Community Health Education (BS)

The B.S. in Community Health Education program addresses the responsibilities, functions, skills, and knowledge to become a successful and effective community health educator. Students explore effective ways to promote health and prevent disease in populations, and to plan, develop, implement and evaluate community health education programs. Students learn important the critical components of community health education such as social and behavioral health, research and assessment, epidemiology and chronic and communicable diseases. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014), "employment of health educators and community health workers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will be driven by efforts to improve health outcomes and to reduce healthcare costs by teaching people about healthy habits, behaviors and utilization of available health care services." This degree program is designed for students who want careers in public or private health organizations. Health educators are professionals who plan, implement, and evaluate activities to help improve the health of people in settings such as schools, workplace programs, community agencies, health care facilities, government organizations, businesses, and colleges. The BS in Community Health Education program prepares the student for the professional certification examination to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) offered through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.