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You can learn how to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities by pursuing Wright State’s Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S. Ed.), with a specialization in public health education.
You will learn to design and implement evidence-based programs and to advocate for and implement changes in health policies, procedures, and services. Your training will help you be able to coordinate health-improvement campaigns and organize communities around health and disease issues. Your courses will include a unique combination of instruction from the behavioral/social, epidemiological, environmental, and human services, as well as health administration and education.
You can sit for the national CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) certification exam after earning your degree. The CHES designation indicates you have met eligibility requirements for and have successfully passed a competency-based examination demonstrating skill and knowledge of the Seven Areas of Responsibility of Health Education Specialists, upon which the credential is based. Visit the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing website to learn more.
Program Highlights:
You will leave Wright State prepared for a career as an independent consultant or in a nonprofit community organization, private business, hospital, school (non-teaching), or city, county, state or other governmental health department or agency You may specialize according to specific health concerns, illnesses, or work or setting. You may choose to continue your education with graduate studies in public health, medicine, law, or public policy. For more in-depth information on where health educators are employed, salaries, and future projections, go to the Society of Public Health Educators' (SOPHE) website.
What is a Health Education Specialist? (PDF)
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) health educators hold 123,800 jobs in the U.S., and that number is expected to grow 11 percent (must faster than average) by 2028 (bls.gov).
View the public health education program profile for additional sample occupations, average salary, and employment projections.
Graduates of the program are currently employed at Montgomery County Public Health, Clark County Health Department, and local universities. Recent graduates have also continued to graduate school.
The College of Education and Human Services has provided a dedicated career consultant to assist you in connecting your major to a career. The career consultant focuses on staying up to date on career trends in education, kinesiology and health, leadership, and human services. Our assigned career consultant is an extension of services offered through Wright State’s Career Services.
There are two internship requirements for the BSED. The first is a 40-hour internship. The second is a 400-hour internship. The 400-hour internship is generally taken over the summer. The combination allows you to select two different areas of public health. You can gain experience to apply after graduation. Examples of placement include local hospitals, health departments, emergency management departments, and non-profit organizations.
View the Bachelor of Science in Education in Public Health Education program information, degree requirements, and graduation planning strategy in the Academic Catalog.
Apply to the university. You will be admitted as a pre-major until you meet the criteria for acceptance into the major.
Students who meet the admission criteria and are listed as a pre-public health education major will be admitted at the end of each semester. There is no formal program application.
Finding the right college means finding the right fit. See all that the College of Education and Human Services has to offer by visiting campus.
