› College of Health and Human Development

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS OVERVIEW

Undergraduate Majors OverviewYou want to help people by making a difference in their lives. The College of Health and Human Development at Penn State offers nine majors that create difference-makers—people who help improve the quality of others’ lives. Explore these academic programs and be inspired to make a difference.

Athletic Traininghhd.psu.edu/kines

The Athletic Training (ATHTR) major in

the Department of Kinesiology offers a

concentrated curriculum designed to

prepare students for a career in athletic

training. Students build an understanding of

the health sciences and learn the core skills

required to promote optimal health and

human performance in diverse, physically

active populations. The program stresses

the prevention, examination, treatment,

prevention, and rehabilitation of athletic-

related injuries and illnesses. The program

requires that students demonstrate and

apply their knowledge and skills in various

supervised clinical settings. Some of these

include rotations with the University’s

intercollegiate athletic teams. The major,

accredited by the Commission on Accreditation

of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), is open

to students at the University Park campus.

JOBS AND CAREERSAthletic training is a sports medicine-related profession. As an allied health care professional, the Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC®) works with physicians and other medical personnel, employers, patients, parents, guardians, and athletic personnel in the development and coordination of efficient and responsive health care delivery systems. Athletic trainers are integral members of the health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics, corporate / industrial, and other health care settings. Students who complete the major will be prepared to sit for the Board of Certification examination.

Biobehavioral Healthbbh.hhd.psu.edu

Biobehavioral Health (BBH) is an innovative,

interdisciplinary program that enables students

to explore the biological, behavioral, social/

cultural, and environmental factors that

influence the health of individuals, groups,

and populations throughout the life span. By

investigating the interconnected issues that

influence health, students prepare for careers

promoting healthy lifestyles and disease

prevention in a diverse and global context.

JOBS AND CAREERSGraduates enter a range of health-related settings, including roles as health promotion and disease prevention specialists, biomedical product representatives, research assistants, laboratory managers, and technical support personnel in biomedical and health-related fields. The major also provides excellent preparation for advanced study in professional areas and the biological and social sciences, such as medicine, the allied health professions (e.g., physician assistant, physical therapy, etc.), health psychology, public health, environmental health and safety, and human services.

csd.hhd.psu.edu

Communication Sciences and Disorders

(CSD) is a national leader in training health

care professionals in the areas of speech-

language pathology and audiology. The

undergraduate curriculum is specifically

designed to prepare students for more

extensive training at the graduate level. The

bachelor of science degree helps students

develop the fundamental knowledge, skills,

and attitudes required for working with people

of all ages who have a wide range of speech,

language, and hearing problems.

JOBS AND CAREERSSpeech-language pathologists and audiologists provide intervention, diagnostic, and therapeutic services to children and adults who have speech, language, and/or hearing disorders. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and public schools. The field of speech-language pathology requires at least a master’s degree, while a clinical doctorate is needed for audiology. Students must pass a national test and complete a Clinical Fellowship Year to be certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or to obtain a state license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology. A master’s degree program may also prepare students to be eligible for a Pennsylvania Department of Education Instructional Level I Teacher Certificate in Speech-Language Impaired.

Communication Sciences and Disorders

hhd.psu.edu/hpa

Health Policy and Administration (HPA) is

a blend of courses in liberal arts, business

administration, and the health sciences

designed to prepare students for careers

or further study in health care. The health

care industry represents nearly one-seventh

of the entire U.S. economy and is still

growing, offering students a vast array of job

opportunities. Graduates work in all types

of health care organizations, from major

teaching hospitals with more than 1,000 beds

to rural solo-practice physician offices. Jobs

can be found in small nonprofit, service-

oriented agencies or in major for-profit

corporations. In addition to University Park,

HPA is offered at Lehigh Valley campus as well

as online through Penn State World Campus.

