20 Best Bachelor’s in Health Education

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s sports teams are known as the Ragin’ Cajuns. In addition to its Cajun heritage, many of the school’s students are of Acadian French heritage, so the school is also known as l’Université des Acadiens. Lafayette is home to the only Ph.D. program in Francophone Studies in Louisiana.

Lafayette’s School of Kinesiology offers students a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Health Promotion & Wellness. Students can earn the degree through a combination of online coursework, on-site clinical experiences, and internships. This online format also allows out-of-state students to take advantage of in-state tuition rates.

Students take required core courses such as Nutrition for Fitness/Sports, CPR & Basic Life Support, and World Health Issues. There are three elective course openings in the degree plan, and students complete an internship in their final semester.

Graduates of the program are qualified to pursue positions such as health educator, community health worker, or certified health education specialist.

Kansas State University, a public university in Manhattan, KS, was originally known as the Kansas State Agriculture College. It opened in 1863, two years after Kansas joined the Union. When it opened, it was the second public institution of higher learning in the United States to admit both men and women equally.

Kansas State’s Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Health is available in a 100% online format.

The program is designed for students who hope to work in public health or who have an interest in pursuing allied health or graduate programs. This includes students who are planning to pursue pre-nursing, pre-dental, and pre-physician assistant designations.

The degree calls for 120 credit hours and includes 31 professional studies (major) credit hours. Students begin with a preset series of eight core courses, including The Science of Food and Basic Nutrition. They then choose three restricted electives from a list of options, such as Pharmacology and Athletic Training and Nutrition and Exercise.

Program admission is restricted to those who have a 2.0 GPA, either in their high school coursework or from college courses, if they have completed at least 24 credit hours. Some of the program’s prerequisites are not available online, such as Principles of Biology and Human Body I. Admitted students who have not met these prerequisites will be directed to other institutions that offer equivalent courses online.

The University of North Carolina, Greensboro, has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for having high levels of both “research activity” and “community engagement.” The main campus is home to the Weatherspoon Art Museum, which includes a large collection of modern American art.

UNC Greensboro offers students a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies program that is available completely online. The program provides students with a strong public health foundation and teaches them to analyze the intersectional issues that are often at the root of certain health problems.

This is a cohort-based program, meaning that students progress with others through sequenced courses. Courses place an emphasis on race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status as they pertain to health outcomes. Graduates of the program have gone on to careers in business, hospitals, nonprofits, research, and academia.

There are ten required major courses, including Environmental Health, Public Health Diseases, and Income, Social Status, and Health. Elective courses cover topics such as Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; Mental Health and Wellbeing; and Global Health. Students may transfer in a maximum of 64 credit hours of coursework from a community college.

Stephens College is the second-oldest women’s college in the United States. The school has 850 students, and its main campus is located in Columbia, MO. Stephens College hosts the Citizen Jane lecture series through its digital filmmaking program.

Stephens College is home to a Bachelor of Science program in health science that is designed to give students an understanding of the scientific domains of health (e.g., biological and social) and an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities available in the field of health care.

Sample courses from the program include Women’s Health, Social Epidemiology, Health Behavior, Health Psychology, and Research Methods. The program also offers professional development opportunities, including mock interviews and internships. These are designed to help students network and gain practical experience prior to graduation.

Stephens also offers a health science minor. Students interested in pre-med, pre-vet, or pre-PA careers are generally encouraged to pursue a degree in biology. The health education and biology programs share core courses. The biology program’s elective courses place a greater emphasis on research.

The University of South Dakota is the oldest public university in South Dakota; its main campus is located in Vermillion. USD is home to the state’s only medical and law schools and the National Music Museum, which boasts a collection of more than 15,000 American, European, and non-Western musical instruments.

USD’s School of Health Science offers a health science major that includes an option for a Paramedic specialization. There are also minor options for Interprofessional Disabilities Services, Health Sciences, and Public Health. Students must complete 44 major credit hours and 120 total credit hours for the degree.

