Dr. Melissa Stein
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Health, Society & Populations Program
Melissa.stein@uky.eduThe Health, Society, and Populations (HSP) B.A. degree provides graduates with a broad liberal-arts education, in addition to a concentration on social science based approaches to understanding health outcomes and inequalities. HSP students will obtain the fundamental knowledge required to understand the relationships that exist between the global economy, societal problems and needs, and the distribution of health and illness. HSP majors will develop the critical thinking, communication, and independent study skills necessary for them to pursue careers in health and human services that are currently in high demand as a result of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
An HSP degree will prepare students for career opportunities in city, state and federal government, nonprofit organizations, and in the public and private health sectors. Employment web sites such as www.publichealthjobs.net post entry-level positions that would be appropriate for HSP graduates. The majority of these positions specify a Bachelor’s in public health, social science, or another health-related degree.
HSP majors will also be prepared to enter graduate school both in the social sciences (e.g., medical anthropology, medical geography, or medical sociology) as well as professional health fields (e.g., public health). Additional coursework may be required for admission to some professional health fields (e.g., medicine).
Career opportunities in Health, Society, and Populations
The Health, Society, and Populations program focuses on understanding health outcomes and their unequal distribution as a product of multiple interacting influences. These include health care, behaviors, environmental conditions, genetic and biological factors, and social and cultural characteristics of groups and individuals.
Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the major requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Arts and Sciences section of the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin.
Total Credit Hours - 30
Statistics Requirements
Math Requirements
Writing Requirements
Science
Social Science Approaches to Health
Topics in Society and Health
Health Professions
Capstone
Total Hours - 45-46
B.A. Four Year PlanHealth educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. Community health workers collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$46,080
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
123,800
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
14,100
new jobs (average)
Health educators and community health workers work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government, doctors’ offices, private businesses, and colleges. They generally work full time.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read MoreSource: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Understanding that over 70 percent of university students will change their declared major at least once during their college careers, the College of Arts and Sciences has developed an Exploratory Studies program for students who have yet to decide the specific field of study that most closely aligns both their personal interests and their professional career goals and objectives. The Exploratory Studies Program provides students with an extraordinarily diverse educational environment that includes coursework spanning Math and Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences and provides students with the unique opportunity to explore multiple areas of interest during their first several semesters on campus. For more information please contact a recruiting representative at asrecruting@uky.edu.
While there are endless ways to create an unforgettable journey as a Wildcat, we can only think of one that gives you the chance to step outside the classroom and into exploring new parts of the world around you: participating in an Education Abroad opportunity! Whether it’s in a study, research, service, or internship program, taking your UK experience international with EA is the most hands-on way for you to expand your global perspective while making yourself a more well-rounded, marketable candidate to future employers no matter your field. As you take these first steps towards investing in your future, EA encourages you to take advantage of all the opportunities UK has to offer. Take a look at some of the many suggested opportunities UK Education Abroad & Exchanges has to complement your major! #ukyabroad
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Dr. Melissa Stein
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Health, Society & Populations Program
Melissa.stein@uky.eduCollege of Arts & Sciences
202 Patterson Office Tower
