Diploma in Health Management and Promotion (R43)

About the Programme

Promoting healthy lifestyles is a key to improving the well-being of our people. Regular exercise, combined with a balanced diet and good mental well-being, can improve our health and reduce the risks of many chronic diseases.

The programme aims to adopt a holistic and lifespan approach to health promotion. Using a three-pronged approach of exercise science, nutrition science and psychology, it will focus on three target areas: youth obesity, workplace health and active ageing. The emphasis on psychology is a unique approach which focuses on the importance of understanding behaviour and communication in the promotion of healthy lifestyle and behaviour. This is the first diploma programme in Singapore that combines exercise, nutrition and psychology in the management of health and wellness.

Graduates will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to promote physical activity and health in the community, rehabilitation, school and corporate settings.

Programme Objectives

• Nutrition science and the importance of nutritional balance for growth and health.
• Fundamentals of exercise psychology, including factors influencing sports participation.
• Interpersonal skills to conduct interviews.
• Knowledge of several approaches to counselling such as the humanistic, cognitive and psychoanalytic approach.
• The role of cognition, society and the environment in influencing the health and well-being of individuals.
• Theories of health behaviour change and the use of incentive, compliance, and adherence techniques to reduce stress, obesity and addictive behaviours.
• Health promotion strategies to enable people to increase control over their health.
• Exercise programming and assessment for different population groups.
• Use of technologies and tools such as heart rate monitors, pedometers, and accelerometers to assess health and fitness.
• Health issues facing the youth, working and elderly population, and the common barriers to adopting healthy lifestyles in these populations.
• Planning and delivering programmes to reduce youth obesity.
• Planning and delivering programmes to encourage active ageing and disease prevention through diet and lifestyle changes.
• Planning and delivering intervention including ergonomic programmes to reduce sedentary work behaviours and promote workplace wellness.
• Contemporary issues that confront practitioners when dealing with obesity in children and adults.

Career Prospects

There is an increasing need for qualified and well-trained professionals in the areas of health and wellness, exercise and fitness and health promotion.

Graduates will be prepared for jobs such as health promotion specialists, physical activity and fitness leaders, patient health educators, public health executives and health research assistants. Opportunities also exist in a variety of settings that include public health departments, healthcare facilities, community-based organisations, schools, workplace health promotion and non-profit organisations.

Outstanding graduates may choose to further their education in Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Health Science-related degree programme locally and overseas.