JOBS AND CAREERS

In general, HPA students are prepared to work in a variety of health care organizations, including: health care providers (hospitals, physician practices, nursing facilities, home health agencies, etc.); insurers (nonprofit and commercial insurers, health maintenance organizations, etc.); consulting firms; supply companies (pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, etc.); health services research and policy organizations (health policy research groups, industry trade groups, etc.); and local, state, and federal health agencies (local health departments, state departments of health, federal Department of Health and Human Services, etc.).

HPA students also can use the degree to prepare for graduate study in business, law, medicine or allied health fields, health administration, health services research or policy, and public health.

Health Policy and Administration

Hospitality Managementhhd.psu.edu/shm

Hospitality Management (HM) teaches students

the skills needed to manage hotels, restaurants,

resorts, casinos, convention centers, health

care and corporate dining facilities, educational

institutions, and other commercial and non-

commercial settings. Students gain a general

education background, take courses in

hospitality management and related areas, and

earn 1,000 hours of work experience.

Program Options:

• Hospitality Management

• Management Dietetics

• Hospitality Entrepreneurship (offered at Penn State Berks)

JOBS AND CAREERS

The Hospitality Management option prepares students for management positions in any segment of the hospitality industry. Students choose courses that enable them to continue pursuing a general emphasis in hospitality or a specific emphasis in restaurant management, hotel management, or institutional management. Students may also pursue a concentration in areas such as financial management, human resource management, marketing, or hospitality management information systems.

The Management Dietetics option prepares students for management positions within food service operations run by or for medical organizations, health care facilities, retirement communities, nursing homes, colleges, government agencies, schools, and community programs. Graduates often pursue management careers in commercial food service settings such as restaurants, lodging operations, and food distributors. The Management Dietetics option is available to students who are interested in becoming registered dietitians.

hhd.psu.edu/hdfs

Human Development and Family Studies

(HDFS) is an innovative, interdisciplinary

program that encourages students to explore

the development of individuals and families

across the life span. Students will study child and

adolescent development, adult development and

aging, the influence of family and community on

human development, and prevention science.

Furthermore, the program focuses on advancing

and applying knowledge about individuals,

families, schools, and communities in a changing,

diverse world. The goal is to provide students

with knowledge and skills (through supervised

internship settings or research projects) that will

equip them to work with people in professional

settings or to pursue graduate education in

related fields. HDFS is available at the following

campuses: Altoona, Brandywine, DuBois, Fayette,

Harrisburg, Mont Alto, Shenango, Worthington-

Scranton, York, University Park, and online

through Penn State World Campus.

Program Options:

• Life Span Human Services

• Life Span Developmental Science

JOBS AND CAREERS

The Life Span Human Services option prepares students for careers in a number of settings, including preschools, hospitals, mental health programs, programs for abused or neglected children, women’s resource centers, human resources programs, nursing homes, and public welfare agencies. Graduates typically pursue graduate study in human development, family studies, psychology, or sociology, or advanced professional training in psychology, law, behavioral health, counseling, or social work.

The Life Span Developmental Science option prepares students for graduate study in human development, family studies, psychology, or sociology; advanced professional training in psychology, law, behavioral health, social work; and other topics. Graduates pursue careers in developmental or family research or teaching at a college or university, as well as a variety of advanced professional careers.

Human Development and Family Studies

JOBS AND CAREERS

The Movement Science option provides interdisciplinary training in academic areas such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise and sport psychology, motor behavior, neuroscience, and sport history and philosophy to understand the use of movement for prevention and diagnosis of chronic disease, rehabilitation and treatment, and/or theoretical study. Students are prepared for a broad range of careers in biomedical and health-related fields as well as graduate study in allied health and medical fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician’s assistant, cardiac rehabilitation, or pre-medicine.

The Exercise Science option (offered at Penn State Berks) gives students a broad knowledge base and practical experience in the science of human movement. This option has two emphases: Business or Science.

