Online Master's in Community Health Education
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On a molecular level, all humans have equal health needs, but unfortunately, not every human gets what they need to survive and thrive. The global COVID-19 pandemic highlights areas of health inequities in the United States. Data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native people in the United States have experienced higher rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths than non-Hispanic and White populations. Community health educators work to solve existing health inequities, prevent prevalent health issues, and educate people on long-term health initiatives.
Community health educators have many titles, including substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that most of these positions require a bachelor’s degree in or related to public health, such as psychology, public policy, and social science. Those with a master’s in community health education can pursue leadership and teaching opportunities.
In addition, some states and professional organizations may require a master’s degree for licensure. Finally, there are numerous certifications to pursue in this career, including the Prevention Specialist (PS) from the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium and the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam through the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing.
It should come as no surprise that public health crises caused by racism, opioid addiction, polluted drinking water, gun violence, and COVID-19 are fueling the demand for qualified community health educators. The BLS shows that substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor careers will grow 22 percent from 2021 to 2031 (BLS 2022). This rate is more than four times the national average (5 percent) and will create 77,500 new jobs in the coming decade. While some positions are accessible with a bachelor’s degree, some may require a master’s degree.
Read on to learn more about online master of community health education programs, including eight schools and three outstanding professors who teach in them.
Featured Online Master’s in Community Health Education
Here are eight accredited online master’s programs in community health education to help professionals pursue healthcare management careers.
Maryville University offers an online master’s in health administration (MHA) with a concentration in population management. This program’s 36-credit curriculum is based on key competencies outlined by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). It focuses on leadership, professionalism, communication and relationship management, knowledge of the healthcare environment, and business knowledge.
Applicants to this program need no prior professional experience in healthcare, but a prerequisite statistics course is necessary. The population management specialization elective courses include managerial epidemiology and community health. All courses are offered asynchronously online, meaning no live class meetings are required.
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $714 per credit
The College of Health Professions at Walden University offers an online master of health administration (MHA) with four specializations, including one in population health. This 68-credit program prepares graduates to address healthcare issues related to cost, aging populations, and inequities in healthcare.
Courses cover data analytics, population health initiatives, big data, disease prevention, chronic disease management, and factors that adversely affect specific populations.
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $34,136 (total)
The John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sciences at Duquesne University offers a hybrid master of health administration (MHA) with a concentration in population health. Most courses are offered online, and one three-day residency is required on the Pittsburgh campus.
Students in the population health concentration learn disease prevention and management and epidemiology as it relates to planning and managing healthcare services. In addition, courses in this concentration include health education programming, disease control, and biostatistics. The GMAT nor the GRE are required for admission to this program.
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
- Tuition: $1,425 per credit
Arizona State University Online offers an online bachelor of science in community health. While this is not a master’s-level program, it does prepare students for a career in community health. This 120-credit program’s curriculum qualifies students to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam—a globally recognized credential.
Courses include written communication for managers, statistics for social workers, human anatomy and physiology, and leadership and change. Graduates from this program pursue careers in community health, higher education, medical and health services management, and social services directors.
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $641 per credit
The Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology at Columbia University offers a hybrid master of science in community health education. This 42-credit program prepares graduates to develop and implement health education programs for various populations and practice settings.
Core courses include behavioral and social science foundations of health education, principles of epidemiology in health promotion, and social policy and prevention. To graduate, students complete a capstone project culminating in scholarly research findings and recommendations.
- Location: New York, NY
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
- Tuition: $17,217 per semester (full-time)
The University of Cincinnati Online offers a hybrid master of science in community health and prevention science. This 30-credit program emphasizes measuring risk and preventative factors that influence health outcomes. This fully online program requires no campus visits and can be completed in as few as three semesters. Graduates from this program are prepared to develop and implement prevention programs and interventions that create healthier communities through evidence-based practices.
To be eligible for admission, students should have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and transcripts for all previous college-level coursework.
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Duration: 1.5 to three years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $762 per credit (resident); $777 per credit (non-resident)
The College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation at New Mexico State University offers a master of science in community health and prevention research (CHPR). Students in this program choose from two concentrations in health behavior and promotion of health management, policy, and administration.
The fully online format allows students to work full-time while completing their degree at their own pace. Graduates from this program are prepared to work in state, federal, and community-based organizations.
- Location: Las Cruces, NM
- Duration: Two to three years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $444.40 per credit
Columbia Southern University offers a fully online master of public health (MPH) with a concentration in community health education. This 36-credit program can be completed part- or full-time, giving students the flexibility to complete their degree while employed. Students take didactic courses in public health concepts, applied biostatistics, concepts of epidemiology, and public health research.
Concentration courses include strategies of health promotions and issues and trends in community health. To graduate, students in this program complete a public health capstone that addresses and offers solutions for a community-based public health problem.
- Location: Orange Beach, AL
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $325 per credit
Professors to Know in Online Master’s in Community Health Programs
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Michelle Renee Chyatte, DrPH
Dr. Michelle Renee Chyatte is an Assistant Professor and the Capstone Director of the MHA program at the University of Cincinnati. She is experienced in mixed methodology for multi-level research, healthcare delivery systems, and curriculum development for public health and medical students.
Dr. Chyatte is a former NPR journalist and a member of numerous national strategic planning committees and has procured more than $4 million in grants. Previously she worked in the design, implementation, and revelation of health policy strategies of healthcare industry leaders such as the Centers for Disease Control, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. -
Joe Tomaka, PhD
Dr. Joe Tomaka is a Professor of Public Health, the Graduate Program Coordinator, and the Director of Crimson Research at the University of New Mexico. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in social and health psychology from the University of Buffalo.
Dr. Tomaka has received more than $5.5 million in grant funding and has been the principal investigator (PI) on more than 25 extramurally-funded projects. With more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, his research areas include challenge appraisal and self-esteem as predictors of health and well-being. Dr. Tomaka’s current projects include program evaluations for Amador Health Center, St. Luke’s Recovery Project, and a survey of caregivers with inflammatory bowel disease in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving. -
Barbara C. Wallace, PhD
Dr. Barbara C. Wallace is a Professor of Health Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College: A Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology. Her expertise areas are in health and nutrition education.
Dr. Wallace earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of New York and studied at Princeton University. Her scholarly interests span a wide range from global leadership training for health education, diversity training for multicultural competence, and health promotion in multicultural settings. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and edited and authored multiple books, including her most recent book, Making Mandated Addiction Treatment Work.
