PhD in Health Education and Promotion

Take your passion for health and wellness to the highest level with an online PhD in Health Education and Promotion and develop and lead programs that can help people live longer, healthier lives.

In recent years, public, professional, governmental, and medical groups have increasingly come to recognize the need for more health and wellness promotion initiatives, as the majority of adults do not meet the minimum recommendations to eat healthfully, exercise more, and make behavioral changes that can reduce disease and prolong their lives. With the focus of healthcare shifting toward preventive care and education, the demand for qualified health educators is projected to rise 14% by 2026.* Now is the time for you to gain the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to plan, implement, and evaluate prevention programs and services. With an online PhD in Health Education and Promotion degree, you can help groups and individuals lead healthier lifestyles or conduct research in an area that will help make the world a healthier place.

Why earn your PhD in Health Education and Promotion From Walden?

As one of a small number of online doctoral programs that is fully dedicated to this topic, our health education and promotion degree program explores both individual and population health, focusing on health behavior theory and techniques for changing behaviors. Using the latest technology, you will review case studies that touch on current trends and research and explore best practices from a global perspective.

Additionally, this online degree program can help prepare you to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam or the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exam.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Evaluate the factors that impact individual and population health.
2. Synthesize assessment results to identify and prioritize health problems.
3. Engage in collaborative planning of health interventions.
4. Apply knowledge that results in successful implementation and monitoring of health promotion and disease prevention interventions.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions
6. Conduct original health education-related research.
7. Demonstrate ethical behavior as a health education scholar-practitioner.
8. Facilitate efforts among stakeholders to achieve common goals related to individual and community health.
9. Apply health education principles, theories, and models to create professional communication and establish positive public relations.
10. Use evidence-based research to advocate for policies and programs that promote positive social change related to the health of individuals and communities.

Career Impact

The health education profession is dedicated to excellence in the practice of promoting individual, family, organizational, and community health.

In light of initiatives such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 and its goal to “increase the quality, availability, and effectiveness of educational and community-based programs designed to prevent disease and injury, improve health, and enhance quality of life,” the demand for skilled health education specialists is growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field has a 21% anticipated growth in employment over the next 10 years.*

The PhD in Health Education and Promotion program can help prepare you to advance in the field, working as a health educator in academic, clinical, community, or corporate settings.

Health educators work to promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health. They do this by:

• Assessing needs
• Planning, implementing, and evaluating health education programs
• Coordinating health education services
• Serving as resource people
• Advocating for specific health issues

A PhD in Health Education and Promotion can help you gain the skills and experience to work within a wide range of settings to promote healthy lifestyles. These settings include, but are not limited to:

Doctoral-level health education specialists may also serve as consultants, teach at the college or university level, or work as researchers.†

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, “Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014–15 Edition, Health Educators and Community Health Workers,” on the Internet at www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm (viewed online January 22, 2014). National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

^†Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this program.

Save Time and Money on Your Degree

• You can automatically reduce your required PhD in Health Education and Promotion credits and coursework if you have completed your Master of Public Health or Master of Health Education and Promotion. Reducing required credits in your program will make your education more affordable.
• You can also complete your required PhD in Health Education and Promotion coursework sooner by transferring your applicable credits.

Find detailed information for this program including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt. This information will vary depending on whether you (1) hold a MS in Health Education and Promotion or (2) hold a MPH or (3) hold a master's degree in an area other than public health.

Note on Certification:
The PhD in Health Education and Promotion has been designed to reflect the Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Educators outlined by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) and to prepare students to sit for the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exams. Walden enrollment advisors can provide information relating to national certification exams; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification exams for the state in which he or she intends to practice. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about the CHES and MCHES exams, students should visit http://www.nchec.org.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, “Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017-18 Edition, Health Educators and Community Health Workers,” on the internet at www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm (viewed online December 21, 2017).