Community health educators teach individuals how to attain and maintain a healthy lifestyle. In the online Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education program, you’ll explore the many functions and responsibilities of a community health educator and gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful and effective in public health education.

Throughout the online BS in Community Health Education program, you’ll learn how to:

• Apply statistical constructs and epidemiological principles to recognize patterns and trends within the scope of public health
• Apply fundamental community health strategies in assessment, planning and prevention to improve the health, safety and quality of life for people in their communities
• Analyze the efficacy of health programs targeted at improving healthcare access, quality and delivery to ensure community and population health
• Describe the fundamental social and behavioral theories relevant to community health to identify health disparities and promote social justice
• Utilize principles and functions of management to foster consensus, promote effective use of human resources and enhance operations
• Evaluate health communication and literacy strategies to promote effective health communication campaigns
• Develop a professional identity from which to make globally, socially and ethically responsible decisions that are aligned with legal and organizational policy requirements.

As a private, nonprofit university, UMS has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of enrolling in the online bachelor’s in community health education program at UMS include:

• Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation.
• Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access.
• Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year.
• Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience.
• Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities.
• Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we’ll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there’s no application fee.
• Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study.
• Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree.

Employment in the community health education field is projected to increase dramatically through 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand for community health workers and health educators will increase 16%, more than twice the average for all occupations.* Growth will be driven by efforts to improve health outcomes and to reduce healthcare costs by teaching people about healthy habits and behaviors and utilization of available healthcare services.

UMS's online BS in Community Health Education program will prepare you for a variety of roles within the high-growth public health education field, including:

• Community organizer
• Community health educator
• Health program manager
• Patient educator
• Public health educator
• Social and community service manager
• Social and human service assistant
• Wellness manager

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, community health educators work in a variety of settings, such as:

• Schools and colleges, creating programs and materials on topics that affect young adults, like smoking and alcohol use, or advocating for campus wide policies to promote health
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities, teaching patients about diagnoses, treatments or procedures
• Nonprofit organizations, building programs about health issues for communities or helping organizations obtain funding and other resources
• Private businesses, identifying common health problems among employees and creating programs to improve health
• Government organizations like public health departments, administering public health campaigns or providing safety information to the public and the media

In the online Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education program, you'll explore how to effectively plan, develop, implement and evaluate community health education programs.

UMS's bachelor's in community health education program includes:

• General education
• Degree-specific courses

General Education Program

Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:

• Writing
• Communication
• Analysis
• Problem solving

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.