B.S. Public Health and Fitness
Public health and fitness is a dynamic, far-reaching and growing field where you can assess a population, determine the main health issues affecting that community and plan and implement appropriate programs and interventions to address those needs.
A bachelor’s degree in public health and fitness from Concordia University, Nebraska teaches you how to create and execute fitness and health education programs for various individuals and populations so you can be an advocate for healthy living and improving the overall health of your community through all levels of prevention.
Discover how public health and fitness are essential to the wellbeing and longevity of your community!
Program Highlights
WHY STUDY EXERCISE SCIENCE AT CONCORDIA?
The public health and fitness program at Concordia University, Nebraska is designed to help students develop healthy emotional, physical and spiritual practices and to equip the next generation of inclusive public health and fitness professionals with the skills to improve the health and well-being of the global population. Students in the program advance their knowledge, abilities and attitudes through the pursuit of a Christ-centered education in health and wellness.
3+2 Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree in Public Health
Students in the B.S. Public Health and Fitness program who meet the university’s bachelor’s to master’s program criteria and are approved by the Health and Human Performance Department can take Master of Public Health courses that count toward their undergraduate major while earning credit toward an MPH degree, allowing them to complete both degrees in 5 years.
Recent Internships
- County health departments: Four Corners Health Department
- Fitness centers: Going Vertical, Madonna ProActive, Prairie Life, YMCA
- Community organizations: Blue Valley Community Action, CASA, People’s City Mission, Seward Foster Friends, Center for People in Need, Lincoln Homeless Coalition
- Voluntary health agencies: Celiac Sprue Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Strength and conditioning programs: Local high schools and colleges
Recent Graduate and Professional Schools
- Concordia University, Nebraska (Public Health)
- Baylor University (Public Health)
- Concordia University, Nebraska (Coaching and Athletics Administration)
- Wichita State University (Sport Management)
- Creighton University (Physical Therapy)
- Washington University in St. Louis (Physical Therapy)
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant)
- University of Arizona (Physiological Sciences)
- University of South Dakota (Occupational Therapy)
- University of Nebraska Omaha (Athletic Training)
Recent Alumni Careers
- Bryan Health and Bryan LifePointe
- Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
- Precision Pilates
- UNL Extension Nutrition Education Program
- YMCA
MEET OUR EXPERT FACULTY
As experts in exercise science our faculty and instructors bring years of experience to the classroom.
Meet our students
“One thing I’ve noticed throughout my time at Concordia is that we really focus on the awareness of what the public health concerns are in the community and even in the world.”
Tanner Schwaninger
Palmyra, Nebraska
Accreditation
Concordia University, Nebraska is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Micah Scholars Pre-Health Scholars Program
Micah Pre-Health Scholars is designed to help students be successful in their healthcare vocations through hands-on experiences, community support and graduate or professional school preparation.
Degree Goals
A public health and fitness program graduate from Concordia University, Nebraska will be able to:
- Identify and use evidence-based practice to guide planning and decision-making for individual and public health.
- Communicate in multiple modalities to express fitness, public health, wellness and prevention strategies, concepts and messages.
- Integrate knowledge of cultural frameworks and inter-professional collaboration to improve individual and public health.
- Develop, implement and evaluate wellness and prevention interventions.
- Apply scientific reasoning and evidence-based knowledge to determine health education, health promotion and disease prevention best practices.
Health and Human Performance Minors
- Coaching
- Parish Health
- Public Health
- Recreation
- Recreation and Sport Management
- Senior Adult Fitness
- Sport Ministry
- Sport Psychology
Career Outcomes
Community Health Worker
- Conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations and implement programs in the community that promote, maintain and improve individual and public health
- Provide information on available resources, provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs and provide services such as first aid and blood pressure screening
Public Health Educator
- Teach people about behaviors that promote wellness
- Develop and implement strategies to improve the health of those you work with, collect data and discuss health concerns
Fitness and Wellness Coordinator
- Work for a gym or health facility planning exercise classes, health seminars and other special fitness events
- Help people stay fit and healthy, assist your gym with staying organized and hire fitness instructors, personal trainers and other personnel to make sure your fitness facility is as effective and efficient as it can be
FAQs
What unique opportunities are available for public health and fitness majors at Concordia University, Nebraska?
Health and human performance department students at Concordia, including those in the public health and fitness program, are active as volunteers for local health departments, nonprofit health organizations, extension offices and local schools. They also organize and facilitate community service projects and events such as wellness days, 5k runs, advocacy activities and awareness and education activities.
Public health and fitness students have the opportunity to travel to Guatemala and other national and international destinations for global health mission trips, providing medical care and preventive health education tips to under-served patients and communities.
What kind of jobs can I get with a public health and fitness degree?
There are many different kinds of jobs available as a public health and fitness professional. You could work for a local or state health department, national health organization, worksite wellness program, fitness center, hospital or clinical setting and more. Potential job titles could include community health educator, prevention specialist, personal trainer, wellness coordinator and epidemiologist. Public health and fitness encompasses many diverse fields and opportunities, so you can find a career that you’re passionate about.
Do I need a graduate degree in public health and fitness?
There are many jobs available in the public health and fitness field that only require a bachelor’s degree. However, some people choose to get their master’s degree in public health and fitness to specialized positions. A master’s degree can also help you earn a higher salary in your chosen field.
If you decide that earning your graduate degree in public health and fitness is something you want to do and you meet the appropriate criteria, you can take master of public health courses at Concordia Nebraska that count toward your undergraduate major while you earn credit toward an MPH degree. You’ll need to meet with your advisor to see if this is an option for you.
Related Programs
Biology
With a degree in biology from Concordia Nebraska, you will be prepared to begin a career in the biological sciences right away, or to continue your education in graduate, medical, dental or veterinary school. As a biology major at Concordia, you learn essential skills such as time management and mastering complex material, as well as studying more in-depth topics such as microbiology, human anatomy and immunology to give you the knowledge you need to be successful in the field of biology.
Exercise Science
The exercise science program at Concordia University, Nebraska offers you the opportunity to advance your knowledge, skills and abilities while staying current with innovative research by utilizing state-of-the-art human performance laboratory equipment. Here, you will learn how to apply the gifts God has given you to enhance the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional and social wellbeing of others.
Behavioral Science/Sociology
In Concordia’s behavioral science program, you will study a combination of sociology, psychology and other social sciences to examine complex problems of human interaction and behavior. With this degree, you will gain skills that can be applied in many professions that require an understanding of people and their interactions from individual, group and societal levels.
1 Recent graduates attending graduate school or employed within six months of graduation.