Departmental requirements (27 hours) for the program include Health Care Delivery, Technology in Care Delivery, and Health Literacy and Culture Care. Students complete an additional 17 hours of elective or specialization courses. These can cover topics such as global health, medical Spanish, or essentials of human anatomy.

Touro College and University was chartered in 1971 in New York City. The university has since added its School for Lifelong Education, Touro University California, and the School of Health Sciences. In 2008, the school opened Touro University Worldwide, which is its online learning platform.

Touro’s Health Education program takes the form of a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. There are concentrations available in both Health Education and Health Care Administration. The programs aim to serve the needs of working adults and are designed to give students skills relevant to the modern job market.

Courses are delivered through a fully online format, and each course lasts eight weeks. The 120 credit hours required for the degree are divided among general education (45 hours), prerequisite (21 hours), major and core (30 hours), and elective (24 hours) courses. Students graduating from the program can enter fields such as Clinical and Laboratory Management, Health Care Facility Coordination, and Department Management.

Arizona State University is among the largest universities in the U.S., with more than 80,000 students enrolled across its campuses. In 2019, U.S. World News & Report ranked ASU among the Most Innovative Schools in America. ASU has over 4,400 academic staff members, including four Nobel Laureates and four MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellows.

Arizona State offers students a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Health Promotion program. The program provides students a pathway to becoming a certified health education specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Students with this certification can earn salaries up to 50% higher than health professionals without it.

Coursework in the program gives students foundational knowledge of health program planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as specific health education specialist competencies. Students learn about key topic areas such as injury prevention, violence prevention, substance abuse prevention, and social media and marketing in health education.

Students can pursue the program online, or at the downtown Phoenix or Havasu campuses. Nearly half of the faculty members in the program are themselves CHES-certified, while others hold advanced degrees such as doctorate and Master of Public Health degrees. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including experience as x-ray technicians and aspiring physician’s assistants.

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst offers more than 230 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. It is a member of the Five College Consortium (the other four colleges are liberal arts colleges also located in Western Massachusetts), which seeks to support long-term cooperation among faculty, staff, and students from each of its member institutions.

Amherst’s online learning platform, UMass Online, houses the school’s 100% online Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Studies. Students can pursue a wide variety of health courses, such as Nutrition, Weight & Fitness, My Body, My Health, Holistic Health and Healing. Of the 120 credit hours required for the degree, 45 are devoted to the student’s major.

Amherst offers students college credit for certain life experiences. This may include credit for professional or military training, certifications, or evaluation and exams. Students also prepare a portfolio during their second semester, which includes a series of essays that reflect on what they have learned throughout their life and work experiences and which can earn a student up to 30 credit hours.

To gain admission to the program, students must have completed at least 12 college credits and earned a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Former UMass Amherst students are exempt from the GPA requirement. Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to complete the program for a second bachelor’s degree.

Kent State University was founded in 1910 as a teachers’ training school. It is one of the largest universities in the state of Ohio, with nearly 40,000 students enrolled as of September 2017. Kent State is home to the Liquid Crystal Institute, which studies liquid crystal technology and education through basic and applied research.

Kent State offers a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Health Studies, which includes an option for one of three concentration areas: Health Care Administration and Systems, Health Sciences, or Health Services. 

Students complete a total of 65 credit hours of coursework within their major concentration area. For example, the Health Sciences concentration includes courses in Biological Diversity, Trigonometry, and Neural Processes. Students also take general physics and calculus courses, along with two electives from their major area.

Southern New Hampshire University has an open enrollment policy that requires only a high school diploma or GED for admission. In 2007, SNHU became New Hampshire’s first carbon-neutral university as part of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

SNHU offers an online Community Health Education bachelor’s program that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The program’s standards align with those set by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing for Health Educator Specialists, and it meets the requirements for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam.

The 120 credit hours required for the degree are split among 42 general education credits, 36 major core credits, 12 major elective credits, and 30 free elective credits. Courses within the major include Communicable Diseases, Social and Behavioral Health, and Methods and Materials in Health Education. The program ends with a Community Health capstone course, which includes an original comprehensive paper.

