Given the multiple ways that the health education and promotion field can impact the lives of communities, it should be no surprise that health educators and other health education and promotion professionals work in a variety of settings. Careers in public health and education include positions with community health agencies, state and local health departments, schools and universities, businesses and corporations, faith-based organizations, hospitals and clinics, and nonprofit organizations, including those focused on global health education programs. In addition to serving as health educators for specific organizations and populations, common responsibilities for those in the health education and promotion field include preparing for and responding to emergencies, designing and advocating for health-related policy, writing grants, leading public health departments and nonprofits, and using social entrepreneurship to enact social change and improve the health of at-risk communities.

Health education and promotion is the bridge between what experts learn about health and safety and how we use that knowledge as a society. Health educators and others in the field are skilled at analyzing the biological, social, political, cultural, environmental, and behavioral factors that impact individual and population health. And they’re skilled at using that health data to assess a given community’s need for health education (i.e., determining gaps in public knowledge); develop plans, programs, and other ways to implement health education and policy; determine the right communication strategies for informing populations of specific health risks/solutions; and evaluate the effectiveness of health programs and policy, with the intent of improving them where needed. While no one person within the health education and promotion field does all of this, the field as a whole provides a wide range of services.

Candidates who earn their master’s degree in health education and promotion benefit from in-depth and research-based courses. In Walden University’s MS in Health Education and Promotion program, you will take courses such as:

• Exploring Health Education in the 21st Century
• Health Behavior Theory
• Public Health Administration and Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation

These courses help prepare you for a career as a public health educator. Furthermore, you can choose specializations such as Emergency Preparedness and Population Health, which may help you stand out when you apply for relevant positions.

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification establishes a national standard for members of the profession and shows prospective employers that an individual is proficient in certain knowledge and skills. Earning your CHES certification not only unlocks the opportunity to further your career and earning potential, but also enables you to become a part of a global movement to positively impact world health. To become certified, you must pass an exam administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. To apply to take the exam, you must meet certain academic requirements, as well as submit official transcripts indicating a major in health education and completion of at least 25 semester hours of work addressing the Areas of Responsibility and Competency for Health Education Specialists.¹

¹Source: www.nchec.org/ches-exam-eligibility

As a student in Walden’s online master’s in health education and promotion program, you can take advantage of an online learning format that allows you to complete coursework from anywhere you have internet access. Plus, you have the flexibility to attend class at a time of day that works best for your schedule.