Bachelor of Science in Faith-Based Health Policy, Advocacy

Degree abbreviation

B.S. in Faith-Based Health Policy, Advocacy

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Four academic years

General education

36 credit hours

Professional application courses

15 credit hours

Capstone requirement

6 credit hours

Academic unit

HBIU College of Health Science

Total credits

120

Duration

4 years

• Analyze the impact of local, state, and federal health policies on vulnerable populations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions within community-based organizational contexts.
• Design evidence-based advocacy strategies that align with ethical standards and institutional missions.
• Integrate theories of distributive justice and stewardship into the development of health resource management plans.
• Communicate complex health data to diverse stakeholders through professional writing and public presentations.
• Demonstrate proficiency in applying social science research methodologies to identify community health needs.
• Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to navigate conflicting stakeholder interests in health policy debates.
• Course Outline
• Semester 1 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• ENG101
• Academic Writing and Rhetoric
• 3
• None
• MAT105
• Quantitative Reasoning for Health
• 3
• None
• HIS110
• History of Social Reform
• 3
• None
• PHI101
• Foundations of Moral Philosophy
• 3
• None
• ENG101 — Academic Writing and Rhetoric: This course focuses on developing foundational skills in formal research and professional writing. Students learn to construct clear, logical arguments suitable for policy analysis. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MAT105 — Quantitative Reasoning for Health: This course introduces statistical concepts and mathematical modeling used in public health analysis. Students apply these tools to interpret health data accurately. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIS110 — History of Social Reform: An overview of historical social reform movements that have shaped modern public welfare systems. Students examine the influence of ethical traditions on policy development. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• PHI101 — Foundations of Moral Philosophy: This course examines fundamental ethical theories and frameworks used to evaluate moral decision-making in personal and professional contexts. It explores contemporary ethical dilemmas and the application of normative theories to social issues. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 2 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• BIO120
• Human Biology and Health
• 4
• None
• SOC150
• Introduction to Sociology
• 3
• None
• PSY110
• Foundations of Psychology
• 3
• None
• COM120
• Interpersonal Communication
• 2
• None
• BIO120 — Human Biology and Health: A comprehensive study of human systems and biological health determinants. The course explores how environmental and behavioral factors influence public health. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC150 — Introduction to Sociology: This course examines the social structures and dynamics that impact individual and community wellness. It provides a basis for understanding diverse societal needs. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• PSY110 — Foundations of Psychology: An overview of psychological principles including human development and behavioral motivation. Students gain insights into individual responses to community health challenges. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COM120 — Interpersonal Communication: Exploration of communication dynamics in professional and collaborative environments. Students develop skills for effective dialogue in service settings. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 3 — Year 2
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• RES200
• Research Methods for Social Science
• 3
• MAT105
• BUS210
• Nonprofit Organizational Management
• 3
• None
• ECO220
• Principles of Resource Allocation and Economics
• 3
• CHR101
• POL205
• Introduction to Public Policy
• 3
• None
• RES200 — Research Methods for Social Science: Introduction to research design, data collection, and analytical methods in the social sciences. Students learn to conduct empirical investigations of health needs. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS210 — Nonprofit Organizational Management: Covers the fundamental principles of managing non-profit entities, including resource allocation and leadership. Focuses on the role of mission in organizational success. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ECO220 — Principles of Resource Allocation and Economics: This course provides an overview of microeconomic principles and their application to nonprofit resource management and organizational budgeting. Students analyze strategies for maximizing impact through efficient distribution of human and financial resources. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• POL205 — Introduction to Public Policy: Explores the legislative process, policy formulation, and the influence of interest groups. Students analyze how policies are initiated and implemented. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 4 — Year 2
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• COU230
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation
• 3
• COM120
• BIO250
• Epidemiology Basics
• 4
• BIO120
• MGT240
• Leadership in Service Organizations
• 3
• None
• HUM250
• Ethics in Public Health
• 2
• CHR101
• COU230 — Conflict Resolution and Mediation: Practical study of techniques for resolving conflicts in community and organizational settings. Emphasizes mediation strategies that foster reconciliation and collaboration. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BIO250 — Epidemiology Basics: An introduction to the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. Students learn to utilize surveillance data for community assessment. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT240 — Leadership in Service Organizations: Explores servant leadership models and their application in mission-driven health contexts. Focuses on developing leadership capacity that prioritizes community needs. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HUM250 — Ethics in Public Health: Analysis of ethical dilemmas in healthcare policy and delivery. Students evaluate how moral reasoning impacts policy decisions and community outcomes. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 5 — Year 3
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• POL310
• Advanced Health Policy Analysis
• 3
• POL205
• RES320
• Advanced Data Analytics
• 3
• RES200
• SOC330
• Community Health Advocacy
• 3
• SOC150
• MIN340
• Community Engagement Strategies
• 3
• None
