perspective required for leadership positions.

Complete the following two courses (eight credits):

HSC 5490 - Population Health Analytics Credits: 4
HSC 6875 - Health Science Organizational Leadership Credits: 4