Health Promotion, Wellness, & Public Health Courses: Fall 2025
Health Promotion
HPR 102: Introduction to Health Care: Systems & Professions
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course explores the current health care system with an emphasis on health care professions, and provides students with an understanding of the major tenets of the health care system and the scope of practice in each of the health professions. The desired skills of health care professionals and the contributions of these professions will be investigated. A review of educational preparation and practice requirements for each of the health careers will be explored to assist students in further delineating their own educational and career goals. The course will also provide opportunity for students to appropriately explore the current databases and literature and engage in discussions on the ethics and current events of healthcare. (UG)
HPR 104: Introduction to Mindfulness
1 Credit Hour(s)
This course focuses on daily mindfulness practice to reduce stress, balance emotions, improve concentration and benefit overall health and wellness. Mindfulness includes the use of techniques such as meditation, breath work and other self-paced daily activities that bring awareness to our present self. This class will explore the historical foundations of mindfulness as well as the current research that highlights the benefits of this practice, and its use in multiple professions and health care establishments today. *The mindfulness activities in this course are of non-religious practice (UG)
HPR 105: Introduction to Weight Training
1 Credit Hour(s)
This course introduces the student to the weight room environment. Specific instructions will be given on how to use resistance training equipment such as free weights, machines, and adjunct equipment to exercise and train the major muscle groups of the body to attain a higher fitness level. Basic concepts will be presented to allow the student to apply the knowledge gained in the course to their personal training goals. No prior exercise experience is necessary; this course is designed for the beginner. (UG)
HPR 200: Emergency Care and Prevention
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course focuses on first aid care and prevention for life-threatening and non-life-threatening emergencies such as choking, cardiac arrest, sudden illness emergencies, injury emergencies, and environmental emergencies incurred during every day, work, and recreational activities. Content will also address the concept of duty to act, disease transmission/prevention, personal protective strategies, and blood borne pathogen training. Successful completion by the student is required for eligibility for CPR/AED and First Aid Certifications. (UG)
HPR 208: Health Promotion and Education
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Through this course students will explore concepts and models of health and wellness, health promotion and health education. This course will review the history and profession of health promotion and education, the development of health education materials, learning theories, and will explore health related programs and initiatives in school, clinical, government and corporate settings. Strategies and implementation tactics will be discussed for successful development and delivery of health and wellness programs to address community and individual needs. Offered Each Year (Spring). (UG)
HPR 213: Foundations of Yoga
2 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Affective Awareness. This class will provide an introduction to the practice of Hatha Yoga. The origins, postures, stretches, and breathing techniques aimed at spiritual and physical well-being will be discussed and practiced along with an overview of scientific inquiry regarding performance effects on the physical body and mind as it relates to health. Specific instruction regarding the performance of basic techniques to balance and liberate an individual's natural flow of energy or prana will be offered in a lab setting. (UG)
HPR 216: Sexual Health Education
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course explores a multitude of concepts related to the theory, practice and teaching of sexual health education at a community level. The course includes comprehensive coverage of information and issues of human sexuality, those related to sexuality education, and an explanation and practice of educational skills necessary for skilled sexuality educators. (UG)
HPR 217: Introduction to Grants and Grant Writing
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will introduce students to the wide variety of grant funding available. Students will learn about grant making organizations including private foundations as well as government agencies. Students will research various grant making organizations while learning how to properly align with program goals and objectives. Students will learn about the structure of grant writing and practice writing various components of grant proposal. Offered for BA Liberal Studies students only. (UG)
HPR 218: Nutrition for Wellness and Performance
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will bridge the basic physiological processes of nutrition to its application in wellness and performance. This will include the identification of nutrients in foods, and the digestion, absorption, and impact of nutrients on the functioning of the body. Emphasis will be placed on the application of foundational nutritional knowledge for everyday nutritional planning consideration to promote health and wellness, and to fuel performance of activities across the lifespan. Topics will also include FDA/governmental policy, glycemic index, nutrient timing, food allergies, basic dietary analysis, weight management, supplementation, special dietary topics, social determinants and community health considerations, and the role nutrition can play in disease. (UG)
HPR 219: Introduction to Health Systems Management
3 Credit Hour(s)
Cross listed as MGT 219.An introduction to the structure and function of the health care delivery system. Includes basic concepts and measures of health, disease, quality, values, needs, and utilization; issues in health care workforce, institution, and system organization; general issues in policy, reimbursement, and regulation; and broad community and organizational considerations in health. (UG)
HPR 223: Foundations of Human Motion
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will cover the foundational aspects of human movement including fundamental musculoskeletal anatomy, biomechanical principles, and kinesiology. Classroom experiences will promote the development of knowledge critical to the understanding of human movement for careers centered in fitness, wellness, prevention of injury, and promotion of function. Prerequisite: BIO 103, or BIO 109, or BIO 110, or BIO 207/208, or BIO 330. (UG)
HPR 229: Integrative Stress Management
