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Do you want to help people lead healthier lives? You can learn what it takes to become a certified health educator.
The BS in health education and health promotion provides students a pathway for becoming a certified health education specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (https://www.nchec.org/).
Working alongside clinicians, health agency directors and community leaders, health education specialists are catalysts for improving health for individuals and communities. The program provides professional preparation in population-based approaches to improve health outcomes, including school and community health education. Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in health education and health promotion gain foundational knowledge in health promotion program planning, implementation, evaluation, health education and health advocacy. These skills can be applied to society's most pressing health challenges, like improving the food and built environments to promote health, providing sexual health education, and preventing substance abuse, violence and injuries.
At A Glance
Health Education and Health Promotion, BS
- Offered by: College of Health Solutions
- Location: Downtown, ASU@Lake Havasu, Online
- First Required Math Course: MAT 117 - College Algebra
- Math Intensity: Moderate
Required Courses
A major map outlines a major's critical requirements, courses, and optimal course sequence and aids students in remaining on track to graduation.
While circumstances vary between students and their paths towards graduation (utilizing placement testing to fulfill required math or foreign language courses, fulfilling multiple General Studies requirements with one course, etc.), completing the courses listed in a major map fulfills all of the requirements for graduation.
Application requirements
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:
Affording college
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Financial Aid
ASU has many financial aid options. Almost everyone, regardless
of income, can qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact,
more than 70 percent of all ASU students receive some form of
financial assistance every year.
A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Education and Health Promotion (HEHP) from ASU is a professional, credentialed, and nationally-recognized degree that can lead to certification in the field of health promotion (Certified Health Education Specialist, CHES). The CHES is a globally-recognized credential for health educators.
Majoring in HEHP allows for a flexible career in a variety of health organizations, which gives students choice when they move into the workforce. HEHP courses emphasize project-based, experiential learning, which creates an engaging learning environment for students. Students also participate in real-world learning activities with others enrolled in our program, making HEHP an enjoyable learning community.
Program Information:
- HEHP Brochure (.pdf)
- Health Education Specialists, NCHEC
- Become a Certified Health Education Specialist
Admission requirements
The Downtown campus is available to all students who meet university admission standards.
The West campus is only available to students who will be first time freshmen as defined as those who have earned 12 college credit hours or less at the time of admission.
Career outlook
Growing awareness of how healthy lifestyles and environments influence our health has led to a greater emphasis on preventing disease and managing chronic diseases effectively. Health education and health promotion professionals fill a critical role in the new vision for health and health care as they teach individuals how to stay well by living healthy lifestyles, and they help mobilize communities to create healthy environments through policy, advocacy and environmental change. As the need for innovative approaches to improving health outcomes becomes increasingly clear, the demand for health education and health promotion professionals will increase as well. Health promotion professionals work in various environments based on the industry in which they are employed.
Based on a random sample of community health job advertisements (September, 2017), health professionals with the CHES credential earn up to a 47% higher salary than health professionals without it. As of 2019, the American Medical Association has approved certified health education specialists for new insurance billing qualifications that will expand the practice even further. In addition to working to change policies and environments to promote health, and to educate communities, health education specialists can work as clinical educators, counseling individuals to adopt new health behaviors. The health education specialist pathway offers growth opportunities, as well, as CHES are eligible to become master certified health education specialists after five years of practice, and MCHES are eligible to become certified diabetes educators.
Graduates of this degree program often pursue careers in wellness and health promotion in such environments as:
- colleges and universities
- community health agencies
- hospitals and clinical settings
- insurance companies
- private health care organizations
- schools
- state and county health departments
- voluntary health organizations
- wellness centers
- work site wellness and health promotion
They may also pursue further graduate study in such fields as:
- medicine and dentistry (with additional elective sciences)
- occupational therapy
- physical therapy
- physician's assistant
- public health
- community health
- health education
- health promotion
- social work
- health psychology
Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.
Example careers
Students who complete this degree program may be prepared for the following careers. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions. Career examples include but are not limited to:
| Career | *growth | *median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Health Educators | 14.5% | $53,940 |
| Community Health Workers | 18.1% | $38,370 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | 13.2% | $41,570 |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | 10.6% | $81,630 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | 11.7% | $37,220 |
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners, All Other | 13.3% | $73,830 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 25.9% | $97,870 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 18% | $64,100 |
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
- Bright Outlook
- Green Occupation
What are ASU's Online Programs?
ASU Online offers programs like Health Education and Health Promotion in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.
More information on the program is available directly from ASU Online.