The University of Florida, located in Gainesville, FL, is one of the 62 member institutions of the Association of American Universities, which is a conglomerate of the preeminent North American research universities. For 2020, U.S. World News & Report has ranked UF as the seventh-best public university in the United States.

UF offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Education. Students can choose to specialize in either Community Health Promotion or Health Studies. In addition to the major, UF offers a minor in Health Promotion, which is available both on campus in Gainesville and through the school’s online learning platform.

Special attention is paid in the curriculum to diversity and culturally appropriate health education methodologies. Florida uses what it calls Critical Tracking courses in its degree plans to ensure students stay on track with the program. Students complete Critical Tracking courses in a preset order alongside elective and more flexible courses for the degree.

Critical Tracking courses from the major plan include Foundations of Health Education, Community and Environmental Health, and Health Education Professional Development. Students also complete three electives before finishing the degree by completing an internship in health education, which accounts for all 15 credit hours of the final semester.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock opened as the Little Rock Junior College in 1927. It became an independent university in 1957 and joined the University of Arkansas system in 1969. Its annual endowment is more than $80 million; the school’s motto is “culture, truth, knowledge.”

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Promotion that is designed to prepare students for roles in community health agencies, health maintenance organizations, and business/industry wellness programs.

The program also aims to prepare students to take the National Health Education Credentialing exam.

The degree requires the completion of an 18-credit-hour minor program of study. Major requirements include 67 credit hours of required courses, along with 18-21 hours of University Standard Core and 14 hours of College Core courses. Health Education and Promotion courses include Drug Education K-12, Nutrition, and Mental Health Education.

The Mississippi University for Women is a public university located in Columbus, MS. While the school originally served an all-female population, men have been admitted since 1982. Women comprise 81% of the current student body. It was the first public women’s college in the United States.

The Mississippi University for Women has two degree programs related to health education. Students may choose either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health Education. The Applied Science program is intended for students who have already completed an associate degree in allied health.

Students in the BA program take core courses such as Biostatistics for Public Health, Global Health, and Principles of Epidemiology. Students complete nine free electives and three health education electives. The final semester includes a public health internship and research in public health.

The Applied Science curriculum includes some overlap with the BA program in terms of its core courses. However, courses such as Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health and Chronic Disease and Public Health are unique to the BAS program. Students have additional elective course credits available during their last two semesters, as compared to the BA program.

Fort Hays State University is the third-largest public university in the state of Kansas. The main campus in Hays, includes a winding stream called Big Creek, which is used by students from the biological studies department. FHSU has 31 departments and more than 60 undergraduate majors.

Fort Hays State University is home to a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies, which is an online, post-professional degree. It is intended for individuals who already hold a credential in a clinically based allied health discipline from a community college or technical program. The curriculum provides career and academic support for current practitioners.

Students complete a minimum of 120 credit hours in the program. This includes 25 credit hours of health studies core courses and a 12-credit hour concentration track. Up to 30 hours of transfer credit may be applied to the degree requirements. Core courses include Medical Terminology, Principles of Nutrition, and Environmental Health.

Concentration options include Gerontology, Health Promotion, Sociology of Medicine and Aging, Grant Writing and Social Entrepreneurship, and Leadership. Courses from the Health Promotion concentration include Communicable and Emergent Diseases, Fitness Leadership, and Life-Span Nutrition.

Excelsior University is a private college located in Albany, NY. The school is made up of three colleges: the School of Undergraduate Studies, the School of Graduate Studies, and the School of Nursing. Most of its students are classified as non-traditional, meaning that they are working adults or international students using the school’s online platform.

Excelsior’s Health Sciences division offers two Bachelor of Science programs in Health Science and Health Care Management. The Health Science degree requires 15 credit hours of health sciences core courses, such as Health Care Issues in Culturally Diverse Populations. Students also select an area of emphasis.

Areas of emphasis offered in the program include End-of-Life Care, Gerontology, Health Education, Health and Wellness, or Management. Students take nine hours of coursework in their area of emphasis, along with 32 hours of elective credits and a three-credit capstone. There is also a required one-credit Information Literacy course.