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competencies:Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course will introduce students to fundamental theories and approaches to a holistic, or wellness-based lifestyle. Current evidence on the physiological and psychological effects of stress, as well as stress management techniques, expressive therapies and coping strategies will be explored. This is an applied course in which students will actively engage in stress management exercises, relaxation techniques, self assessments, and personal behavior change projects related to disease prevention (UG)
HPR 234: Foundations of Public Health
3 Credit Hour(s)
This is an introductory course which explores the basic principles of public health, including the history, function and infrastructure of public health; biopsychosocial perspectives of public health problems; and legal and ethical considerations. (UG)
HPR 235: Bridging the Gap: An Intergenerational Program
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course meets the institutional service learning requirement. This companionship project allows for the enrichment of social and emotional well-being through the building of intergenerational relationships that close the gap in an age-segregated society. Together, students and residents of a local senior living center will engage in conversation to share worldviews and perspectives, and partake in activities to foster meaningful relationships, including a special legacy project. this person-centered, storytelling project will showcase the highlights of the resident's life and be captured in a short written book, video or art project. Opportunities will be created to share and learn from each others' journeys and life experiences, to break down age-related stereotypes and build an empathetic understanding of generational differences. (UG)
HPR 236: Discrimination Kills: How Racism Contributes to Health Inequities
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will provide students with an understanding of how race and racism contribute to health inequities. Racism in both historic and contemporary contexts will be explored. Students will examine current research as well ethnographies and documentaries on the subject. (UG)
HPR 291: Professional Development
1 Credit Hour(s)
This course will provide students an opportunity to build their personal and professional skills and career readiness. An emphasis will be placed on preparing students for internship and professional opportunities, through career exploration and the development of positive personal habits, professional work ethics, communication and leadership skills with support from the Office of Career Services.This course is open to all majors. CFE 97 is a co-requisite. (UG)
HPR 301: Physiology of Exercise and Cardiopulmonary Assessment
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course focuses on the physiological responses of physical activity and exercise. The course explores the cardiovascular, respiratory, bioenergetic and metabolic systems as these systems adjust to demands of physical work at various durations and intensities. Factors such as age, gender, disease risk factors, sedentary and non-sedentary lifestyle, and habitual training will be considered as they relate to cardiovascular risk assessment and individual limitations to performance including possibilities for safely minimizing limitations and maximizing performance. Course includes laboratory experiences directed toward competence in graded exercise testing, exercise prescription, and exercise programming as applied to asymptomatic, apparently healthy individuals and prevention of cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic diseases. Prerequisite: BIO 207/L and BIO 208/L or BIO 330/L and BIO 340/L. Corequisite: HPR 301L. (UG)
HPR 301L: Physiology of Exercise and Cardiopulmonary Assessment Laboratory
0 Credit Hour(s)
This course satisfies the laboratory requirement for HPR 301. (UG)
HPR 305: Communicating Health
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will present fundamental models and theories of health communication to students interested in health promotion and education. Students will move through the steps of the health communication process, from planning to evaluation; will learn to assess an audience and create culturally appropriate materials; and will examine and critique existing health promotion materials, media, and campaigns. Contemporary research in the areas of intercultural communication, provider-patient-family communication, community mobilization, advocacy, social marketing and health technology will be explored. (UG)
HPR 308: Environmental Health
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This course will provide an introduction to the public health function of environmental and occupational health. This course is intended to give students a basic understanding of how environmental factors impact the health of individuals and the community as a whole, and of the efforts made to prevent or minimize the effects of negative impacts. The emphasis of this course is to explore the relationship of people to their environment, how the environment affects individual health and how an individual affects the environment. Efforts and strategies to protect and enhance one's health and to influence the quality of the environment will be discussed. (UG)
HPR 311: Non Profit Management
3 Credit Hour(s)
Cross-listed as MGT 311. This course will explore the fundamentals of founding and leading a nonprofit organization. Learners will gain critical knowledge about the nonprofit sector, board leadership, fundraising, volunteer management, donor cultivation, and marketing. Nonprofit Management will help students understand the operations management, finances and development, laying a foundation for success in a variety of roles within a nonprofit organization. (UG)
HPR 313: Principles of Health Behavior Change
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will focus on the theoretical background of health education, health promotion and disease prevention. Students will build critical thinking skills as they explore individual and social health behavior theories and their application to behavior change research and practice. (UG)
HPR 314: Health Policy
3 Credit Hour(s)
Cross-listed as BA 314. This course examines the policies of the current U.S. healthcare delivery system. The history and evolution of the U.S. health care infrastructure and recent policy changes The former and current service delivery structure will be outlined, as well as advancements, and gaps/limitations in the provisions and delivery of care. The types of health care facilities, services, agencies and personnel that constitute the US health care system and the response of the system to the changing health care needs of the population will be explored. Class discussions will be centered on: managing the increasing demands on the health care system by a rapidly growing population affected by the epidemic of multiple chronic diseases; balancing population-based health care needs while delivering high quality health care and improving access to health care services in a cost-containment environment. Social, political, economic, legal and ethical issues as they relate to health care policy will be discussed. (UG)
