Bachelor of Science Degree

This is a degree in Health Promotion and Education with emphasis in Emergency Medical Services. It requires acceptance into the University of Utah and to the Health Promotion and Education Department. This is a two year program in addition to the University's General Education requirements, most students take 4-5 years to complete the degree. This is an excellent degree for EMTs looking to make a career in response agencies such as the fire service, ambulance service, law enforcement and disaster planning. The degree is a great pre-healthcare degree such as pre-med, pre-physical therapy, pre-nursing, and others. The degree is also for those wishing to work in a wilderness setting as counselors or guides, in land management, or resort settings.

 Bachelor of Science Degree

For application information for the University of Utah click here.
For application information for Health Promotion and Education click here.

The following classes are prerequisites to the core classes in this major. Since the core classes determine your course schedule, it is good to have taken these prior to applying for the major:

• H EDU 1010 - Healthy Lifestyles
• H EDU 3050 - Community Health Issues
• WRTG 2010 - College Writing
• MATH 1070 - Statistics

For information on substitution or equivalency classes call (801) 581-8114. These classes must be completed prior to enrolling in the core classes in the program, but not necessarily prior to applying for the program.

 Bachelor of Science Degree

The required course work for this degree includes the following classes. Some classes may be taken at other institutions or may be waived based on previous education or experience.

 Required Content Classes (must take all)
• BIOL 2420 - Intro to Human Physiology
• H EDU 3030 - Medical Terminology
• H EDU 3190 - Death & Dying
• H EDU 5300 - Diversity and Health (optional)
• H EDU 5950 - EMT-B Training
• PH TX 2700 - Common Medicines

 Elective Content Classes (at least one)
• H EDU 3160 - Stress Management
• H EDU 3920 - Hazardous Materials
• H EDU 5160 - Health Communications
• H EDU 5800 - Hazardous Materials
• H EDU 5800 - Mass Casualty and WMD
• H EDU 5800 - EMS with Special Populations
• H EDU 5970 - EMT-Intermediate
• NUTR 2440 or 3550 - Advanced Nutrition/Healthy Weight for Life

 Core Classes (must take all - notice prerequisites above)
• H EDU 4200 - Foundations of Health Education
• H EDU 4300 - Research and Assessment
• H EDU 5800 - Evaluating Response Agencies
• H EDU 5990 - Internship/Preceptorship

Interest Tracks

Classes taken in your interest area track should provide you with the skills and knowledge to better perform in that setting. It requires 12 semester hours of course work to fill an interest area track in the BS degree and 6-8 semester hours in the MS degree. The interest area tracks are:

 Community Response
This track will prepare you to work for a response agency such as ambulance or fire. The focus is on readily available equipment and relatively short transport times. Courses might include:
• Disaster Preparedness
• EMT Intermediate
• Emergency Vehicle Operation
• Extrication
• Hazmat
• Individual Study
• Paramedic

 Wilderness Response
This track prepares you to provide care in rural or wilderness settings either as the primary responder or as member of a group venturing into the wilderness. The focus is on limited equipment, extended patient care times, and long transports. Courses might include:
• Avalanche Rescue
• Map and Compass
• Rock Climbing
• Ropes Technician
• Search and Rescue
• Swift Water Rescue
• Wilderness EMT
• Wilderness Nutrition
• Wilderness Safety & Survival

 Disaster Preparedness
This track prepares you to coordinate disaster preparedness and response plans between multiple agencies. The focus is on mitigation, preparedness, and planning and is equally responsive to agency/company needs or community needs. It addresses both natural and man made disasters. Courses might include:
• Advanced Natural Hazards
• Disaster Preparedness
• Earthquake Sismology and Risk Assessment
• Hazmat
• Land-Use Planning
• Managing the Nations Disasters
• Terrorism and Homeland Security
• Wasatch Hazards

 EMS Management
Even volunteer agencies need managers, and some day that desk and increased pay may begin to look very good. This track gives you the skills to be an effective manager whether it is in a large urban fire department or a small rural ambulance agency. Courses might include:

• Public Speaking
• Professional Writing
• Health Services Administration
• Human Behavior in Organizations
• Health Policy
• Health Care Financial Management
• Accounting Fundamentals
• State and Local Government
• Group Decision Making
• Principles of Management

 EMS Education
The adrenalin rush is almost as great to teach another person how to provide care as it is to be the one providing the care. The focus of this track is teaching EMS skills. That may be in initial training, community education or professional continuing education. Classes might include:
• EMT Instructor Course
• Teaching First Aid and CPR
• The Adult Learner
• Technology in the Classroom
• Methods of Education
• Effective Continuing Education
• Strategies for Teaching
• Life Span Development

 For more information on these and other possible courses, Contact Les Chatelain at 801-541-4512 or the department office at 801-581-8114.

 Master of Science Degree

Course work in a graduate program is determined in consultation with your advisor or advisory committee and should provide you with graduate level skills and knowledge in your interest area. These courses provide the basis for your research or practicum.

The MS degree in Health Promotion and Education allows students the freedom to emphasize in EMS and focus course work, research, and practical experiences in this area. Emergency Medical Services is a rich field with many opportunities. This is a great degree for career EMTs looking to move into management or education. This is a two to three year program and requires acceptance into the University of Utah and the Health Promotion and Education Department graduate program.

For application information for the University of Utah click here.
For application information for Health Promotion and Education click here.

The prerequisites for application to the MS Degree are a Bachelors Degree in a related field, grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and completion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).