Brigham Young University, Idaho was founded in 1888 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church continues to own and operate the university, which transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001 (at which point it also did away with its original name, Ricks College).

Brigham Young Idaho offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, which can include a Health Education and Promotion emphasis. BYU Idaho currently has more than 2,300 students enrolled in its Public Health program, including nearly 1,000 online students. In 2018, 267 students graduated from the program.

Students complete core and elective coursework, such as Research Methods & Program Evaluation and Community Health Methods. One of the major components of the program is a public health internship, which must be a minimum of seven weeks long. Peer mentors are available to help students find, apply for, and thrive in these internships.

American Public University is a for-profit online learning system paired with the American Military University. The school has corporate and academic offices in Charles Town, WV. More than half of APU’s students have served in the U.S. military or are currently active-duty servicemembers.

APU’s Bachelor in Public Health program requires the completion of 120 credit hours of coursework, of which a maximum of 90 may be transferred in. The program is delivered online, and monthly courses are available to new students. Active-duty military members receive tuition grants that lower the per-credit-hour cost.

Students can choose one of four concentration areas: Emergency and Disaster Management, General, Nutrition and Wellness, or Public Health Informatics. Students pursue elective courses related to their area of concentration, such as Risk Communications and Psychology of Disaster.

The program is directed by Dr. Samer Koutoubi, who has a Ph.D. in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University. He also has an MD in General Medicine and Pharmacy. Textbooks in the program are provided online at no cost to students. Military grants for reduced tuition also apply to spouses and dependents of active-duty military members, National Guard members, and reservists.

Ashford University is an online, for-profit school based in San Diego. Ashford is divided into five colleges: general education, business & technology, education, health, human services, and science, and liberal arts. As of 2017, Ashford enrolled roughly 36,000 students and had about 2,600 academic staff members.

Ashford is home to a Bachelor of Arts in Health Education. The online program is delivered in 5-week-long courses, which are taken one at a time. Students complete major courses related to one of three key areas: Health Care Administration, Health Care Studies, or Health Promotion. Students complete 36 credit hours of coursework in these major areas.

Sample courses from the subject areas include Health Care Ethics & Medical Law for the Health Care Administration area, Health Promotion Planning & Evaluation for the Health Care Studies area, and Community Health Promotion Methods for the Health Promotion area. These subject areas include 12, 6, and 18 credit hours of coursework, respectively.

Of the 120 credit hours required for the degree, no more than 90 may be transfer credits. Online programs are available in Health and Wellness, Complementary and Alternative Health, and Human Resource Management. Students may be required to complete introductory courses to help them acclimate to the online classroom. 

Trident University International is a private, online school that operates for a profit. Trident was formerly a branch of the Touro College and University System but became a standalone institution in 2007.

Around 75% of students enrolled at Trident have an affiliation with the military, and the school offers students eight bachelor’s, eight master’s, and five doctoral degree programs.

Trident offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences that prepares students to fill roles in a variety of settings, including health departments, government, for-profit and nonprofit health agencies, and businesses. The program uses the “EdActive Learning” approach, which is designed to give students a dynamic education that also produces real-world skills and applications.

Students take core courses such as Ethics in Health Care, Cross-Cultural Health Perspectives, and Health Behavior. They may also choose a concentration in Health Education, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, or Health Education. Graduates of the Health Education concentration are qualified to take the Certified Health Education Specialist exam.

Bellevue University opened in 1966 with a focus on adult education and educational outreach. Most (80%) of its undergraduates are over the age of 25, and the total student population is more than 10,000. Bellevue’s athletic teams compete as the Bruins, and the university has a co-ed E-sports team.

Bellevue is home to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education program that requires students to complete 52 credit hours of major coursework. Students must also complete 36 general education credits and 32 hours of electives. There are also areas of emphasis from which students may choose.

Areas of emphasis include School Health, Community Health, and Health Coaching. The curriculum includes the Kirkpatrick Signature Series, a series of courses intended to be value-based. Courses in the signature series include American Vision and Values, Tradition and Change, and Freedom and Responsibility.