Kinesiologyhhd.psu.edu/kines

Kinesiology (KINES) offers a comprehensive

program of study designed to prepare students

for professions involving physical activity,

exercise, and the science of human movement

and its relationship to human health and

disease and for graduate study in related areas.

The undergraduate program provides a solid

foundation for entry-level positions in teaching

and personal training and for postgraduate

training in kinesiology, as well as fields such as

cardiac rehabilitation, occupational therapy,

physical therapy, podiatry, prosthetics and

orthotics, and medicine.

Program Options:

• Movement Science

• Exercise Science (offered at Penn State Berks)

Nutritional Sciencesnutrition.hhd.psu.edu

Nutritional Sciences (NUTR) incorporates

physiological and biochemical aspects of

nutrition and the role of social and economic

factors in nutritional practices and their effect

on physical well-being. Human nutrition plays

a critical role in the health of individuals and

populations, and students address a number

of current issues—including diabetes, obesity,

genetics and nutrition, prenatal nutrition, and

functional foods—that offer benefits in the

prevention and treatment of diseases. Through

a broad focus on nutrition, from molecules

to organisms to populations, students are

able to participate in a number of research

opportunities, practical experiences, and

training that prepare them for careers in

nutrition research, education, health care, and

related fields.

Program Options:

• Basic Sciences

• Applied Sciences

• Dietetics

JOBS AND CAREERSThe Basic Sciences option prepares students for health-related pre-professional programs and laboratory-based research. Graduates typically pursue careers in laboratory research in the pharmaceutical or food industry, government, or academia and meet the requirements to apply for health-related pre-professional programs in medicine, dentistry, physician’s assistant, occupational therapy, pharmacology, and others.

The Applied Sciences option prepares students for employment in public health agencies, businesses, community and international agencies, and schools, or they may continue to graduate study in nutrition or related fields.

The Dietetics option provides a strong foundation in science, foods, and nutrition and meets the accreditation standards set by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students have the long-term goal of becoming a registered dietitian (RD) and may work in clinical, community, and wellness settings; counseling; education in the community and in academia; school food service; public health and policy; sports nutrition; food and industry settings; long-term care facilities; food-service management; as research technicians in industry and academia; private practice; and marketing.

hhd.psu.edu/rptm

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management helps

students learn about the social, psychological,

and economic aspects of recreation and leisure

and their impact on individual and community

health. This includes the development, marketing

and evaluation of sustainable resources,

programs, and communities, and the equitable

provision of recreation, park, and tourism facilities

and programs.

Program Options:

• Commercial and Community Recreation Management

• Professional Golf Management

• Outdoor Recreation

JOBS AND CAREERS

The Commercial and Community Recreation Management option focuses on management in the private/commercial, nonprofit, and public sectors of recreation and tourism services. Graduates seek careers in a variety of commercial settings, including resorts, theme parks, convention centers, sports and fitness facilities, and tourism agencies. Graduates also may seek careers within municipal, state, and federal government agencies, or nonprofit organizations.

The Penn State Professional Golf Management option, a PGA-accredited program, helps prepare students for careers in the golf industry. Being endorsed by the Professional Golfer’s Association of America allows students to fast track to full PGA membership while obtaining an undergraduate degree from Penn State.

The Outdoor Recreation option offers three tracks. The environmental interpretation track focuses on natural and cultural history interpretation and prepares students to work as interpreters or environmental educators in parks, nature centers, historic sites, camps, and similar organizations. The adventure-based programming track emphasizes leadership and management skills needed to implement adventure-based programs. Graduates work as leaders or guides for adventure businesses, camps, and schools. The park management track prepares students to manage natural resources, facilities, and visitors in parks, commercial outdoor facilities, and camps.

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management

› Learn more. Visit. Apply.hhd.psu.edu/overview

College of Health and Human Development The Pennsylvania State University Health and Human Development Building University Park, PA 16802 814-865-1428

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