• POL310 — Advanced Health Policy Analysis: In-depth examination of current health policies and their implications for community access. Students critique policy documents using established health equity frameworks. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES320 — Advanced Data Analytics: Utilizing statistical software to perform data analysis on community health metrics. Focuses on the practical application of data for organizational advocacy. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC330 — Community Health Advocacy: Training in the design and delivery of advocacy campaigns aimed at improving community health outcomes. Students engage in practical advocacy role-playing. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MIN340 — Community Engagement Strategies: Study of outreach strategies that connect organizational missions with diverse community stakeholders. Emphasis is placed on building sustainable partnerships. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 6 — Year 3
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• BUS350
• Grant Writing and Fundraising
• 4
• BUS210
• POL360
• Environmental Health Policy
• 3
• POL310
• COU370
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• 3
• COM120
• HIS380
• Global Perspectives on Health
• 2
• None
• BUS350 — Grant Writing and Fundraising: Detailed study of grant acquisition processes for non-profit organizations. Students gain experience in identifying funding sources and drafting competitive proposals. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• POL360 — Environmental Health Policy: Analysis of the impact of environmental factors on community health and related regulatory policies. Focuses on creating advocacy strategies for cleaner living conditions. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COU370 — Cross-Cultural Communication: Examines communication strategies within culturally diverse communities. Students develop sensitivity and competency for service in multicultural environments. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIS380 — Global Perspectives on Health: Overview of international health policy and the role of non-governmental organizations. Students learn to apply global insights to local policy challenges. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 7 — Year 4
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• MGT410
• Strategic Planning in Health Organizations
• 3
• MGT240
• POL420
• Legislative Advocacy Practicum
• 3
• POL360
• BUS430
• Program Evaluation Metrics
• 3
• RES320
• SOC440
• Social Justice and Global Human Welfare
• 3
• THE220
• MGT410 — Strategic Planning in Health Organizations: Developing long-term strategic plans for organizational health and community impact. Students translate mission statements into actionable policy and project initiatives. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• POL420 — Legislative Advocacy Practicum: Applied study of legislative advocacy, including lobbying and constituency engagement. Students develop practical skills for engaging government representatives. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS430 — Program Evaluation Metrics: Techniques for assessing the success of programs and interventions. Students learn to interpret evaluation outcomes for organizational improvement and reporting. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC440 — Social Justice and Global Human Welfare: This course explores historical and contemporary definitions of social justice and its impact on the quality of life within diverse populations. It evaluates the sociopolitical structures that influence human rights, health equity, and social mobility. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 8 — Year 4
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• CAP490
• Senior Capstone Project
• 4
• All previous core courses
• BUS460
• Professional Ethics and Law
• 3
• HUM250
• SOC470
• Community Organizing for Social Change
• 3
• SOC330
• MGT480
• Transition to Professional Leadership
• 2
• MGT410
• CAP490 — Senior Capstone Project: The culminating project where students integrate all program knowledge into a comprehensive policy or advocacy analysis. It requires the delivery of a professional report and presentation reflecting academic competence and faith-informed ethical practice. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS460 — Professional Ethics and Law: Study of the legal frameworks and ethical mandates governing health-related non-profits. Students explore the balance between regulatory compliance and mission integrity. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC470 — Community Organizing for Social Change: Advanced study of mobilization strategies for community change. Students learn to organize and empower community members around specific health policy goals. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT480 — Transition to Professional Leadership: Preparing for entry into the workforce as servant leaders. Students reflect on their vocational calling and their role in the public health sector. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Faith-Based Health Policy and Advocacy requires a high school diploma or its equivalent with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must submit official transcripts, a personal statement detailing their commitment to ethical service, and two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references. Candidates are expected to demonstrate foundational skills in written and oral communication as part of their readiness for the rigorous academic coursework required for this degree. Senior Capstone Project The Senior Capstone Project represents the culminating academic achievement of the program, requiring students to synthesize their learning by conducting a comprehensive policy analysis or designing an advocacy strategy for a specific community health issue. Students are expected to produce a formal research paper and a strategic implementation plan that addresses a real-world need within a non-profit or community health setting. This project is weighted at 4 credit hours and serves as the primary instrument for assessing a student's ability to integrate research, policy analysis, and moral reasoning. Through the project, students must demonstrate how their proposed solutions reflect principles of servant leadership and stewardship of community resources. Beyond academic rigor, the Capstone Project requires students to articulate how a Christian worldview informs their approach to professional advocacy. Students must reflect on the ethical imperatives of their work, exploring how concepts such as compassion, integrity, and justice shape their professional practices. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and vocational service, the project serves as a testament to the student's development as an academically competent and morally grounded professional. The final evaluation considers both the intellectual depth of the policy analysis and the student's demonstrated commitment to faith-informed community service.

