Online and Distance Learning

A masters in health education provides the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career promoting health through education.  This page gives you more information about what is involved in studying the degree, where you can study it online, and the job and salary prospects after completion.

What is a health educator and what is health education?

Health educators are a type of social worker and community educator whose jobs are to teach members of the public how to improve their overall health. Some work for state, local, and national governments, helping to implement nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation and other programs, as well. A bachelor's degree is required for entry into the field, and the masters in health education is the standard degree for this work.

Unlike doctors and other medical personnel, these health educational professionals usually work with basically healthy people, trying to teach them how to remain that way. Some things they might do in a typical job is work one on one with people to help them quit smoking, eat better, or exercise more, or offer community classes in those and other similar subjects. They may also work with patients with diseases, helping them be as healthy as possible despite their limitations.

Training for a health education career consists of at least a bachelors degree, but more often a masters in health education.

Related professional areas to check are Dietetics, Health Promotion, Nutrition, and Public Health.

Where can you study a masters in health education?

Here are some selected universities where you can study for a masters in health education:

• Kaplan University Online
  • MS in Health Education 
  • Master of Public Health

• Benedictine University Online
  • Master of Public Health - Health Education & Promotion
  • Master of Public Health - Disaster Management
  • Master of Public Health - Health Management & Policy

• Capella University
  • MPH - General Public Health

• University of Phoenix Online
  • MS in Nursing - Nursing/Health Care Education

• Walden University
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track - Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - RN Track - Education
  • Post-Masters Certificates in Nursing - Nursing Education 
  • Master of Public Health (M.P.H) - General
  • Ph.D. in Health Services - Community Health Education & Advocacy

• South University
  • MS - Nurse Educator
  • Master of Science in Adult Health Nurse Practitioner

• Grand Canyon University
  • Bridge to M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Education
  • MS in Nursing: Nursing Education
  • Master of Public Health

What is studied in a masters in health education?

Many people come into their health education careers from some other, related field such as nursing or psychology. Since working with the public is a large part of these educators' jobs, people in the field must be comfortable interacting with many different types of people on a regular basis.

Programs of study for these degrees consist of relatively equal parts communication and health training. Topics such as policy development, research, administration and financial management are mixed in among biostatistics, epidemiology, behavioral science, and other science courses. In order to effectively implement programs, these professionals need to be both knowledgeable in the field, and able to communicate their knowledge to others easily.

There is a certification program for these educators, called the Certification Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential, but it is not required by many employers. If a student elects to pursue certification, there is a required exam and 75 hours of continuing education mandated within every 5 year period to maintain the certification. State government positions are the most likely to require that potential employees have this credential.

What jobs are there after graduating with a masters in health education?

These professionals are teachers, first and foremost, with a specialty in keeping people healthy. One of the places they find employment is through schools, working as health teachers. They also work at colleges, teaching students what they can do to stay healthy, and often mentoring student groups that attempt to educate their peers.  With a doctorate or master in health education it is also possible to obtain a postion teaching health education as a member of faculty of a two-year or four-year college.

Those that work in the government might perform different tasks, depending on what type of government they work for.  A lot of their time is likely to be taken up by developing educational materials for distribution, and serving as liaisons between the public and public officials. They also coordinate efforts such as non-profit fund-raising and community programs.

How much can you earn after completing a masters in health education?

The current career outlook for the field is quite favorable for these degree holders.  An increase of 18% in jobs in health education is expected to occur over the next few years, before 2018. Experience is a major factor in landing a job, so internships, volunteering, or taking summer jobs in the field are recommended for prospective educators in the field. Pay in the field is modest to moderate, with the middle 50% making between $33,170 and $60,810 a year.

For schools in Canada

Click here for a page that links to campus universities and campus colleges in Canada. It also provides some advice on choosing a suitable campus.

Click here and then enter your Canadian postal code to search for Canadian college or university campuses.

For more information

Related professional areas to check are Dietetics, Health Promotion, Nutrition, and Public Health.

Use this link to find health education masters degree programs and schools near you.

Use the search facility on this site to find a masters in health education.

Remember to compare the admission requirements and course content of several schools before you choose a program.

Campus Programs

For those students who feel that online learning and distance education is not for them, the web site also has a section on campus programs. 

You can also use this link to search for a program or a school near you.