Bachelor's in Public Health Education - Community Health Education

The Bachelor’s in Public Health Education, Community Health program at UNCG 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. Many students continue into graduate study. Building upon a strong public health foundation, our professional program prepares students to positively influence the health of individuals and communities.

Students learn from distinguished faculty who are engaged in research projects that add depth to their classroom teaching, and engage in numerous practical experiences with community partners. At the end of the program, students are eligible candidates for national credentialing as Certified Health Education Specialists.

bachelor’s in Public Health Education – Community Health Program Distinctions

This in-person Public Health Education bachelor’s degree enables students to develop skills in planning and implementing community-based strategies to maintain healthy lifestyles and prevent a variety of health problems. Public Health Education students have access to numerous resources, including:

• Learning from expert faculty engaged in research that adds dimension to classroom teaching.
• The Department houses the Center for Athlete Well-being, which partners with the National Football League and the NCAA Sport Science Institute.
• UNCG’s HealthyUNCG is affiliated with the Department of Public Health Education.
• Community Health Education graduates are eligible for the national credentialing exam as Certified Health Education Specialists.

Bachelor’s in Public Health Education – Community Health Student Experience

As part of the bachelor’s in Community Health Education degree, students will complete an internship that serves as the culminating experience. It provides students with the opportunity to observe a professional health educator in practice, complete a health education project that is beneficial to the student and organization, and synthesize knowledge and skills into health education practice.

Students also have the opportunity to join numerous Public Health clubs and organizations, such as:

• The local chapter of honor society Eta Sigma Gamma
• the North Carolina Society for Public Health Education
• The N.C. chapter of the American Association for Health Education
• The American Public Health Association
• The Health Occupations Student Association
• Public Health Impact Network (PHIN)
• Melanin in Medicine

After Graduating with a bachelor’s in Community Health Education

A bachelor’s degree in Public Health Education-Community Health Education enables students to enter careers in administration, education, health sciences, human relations, and public service. Students have also attended graduate school.

Community Health Education Specialists work in:

• Government
• Research
• Universities
• Hospitals
• Non-profits
• Schools
• Businesses

Apply to the Bachelor’s in Public Health Education-Community Health Education

Students usually complete their University general education requirements and program prerequisites in their first two years. The program sequence begins in the fall of their third year, and culminates with a practice-based 260-hour internship in the spring semester of the final year. 

The department seeks high achieving and motivated students that have met the following criteria:

• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and received a C or higher in any Health Education Course (designated with the prefix HEA)
• Completed the following 100-200-level Public Health Related courses with a C or higher:
• 1 English Course (ENG 101)
• 1 Communications Course (CST 105)
• 1 Math Course (MAT 115 or STA 108)
• 1 Sociobehavioral Course (PSY 121 or SOC 101)
• 1 Nutrition Course (NTR 213)
• 1 Anatomy and Physiology Course – HEA 213 (or approved equivalent – BIO 271, BIO 277, KIN 291, or KIN 292)