Online Master’s in Health Education

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A master’s degree provides students with expertise and skills to help them gain credibility as industry professionals. When choosing a master’s program, students should consider certain factors like cost, the format of the program, accreditation, availability of student support, quality of the faculty, and funding provided to students. There are many options for online master’s in health education degree programs in the United States. The team at Online Masters College has curated a list of the best online master’s in health education programs, as follows: 

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Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

The online health education degree provides academic training for students who want to work in fields of health education like clinical, academic, community, corporate and clinical settings. This program is prepared for prospective students who can use behavioral and social theories to design and implement interventions to improve the overall population and community health. The online master’s in health education consist of 35 to 50 credits. This program could take about 2 to 2.5 years to complete; however, this would depend on the degree’s requirements. The program can be pursued by students in several modes: online, offline, and hybrid; the hybrid consists of a blend of offline and online classes. Even if students finish the program online, they must complete onsite fieldwork experience and participate in organizations. The instructional style of this program could be through synchronous and asynchronous learning. Prospective students could complete their coursework by submission of a capstone project in health education. At some schools, students pursuing this degree might be required to complete a thesis or pass a comprehensive written exam after completion of all coursework across the degree. Upon graduating, students can pursue varied fields in the health education sector. 

Online Master’s in Health Education Degree Types

Various online health education master’s programs are available across the United States. Three types of degrees are commonly available: Master of Arts or MA in health education online, Master of Science or MS in health education online, and Master of Education or M.Ed. in health education online. Each degree would differ in program curriculum and requirements.  

Students applying for master’s programs are usually required to take their Graduate Record Examination or GRE and apply with their scores for admission. However, some colleges have no GRE requirements. Having a master’s program with no GRE requirement helps more students access this program, thus diversifying the applicant pool for the program. Examples of universities offering online master’s in health education no GRE programs are the University of Louisville, East Carolina University, and Hofstra University. 

Accelerated online master’s in health education programs help the students finish their master’s in a quicker time frame, with lesser cost, and a flexible curriculum to manage their other priorities like work or family. While some universities allow students to combine their bachelor’s and master’s programs to finish in 4+1 years instead of the usual 4+2 years, others allow students to take more courses and graduate in less than the standard 2 years. Some of the accelerated programs for online master’s in health education are: 

1. Western Carolina University – offers an affordable accelerated online master’s in health education with a 16-week academic term format. 
2. East Stroudsburg University – offers 30 credit hours accelerated online master’s in health education, designed to benefit working professionals.  
3. Cleveland University – offers a 36-credit accelerated online master’s in health education, which can be taken up asynchronously or synchronously. 

There are many diverse online master’s in health education courses available for students to enhance their knowledge, skills, and expertise and explore their field more than they can through formal study. However, these courses are not accredited and cannot be used in place of a master’s degree, but they could help do assignments and prepare for exams. Here are a few examples of free online master’s in health education courses: 

The cost of a master’s in health education degree online would depend on factors like course material, tuition fee, additional elective costs, travel, accommodation, etc. Although online students are exempted from many of these costs, the tuition fee for an online master’s in health education program would range from $16,000 to $40,000, depending on the program and the institution. Fortunately, students can fund their education through various funding mechanisms, some of which are: 

Graduate School Scholarships 

Graduate school scholarships could cover the full or partial costs of tuition fees. Universities can be a source of scholarships; other than them, there are many graduate school scholarships that one can get through the private sector, industry-related associations, and national organizations.   

Grants for Graduate School 

Grants are need-oriented and frequently given out for specific research areas, objectives, or target groups. They are not necessarily based on the academic ability or accomplishments of the student but on other factors which scholarships may not cover.  

Graduate Assistantships 

Graduate assistantships help students study and gain insights into their chosen program while being able to support their tuition costs at the same time. Students gain a lot of expertise and experience when they become graduate assistants. They would be appointed to assist a program, institution, faculty member, or department in carrying out specific tasks.  

FAFSA 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is a form that determines if a student is eligible for financial aid from the federal government. This would include subsidized and unsubsidized loans and grants. FAFSA is not financial aid; it helps students get federal-based financial aid.  

Find out more about funding a master’s program in the financial aid guide.

Graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in health education can fund their education by applying for different scholarships. Such scholarships could help students reduce their expenses. Students can apply for scholarships based on their academic merit or success in other areas like sports, art, music, and so on. The guide to graduate school scholarships provides more details. Examples of some scholarships for health education students are: 

The Christie Foundation-Health Education Scholarships 

Christie foundation awards scholarships to students pursuing degrees in health education and multiple fields in healthcare. 

Award/Amount

Varies ($125,000 available)   

Application Deadline   

TBA 

Bill and Mary Russell Health Care Scholarship 

The Bill and Mary Russell Scholarship, administered by the Mosaic Life Care Foundation, offers financial support for those looking to pursue educational possibilities leading to a nursing or healthcare profession. 

Award/Amount 

Varies 

Application Deadline 

March 15 

Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation Scholarship 

The PHN Foundation (PHNCF) offers scholarships to students pursuing a career in healthcare or allied health fields each year.

Award/Amount

$30,000 

Application Deadline   

Closed for 2023 | TBA for 2023 

After earning an online master’s in health education, graduates could work in a range of settings where health education is crucial. They can take up multiple roles in hospitals, governmental organizations, non-profit institutions, etc. There are many roles where graduates can use their health education online master’s degree. Here are some job positions as examples: 

• Wellness Consultant 
• Health Program Coordinator 
• College or University Instructor 
• Lactation Consultant 
• Healthcare Administrator 
• Prevention Specialist 
• Grant Writer 
• Health Educator  
• Epidemiologist 
• Healthcare Manager 
• Community Health Worker 
• Intervention Specialist 
• Medical Policy Manager 
• Health and Promotion Specialist 
• Clinical Trial Manager 
• Biostatistician 
• Health Information Technician 

Listed below are a few career options, with their median annual salary and job growth reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): 

Professional certification helps students advance their careers in highly-specialized settings and organizations. They provide professional competence along with the academic degree a student would have. Certifications verify the competency and legitimacy of a professional in their field. They prove to employers that the individual is educated, trained, and can meet their role’s expectations. Here are some examples of certification healthcare education graduates can consider:  

1. National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) – The NCHEC is a professional credentialing body for health education in the United States. It offers the certification for Certified Health Education Specialists. This certification attests to the individual’s health education specialists’ skills and knowledge. 
2. Master Certified Health Education Specialist – Students can also take the Master Certified Health Education Specialist Exam through NCHEC if they want to work in the field of health education and meet the education requirements. 
3. Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives – The American College of Healthcare Executives awards the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) credential to healthcare executives who satisfactorily complete the requirements for board certification. 

For some jobs, the law requires licensure for practicing in the field and can be obtained through state agencies. Getting licensure in one’s field tremendously increases the individual’s employment opportunity. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health provides information about credentialing, education, and licensing in the field of health education. There are no standardized national systems for health practitioner credentials. Different state governments have their independent requirements to work. Credentials required for complementary health practitioners could vary from discipline to disciple and state to state. 

A student pursuing an online master’s in health education can benefit by joining associations related to health education. Career aids, certifications, scholarships, and materials are some common services provided by such associations. They could help students gain relevant knowledge, skill, and proficiency in their field. Additionally, students can communicate with industry experts to understand health-related issues in different communities, address the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, advise community leaders on the prevention of suicide, develop programs, and implement healthcare at individual and community levels. Here are some resources to explore: 

1. American Public Health Association (APHA) – The American Public Health Association, or APHA, focuses on the health of all individuals and communities and on strengthening health professions. The members of this organization work in different disciplines of public health in the United States and other countries worldwide.  
2. National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) – The National Commission for Health Education credentialing or NCHEC promotes, protects, and improves people’s health by upholding high-quality standards. They certify health education specialists, promote the profession’s development, and strengthen their practice and preparation. 
3. Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) – Society for Public Health Education or SOPHE is an independent and nonprofit organization that represents diversified membership of health education and promotion of professionals in the U.S. and other countries. They raise awareness and work in local communities to diminish racial and ethnic health disparity. 
4. American Association of Health Education (AAHE) – The American Association of Health Education, or AAHE, serves health educators and other related professions that promote the health of individuals. It is a professional membership organization that encourages, supports, and helps health professionals concerned with the promotion of health through systematic and educational strategies.  
5. United States Health Foundation – The United States Health Foundation strives to provide relevant fitness and health education to individuals and communities. The organization is composed of allied health professionals focusing on educating individuals about nutrition, wellness, and so on. It helps students promote active lifestyles and optimal health.