• Graduation from the Bachelor of Science in Faith-Based Health Policy and Advocacy requires the successful completion of 120 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. In addition to technical requirements, students must demonstrate spiritual and character development through active participation in university chapel services, consistent engagement in community-based service learning, and successful completion of designated spiritual formation coursework. These requirements ensure that graduates are not only academically prepared but also possess the ethical integrity and servant-leader mindset necessary for their future vocations.
• Final degree clearance is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the Senior Capstone Project, which provides evidence of a student's professional readiness. By integrating academic discipline with a commitment to faith-based values, the university ensures that all students are prepared to approach their careers with a clear sense of purpose, moral clarity, and a dedication to the common good. Graduates must fulfill all administrative and ethical standards to be recommended for the Bachelor of Science degree, marking their readiness to contribute to the mission-driven health sectors of society.
• Career Opportunities
• Health Policy Analyst
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Non-Profit Program Administrator
• Public Health Advocate
• Legislative Assistant for Health Committees
• Grants Manager for Healthcare Initiatives
• Community Wellness Educator
• Important Notices
• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | B.S. in Faith-Based Health Policy, Advocacy
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Four academic years
• General education | 36 credit hours
• Faith-Based Health Policy and Advocacy core | 63 credit hours
• Professional application courses | 15 credit hours
• Capstone requirement | 6 credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• ENG101 | Academic Writing and Rhetoric | 3 | None
• MAT105 | Quantitative Reasoning for Health | 3 | None
• HIS110 | History of Social Reform | 3 | None
• PHI101 | Foundations of Moral Philosophy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO120 | Human Biology and Health | 4 | None
• SOC150 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | None
• PSY110 | Foundations of Psychology | 3 | None
• COM120 | Interpersonal Communication | 2 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES200 | Research Methods for Social Science | 3 | MAT105
• BUS210 | Nonprofit Organizational Management | 3 | None
• ECO220 | Principles of Resource Allocation and Economics | 3 | CHR101
• POL205 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• COU230 | Conflict Resolution and Mediation | 3 | COM120
• BIO250 | Epidemiology Basics | 4 | BIO120
• MGT240 | Leadership in Service Organizations | 3 | None
• HUM250 | Ethics in Public Health | 2 | CHR101
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• POL310 | Advanced Health Policy Analysis | 3 | POL205
• RES320 | Advanced Data Analytics | 3 | RES200
• SOC330 | Community Health Advocacy | 3 | SOC150
• MIN340 | Community Engagement Strategies | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BUS350 | Grant Writing and Fundraising | 4 | BUS210
• POL360 | Environmental Health Policy | 3 | POL310
• COU370 | Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 | COM120
• HIS380 | Global Perspectives on Health | 2 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• MGT410 | Strategic Planning in Health Organizations | 3 | MGT240
• POL420 | Legislative Advocacy Practicum | 3 | POL360
• BUS430 | Program Evaluation Metrics | 3 | RES320
• SOC440 | Social Justice and Global Human Welfare | 3 | THE220
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP490 | Senior Capstone Project | 4 | All previous core courses
• BUS460 | Professional Ethics and Law | 3 | HUM250
• SOC470 | Community Organizing for Social Change | 3 | SOC330
• MGT480 | Transition to Professional Leadership | 2 | MGT410