Do you want to help people lead healthier lives? Learn what it takes to become a certified health education specialist and protect the health of individuals and communities through public health education.
Working alongside clinicians, health agency directors and community leaders, health education specialists are catalysts for improving health for individuals and communities. 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/).
This 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, including improving the food and built environments to promote health, providing sexual health education, and preventing substance abuse, violence, injuries and infectious diseases.
At A Glance
Health Education and Health Promotion, BS
- Offered by: College of Health Solutions
- Location: Downtown, ASU@Lake Havasu, Online
- Math Intensity: General
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
Scholarships
Find and apply for relevant scholarships.
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
Certification and licensure
The College of Health Solutions prepares graduates for excellence upon entering the workplace. Since certification and licensure requirements vary by profession and from state-to-state, we recommend that you visit the ASU licensure website to determine if your program meets the requirements of individual state licensures or national certifications, as applicable. If you have specific questions, please contact your program director or degree coordinator.
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, defined as those who have earned 12 college credit hours or fewer at the time of admission.
Career outlook
Health education and health promotion professionals fill a critical role 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. Based on a random sample of community health job advertisements from 2017, health professionals with the CHES credential earn up to a 47% higher salary than health professionals without it. Health education specialists can also work as clinical educators.
The health education specialist pathway offers growth opportunities, as certified specialists 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 can also pursue further graduate study in such fields as:
- community health
- health education
- health promotion
- health psychology
- medicine and dentistry (with additional elective sciences)
- occupational therapy
- physical therapy
- physician assistant
- public health
- social work
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 Education Specialists | 11.4% | $56,500 |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | ||
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | 6.9% | $39,530 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 20.5% | $99,090 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | ||
| Physician Assistants | 31.3% | $115,390 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 17% | $69,600 |
* 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.