Health Education Degree Online Bachelor of Science in Community Health

Community health education is a unique, growing field focused on promoting, protecting and improving the health of individuals, communities and organizations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 7% growth for health education specialists through 2032, fueled largely by a push to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs through the promotion of healthy behaviors.¹

As a sub-discipline of public health, community health takes a more personalized approach to a community’s wellness needs. Whereas public health specialists gather and analyze data on large samples of society, health educators work with individuals and organizations to plan, implement and evaluate initiatives such as nutrition programs or anti-smoking campaigns.

Community health educators often work in individual and family service offices, government offices, hospitals and outpatient care centers. Typically, they interact one on one with people, taking a very hands-on approach to making improvements in health and well-being.

Health education is vital to sustaining the well-being of America’s communities in many ways. Beyond education, community health educators improve access to healthcare, ensure health equity, influence policy and boost economies.

In a similar vein, community health education impacts policymaking. From campaigns and legislation to programs that boost awareness and prevention of diabetes, public health workers provide research and guidance to inform policy development.

Finally, health education can boost a community's economy by reducing healthcare spending and lost productivity due to preventable illness. Obesity and tobacco use, for example, cost the United States billions of dollars each year in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Programs designed to help combat these issues improve both the physical and financial health of communities.

"I chose this program of study because I have a passion for helping others," said Alexisa Humphrey '20. "Medical bills are very costly, no matter your tax bracket. Some of those issues could have been prevented with some education. As a health educator, I plan to do just that in my community, especially with the pandemic."

Community health educators look at the holistic health of neighborhoods, cities and towns to identify issues and trends. Once they understand the underlying factors, they collaborate with public health departments, schools, government offices and local nonprofits to design health education programs and other resources to address a community's specific needs.

Sometimes community health educators are called upon to address a public health crisis. In 2018, Dr. Kenetra Young, an online faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University, received a Hometown Health Hero award for her efforts to contain an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Detroit, Michigan. Young earned the recognition after leading community intervention efforts that strengthened coordination between city departments and educated at-risk populations.

"I was doing it to help the population in the community," Young said. "I was out there enjoying what I was doing."

Community health educators operate in many capacities in all sorts of communities, including:

• College campuses to help combat drug and alcohol abuse and promote exercise
• Nonprofits to help raise awareness about specific illnesses and health issues
• Private practice to help individuals with chronic medical problems
• Fundraising and policy development

"I wanted to study this program because I was already working at a community health center as a sexual health educator," said Daniel Amato '21. "I had learned about a topic in one of my courses, and literally the next week, we were using it at work! It was a neat connection for me, and at that moment, I knew I was learning beneficial information."

Community health educators need to be clear communicators, effective program developers, adept at interpreting laws and regulations related to health issues and skilled evaluators of program effectiveness.

As health-consciousness permeates the workplace, community health educators are also becoming a vital part of private sector organizations. They help companies identify key workplace health problems and offer advice to management about how to improve policies and conditions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), community health education degree holders can find opportunities in an array of settings, including:¹

• Schools and colleges
• Nonprofit organizations
• Private companies
• Government entities and public health departments
• Hospitals and community health centers
• Individual and family services
• Religious, grant making, civic, professional and similar organizations
• Outpatient care centers

Job titles include certified diabetes educator, clinical instructor, community health consultant, education coordinator, health education coordinator, health education specialist, health educator, health promotion specialist, public health educator, public information officer and more.² In May 2023, the BLS reported a median annual wage for health education specialists of $62,860, with the highest 10% earning more than $107,920.¹

Many community health centers are certified as Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH). Provided through the National Committee for Quality Assurance, PCMH certification is a model of care that puts patients at the forefront. Southern New Hampshire University prepares every health professions student for real-world, team-based models of care through integrated health professions courses.

A community health education major is a practical degree that prepares students for the real-world community health problems they'll face in the field. Students enrolled in Southern New Hampshire University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Community Health Education learn to positively influence the health behavior of individuals, groups and communities, while addressing lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity, sexual behavior and drug use, as well as living conditions that influence health.

Successful graduates of SNHU’s program are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam. Issued by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, the CHES® exam is fully accredited by the National Commission of Certified Agencies to meet national standards that help community health professionals advance in their profession.

If your goal is to work with populations that need health information, then this community health degree program is for you.

"I would recommend this program to any student," said student Jacqueline Graham. "For a student like me that was out of school for a long time, after taking this program, I feel like it has totally given me the confidence I needed to graduate and to pursue my master's degree in public health."

Daniel Amato '21 was already working in the community health field, and he felt it would be the ideal foundation degree.

"I found it much more interesting to be engaged in my courses because I was connecting what I was learning in the classroom to the outside world," he said. "You know when teachers would always lecture the class about having to know a certain topic because 'you will use this someday'? I never believed them until I began working on my bachelor's at Southern New Hampshire University. It was like a lightbulb went off in my brain. ... I am happy I chose this degree program, and I’m excited to build on what I’ve learned from it."

Alexisa Humphrey '20 also knew her program was worth it, even before graduation.

"The program met all my expectations," she said. "I was able to help myself while educating my patients on various health-related issues and give them valuable resources they can share with others."