Through a new collaboration, St. Joe’s interdisciplinary health studies majors put theory into practice developing health education lessons for Gompers Elementary students under the tutelage of Main Line Health medical school students.
Department of Health Sciences
The Department of Health Sciences offers courses in the health sciences and exercise physiology. Department programs prepare students for careers as healthcare professionals with courses on the social and commercial determinants of health, healthcare systems, legal and ethical concerns, health behavior, kinesiology, exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition and evidence-based practices.
Programs blend coursework and experiential learning to give students the skills that they need to succeed in the health professions. The programs also offer considerable flexibility enabling students to design an individualized course of study based on personal interests, strengths, and career goals. This flexibility allows students to complete prerequisites for graduate programs in health-related fields or to minor in biology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, or business. The majority of our graduates proceed to further education, such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, athletic training, chiropractic, physician assistant, pharmacy, and public health.
The faculty in the Health Sciences Department are recognized experts receiving numerous awards for teaching, advising, and scholarship. Department faculty and staff are proud to create a culture of collaboration among students reflective of the helping professions.
Explore Our Department
Explore Our Department
Health Sciences Degree Programs
Health Sciences Degree Programs
Our undergraduate programs cover the fundamentals of healthcare and prepare students for clinical or graduate school.
Our Faculty
Our Faculty
Faculty members bring extensive experience in healthcare and kinesiology from previous roles and are dedicated to applying their knowledge to the classroom.
Health Professions Advising
Health Professions Advising
Students and alumni who aspire to health-related careers can get health professions advising for guidance.
News & Announcements
With COVID-19 vaccinations being distributed across the globe, Health Studies Professor Sally Kuykendall, Ph.D., offers five ways to mitigate public concern while addressing vaccine access on our path to community immunity.
Four health studies majors learn the ins and outs of academic publishing by researching and co-writing encyclopedia entries on women’s health with Sally Kuykendall, Ph.D., interim chair and professor of health studies. The entries will be included in ABC-CLIO Press’s “Women’s Health: Understanding Issues and Influences,” set to publish in 2021.
Alumni Spotlight
![Jillian Rogers '18]()
Saint Joseph's turned my passion and excitement for food into an academic and professional opportunity. Being a student in such a prestigious and focused program made me stick out throughout the recruitment and interview process as well."
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[As a health services major], I had the opportunity to be a member of the University's Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a Pre-Professional Honors Society, where I participated in Dinner with a Doc, the Health Professions Expo and student teaching at West Catholic High School."
![Reece-long_1440x1440.jpg]()
My health studies classes helped me understand a different aspect of health care. Not only did I receive the scientific and anatomical education I needed, but I also learned about health disparities, healthcare ethics and the psychosocial aspects of health conditions. Those courses are the ones that I truly believe will help me become a more well-rounded health professional."
