For students who want to change health outcomes, not just study them.
What is Health Education?
Health Education & Behavior (HEB) is a social science that encompasses biological, physical, psychological, environmental and human interaction to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death, through education at the individual, community and societal levels. Health education uses models and theory to create strategies to improve and promote health knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavior.
Flexible upper-level coursework tailored to your interests/career goals
With specialization options in Community Health Promotion and Health Studies, HEB students can tailor their coursework to match their interests and long‑term goals.
Community Health Promotion: This specialization focuses on illness and disease prevention among special target groups within a particular community, with the ultimate goal of providing practical health information to diverse population groups through the use of behavioral interventions.
Health Studies: This specialization allows students to gain knowledge on a variety of health issues plaguing diverse population groups, while also providing the opportunity for students to complete required pre-requisite coursework for professional health programs. Students enrolled in this specialization plan to attend post-baccalaureate programs for medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
More Undergraduate Program Options
Looking for something else? Here are additional options.
Did you know?
Students who earn a B.S. in HEB from UF can take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam—a national voluntary certification recommended by numerous health employer
- Since 2016, HEB has expanded its faculty by over 50% to match rising interest and maintain an exceptional student experience
- HEB offers a combined B.S./M.S. degree option, allowing students to fast-track an advanced degree, reducing overall cost and time
- Students who earn a B.S. in HEB from UF can take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam, a national voluntary certification recommended by numerous health employer
Work in schools, government offices, non-profit health organizations, colleges, businesses, private-sector industry and healthcare settings.
Career Growth Projections
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady growth across many careers connected to health education, community health, and public health – reflecting nationwide demand for prevention, behavior‑change expertise, and population‑level health improvement.
Students with a B.S. in Health Education can obtain a wide variety of professions. The percentages shown are the projected growth rates from 2024-2034 from the BLS for each occupation.
- Community health workers: promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors. They implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services
- 11% growth (much faster than average)
- Health education specialists: develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being
- 4% growth (as fast as average)
- Health information technologists and medical registrars (including Health Informatics Specialists): implements technology at appropriate junctures in a healthcare setting to improve treatment quality and contribute to data collection efforts
- 15% growth (much faster than average)
- Medical and health services managers: oversee health and wellness programs and healthcare operations
- 23% growth (much faster than average)
- Occupational therapist: evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence
- 14% growth (much faster than average)
- Physical therapist: help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain
- 11% growth (much faster than average)
- Physician: diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance
- 3% (as fast as average)
- Physician assistant: examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician
- 20% growth (much faster than average)
- Registered nurse: provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions
- 5% growth (faster than average)
- Social and community service managers: coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being
- 6% growth (faster than average)
Students in the Health Education & Behavior (HEB) program build a strong foundation in health promotion, behavior change, and community well‑being. These skills align with growing demand across public health, community health, wellness, and healthcare support careers. Employers in healthcare, nonprofits, schools, corporate wellness, and community organizations increasingly seek professionals who can design effective programs, communicate health information clearly, and help individuals and communities adopt healthier behaviors.
As an HEB student, you will learn to:
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Design and deliver health education programs that promote well‑being across varied populations
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Apply behavior‑change theories to improve motivation, adherence, and long‑term health outcomes
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Evaluate the quality of health information and research to guide evidence‑based practice
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Develop and assess community health initiatives that address real‑world needs
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Communicate complex health concepts clearly to individuals, groups, and communities
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Use data, assessment tools, and technology to identify health trends and measure program impact
All HEB complete a built-in 12-credit internship that anchors their degree in real-world experience. By the time they graduate, they’ve applied what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world experiences they can speak to in interviews, graduate school applications, and personal statements. Examples of past internship sites include:
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- Autism Worldwide
- CDC Miami Quarantine Station
- Cedars-Sinai Health System
- Epilepsy Foundation of Florida
- Florida Blue
- Florida Department of Health
- Jacksonville Electric Authority
- LifeSouth Community Blood Centers
- Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network
- Polk County School District Wellness Program
- UF College of Medicine
- UF Health
- Verizon
HEB alumni are making an impact in communities, organizations, and health systems across the country. Their success reflects the program’s strong foundation in health promotion, behavior change, and real‑world experience. The employers below highlight the breadth of opportunities HEB graduates pursue and represent just a glimpse of where they’re driving meaningful change.
- Aetna
- Columbia University
- Florida Blue
- Florida Department of Health
- Head Start Child Development Program
- Mayo Clinic
- National Basketball Association (NBA)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Nemours Children’s Health
- Tampa General Hospital
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Wounded Warriors Project
HEB minor and certificate options give students from any major the chance to deepen their understanding of health promotion, behavior change, and community well‑being. These options let students tailor their studies, strengthen their skill sets, and add a meaningful health‑focused credential that enhances their career goals.
Not sure what’s the difference between a minor and a certificate? We’ve got you covered.
- Health Promotion Undergraduate Minor: provides a basic understanding of the community health field and an opportunity to gain background in a variety of health issues related to disease prevention and health promotion
- Health & Wellness Coaching Undergraduate Certificate: develop and implement a coaching framework to guide health-behavior change using evidence-based techniques and client-centered approaches
- Sport & Health Leaders Undergraduate Certificate: prepares future professionals to support the mental, physical and social well-being of athletes and sport participants
HEB Undergraduate Admission Information
Incoming Freshman
Freshman admissions are administered through the UF Office of Admissions. There’s no separate HEB application for freshmen. Students transition into HEB once they’ve completed the foundational prerequisites.
If you have recently been accepted as a freshman to UF, congratulations! You will select a major at your Preview session (regardless of what was listed on your UF application). We encourage you to explore the HEB section of our website and attend one of our info sessions at Preview to learn more about the HEB program and HHP.
If you’ve already attended Preview and wish to change your major to HEB or want to connect with an advisor, you can reach out to one of our HEB advisors.
Change of Major to HEB
For a student to be considered as a change of major, the following criteria must be met accordingly:
Lower Division Students
- Minimum UF GPA
- Minimum UT GPA as designated by the Department curriculum
- No deficit points
- Must have the ability to complete all tracking requirements by the required UT term (based on desired major)
- Completion of the Change of Major form
Upper Division Students
- Minimum UF GPA
- Minimum universal tracking (UT) GPA as designated by the Department curriculum
- No deficit points
- Must be able to complete degree within 132 hours or 8 semesters (not including summer) without exceeding the maximum credit hours per semester. (Excludes AP/IB courses not needed for HHP degree program)
- Must have completed 75% of universal tracking courses for desired major
- Must have all writing and math requirements met
- Must have a minimum of 27 hours of General Education requirements met
- Completion of the Change of Major form
Additional Notes:
- Students admitted to UF as transfers are not able to change majors into the College.
- Current HHP students may not change into another HHP major unless they currently meet the major’s criteria.
- Students who were dismissed from a college major cannot change out of HHP and then be accepted back into the College as a change of major.
HEB Transfer Students
Review the transfer admission requirements for HEB.
For application information, transfer students should refer to the admission as a transfer section of the UF Undergraduate Catalog. Within space and fiscal limitations, applicants from other institutions who have satisfied minimum requirements will be considered for admission at the junior level.
Contact Us
Health, Education & Behavior
University of Florida
PO Box 118210
Room FLG 5
Gainesville, FL 32611
Mildred Maldonado-Molina, Ph.D., M.S., Chair, Professor: mmmm@ufl.edu
Email: heb-advising@hhp.ufl.edu
Phone: (319) 392-0578
Fax: (352) 392-1909