HPR 320: Community Health Education and Disease Prevention
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. The course identifies and explores infectious and non-infectious diseases in relationship to risk factors, populations at risk, and epidemiology. Etiology and mechanisms of injury and disease onset are presented with emphasis on principles and strategies for education, prevention and health maintenance. Medical and therapeutic interventions designed to address common injuries and infectious and non-infectious diseases will be discussed as they relate to community education, prevention and safety program development. (UG)
HPR 330: Health Promotion Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will provide the knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement and evaluate health promotion programs in a variety of settings. Students will be introduced to concepts related to community needs assessment, data collection and measurement, intervention strategies, developing health education materials, evaluation techniques, acting as a health promotion/education resource person, and communication and coordination of health promotion programming. (UG)
HPR 332: Strength Training
3 Credit Hour(s)
In this course, students will learn about the principles of Strength Training. Content will focus on topics such muscular strength, power, and endurance, proper and safe exercise performance, program design variables, and exercise selection for specific body regions. Prerequisites: BIO 103, or BIO 109, or BIO 110, or BIO 207/208 (UG)
HPR 335: Critical Issues in Global Health
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Contextual Integration. The course introduces the many contexts of global health. Critical issues to be explored include multiple determinants of health, the disparities and burden of disease experienced around the globe, particularly by such populations as women and children, the ethical dimensions related to these disparities, current health priorities, and the importance of global health in terms of development. The Sustainable Development Goals will be referred to as a standard for future goals on a global scale. (UG)
HPR 338: Social Determinants of Health
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Civic Responsibility. This course will provide students with an understanding of how social factors contribute to racial/ethnic, socioeconomic and gender disparities in health and health care. This course will explore the way the social environment and social behavior influence health. We will cover the most recent research findings in the area of social epidemiology and medical sociology and discuss and debate the causes and consequences of social inequalities in health. Students will gain experience in judging the sometimes conflicting evidence between claims and apply the body of literature to situations with which they are familiar and may have encountered in everyday life. Students will discuss the policy interventions that have been designed to address disparities in health and health care. (UG)
HPR 340: Musculoskeletal Fitness Assessment
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course is designed to prepare Health Care Studies students for a career in a health or fitness profession by providing them with musculoskeletal fitness assessment knowledge and skills. This lecture/lab course will explore the steps of musculoskeletal examination, as well as provide the students with the tools to assess static and dynamic musculoskeletal fitness. The importance of musculoskeletal health to overall wellness will also be discussed. Prerequisites: HPR 301 and HPR 317. Corequisite: HPR 340L. (UG)
HPR 340L: Musculoskeletal Fitness Assessment Lab
0 Credit Hour(s)
This course satisfies the laboratory requirement for HPR 340. (UG)
HPR 350: Fitness Training and Programming
3 Credit Hour(s)
In this course, students will learn the principles of fitness testing and programming for individuals in a variety of settings. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing and interpreting cardiorespiratory, muscular, flexibility, balance, and body composition testing data to design safe and effective fitness programs. Topics will also include setting appropriate fitness goals, how individual characteristics (such as age, health, medical conditions, and fitness experience) can affect response to exercise, and modification of fitness programs to meet individual needs. Prerequisite: BIO 103, or BIO 109, or BIO 110. (UG)
HPR 352: Grant Writing
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competency: Communication Skills, Writing Intensive. Cross listed with BA 352. This course provides an overview of the role of grants in an organization's budget. Students will learn to plan grant projects, locate sources of funding, give effective presentations about their projects, and develop written grant proposals. (UG)
HPR 353: Introduction to Epidemiology
3 Credit Hour(s)
This course will introduce students to the field of epidemiology, which is the study of the distribution and determinants of health in populations. The course will emphasize methods for assessing factors associated with the distribution and etiology of health and disease. This course will introduce students to key epidemiological concepts and calculations, how to identify and evaluate sources of health information, epidemiological investigation techniques and the evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of different study designs. Prerequisite: NSC-203 or MTH-104, or MTH-134, or MTH-134EQ, or PSY-333. (UG)
HPR 415: Health Research Design and Methodology
3 Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competencies: Communication Skills; Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Information Literacy. Fulfills Research and Presentation requirement. Writing Intensive. This course will introduce students to the field of research design and methods for health related issues. Students will be prepared to critically review research articles and gain a comprehensive understanding of the research process, types of research designs, samples, bias and interactions in research studies as well as how to comprehend the results and study findings. Students will learn how to pose research questions, construct a relevant hypothesis, make valid causal inferences, operationalize concepts, and ways to formally test their hypotheses. This course is intended for HPR Majors only, to be completed the Senior Year. Prerequisite: HPR 353 or Permission of Instructor. (UG)