Public Health Education, B.S.

The Department of Public Health Education offers the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Public Health Education major with a concentration in Community Health Education or Health Studies (an online degree program). Both concentrations provide a foundation in the core areas of public health including: social and behavioral sciences, epidemiology, public health statistics, and health policy and administration.

Only students in the Community Health Education concentration are eligible candidates for national credentialing as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES.). The Health Studies Online concentration is an online option available for second-degree seeking students looking for a non-professional degree to complement their current professional or career experiences.

Community Health Education Concentration
Increasing national interest in health and health promotion attracts students to the undergraduate degree program in Community Health Education. The concentration provides field experiences in public and private agencies as part of the professional preparation program. Students are prepared to design and implement health promotion programs in the community. Graduates have careers in national, state, and local health agencies, health and human services organizations, and business and industry; and many continue on into graduate study.

Health Studies Online Concentration
The program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Health Studies Online concentration, is designed to prepare individuals for positions in health-related fields and provide a base for graduate study. The Health Studies Online concentration will allow time and location bound students to complete an undergraduate degree without relocating to the UNC Greensboro campus. Our graduates, like other graduates in general education programs, are competitive in the job market for careers in administration, education, health sciences, human relations, and public service, and in other governmental, community-based and/or nonprofit settings.

Students requesting admission to the Health Studies Online concentration may apply to the major only after earning a prior degree (A.A., A.S., B.A., B.S., or equivalent; an A.A.S. is not an equivalent option) from an accredited college or university and completion of courses that satisfy General Education requirements.

The mission of the Department of Public Health Education is to promote health by supporting the learning, decision-making and capacity of individuals, groups, and communities. In collaboration with community organizations, the Department prepares professional health educators and advances public health practice and knowledge.

Program Distinctions

• The program is ranked #7 for Most Affordable Online Public Health Degrees by the Online U (2020). 
• The program is ranked #13 for Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Health by College Consensus (2020).
• Students learn from expert faculty engaged in research that adds dimension to classroom teaching.
• The Department of Public Health Education houses the Center for Athlete Well-being, which partners with agencies such as the National Football League and the NCAA Sport Science Institute.
• UNCG’s Health Coaching Program is under the Department of Public Health Education.
• The Community Health Education Program is ranked one of the top 3 Bachelor’s by Best Value Schools.
• Community Health Education graduates are eligible for the national credentialing exam as certified health education specialists.
• Online degree completion of the program is available for Health Studies Online.

The Student Experience

Students can join Public Health clubs and organizations, including the honor society local chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, the North Carolina Society for Public Health Education, N.C. Chapter of the American Association for Health Education, the American Public Health Association, and the Health Occupations Student Association.

After Graduation

• Graduates enter careers in administration, education, health sciences, human relations, and public service, and have attended graduate programs at Yale, The Bloomberg School of Health at Johns Hopkins University, UNC Chapel Hill, Indiana University Bloomington, and UNCG.
• Potential career paths include:
  • Community Health Worker
  • Epidemiologist
  • Fitness & Wellness Coordinator 
  • Health Educator
  • Medical and Health Services Manager
  • Occupational Health & Safety Specialist