dr. sally kuykendall and a female saint joseph's university student looks at a human torso model

Department of Health Studies

The Department of Health Studies provides a comprehensive foundation in natural sciences, public health, the health care system and social sciences to prepare students for successful careers in health services. Students will be introduced to a broad spectrum of health issues including sociocultural influences on health, health behavior and management, the systems of health care, legal and ethical concerns, health promotion, environmental influences on health, nutrition, mental health, life cycle health, alternative/complementary medicine, epidemiology and more.

Health care is one of the most rapidly growing and cost-intensive fields in the U.S. Rapid changes in demographics, medical advances in technology and medical science, along with tremendous pressures to assure regulatory compliance and quality care, have increased the need for more educated, more committed and more compassionate people to enter this field.

The Department of Health Studies prepares students for a wide range of health care positions in hospitals, health departments, health agencies, research facilities, schools and industry. A health studies major provides students with the flexibility to design an individual program of study based upon interests and career goals, and there is considerable flexibility within the program to complete prerequisites needed for graduate programs in health-related fields and to minor in biology, chemistry, psychology, sociology or business. The majority of our graduates proceed to clinical or graduate school to study allied health fields such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physician assistants, pharmacy and public health.

61%

Of graduates seek employment in the fields of health/medicine/biotechnology

17%

Of graduates seek employment in human and community services

11%

Of graduates seek work in insurance

11%

Of graduates seek work in education or government

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3 saint joseph's university health studies majors looking at a laptop

Health Studies Degree Programs

saint joseph's university faculty professor teaching health studies class

Our Faculty

two saint joseph's university students practicing how to take blood pressure

Health Professions Advising

News and Announcements

Picture of Refatun Momo in a graduation cap, outside in front of pink flowers

New Partnership Embraces Holistic Approach to Education Through Community Outreach: Through a new collaboration, Saint Joseph’s 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.

Getting from Vaccine to Vaccination: 5 Ways to Reach Community Immunity: 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.

Undergraduates Co-Author Articles for Women's Encyclopedia with Health Professor: Four undergraduate students from the School of Health Studies and Education co-authored a set of encyclopedia entries with Sally Kuykendall, Ph.D., interim chair and professor of health studies. The entries will be included in “Women’s Health: Understanding Issues and Influences,” which will be published by ABC-CLIO Press in 2021, and gave the students real-world experience in scholarly research and publishing.

Through Service and Faculty Support, Student from Bangladesh Finds Community on Hawk Hill: Refatun Momo, who graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary health services, describes her experience immigrating to the United States from Bangladesh, where she learned English and was accepted into Saint Joseph’s within two years. Momo plans to go to medical school to become a doctor and return to Bangladesh to build free hospitals for underprivileged women and children.

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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."

Jillian Rogers '18
External Communications Specialist, Adaptimmune

[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."

Zyanna Almonacy '20
B.S. Nursing Student, University of Pennsylvania

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."

Reece Long '20
Doctor of Physical Therapy Student, Thomas Jefferson University

Department of Health Studies

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