Online Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education

Support Your Community With a Leadership-Focused Degree

Promote Social Justice and Improved Health Outcomes in Your Community

Health care professionals focus on treating patients with injuries and disease, but preventive care is just as crucial to maintaining effective health systems. Community educators provide this preventive care, serving as a vital resource for those seeking health information and services and advocating for resources and policies that support healthy communities.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Health Education at NCCU Online is a degree completion program that prepares you to take the lead in public health, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to promote and support healthy communities. The BS in Public Health Education carries on NCCU’s long legacy of community impact through its service-oriented curriculum — with a required internship allowing you to make a difference in your community before you graduate.

Your contribution matters. Finish your degree at NCCU Online and become the public health educator your community needs.

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About the BS in Public Health Education at NCCU Online
The online BS in Public Health Education provides you with applicable theories and skills to promote community well-being through education. You’ll learn how to assist communities in identifying and defining health issues, as well as designing, implementing, and evaluating strategies to address those issues. The program concludes with a final project in the form of an internship, providing you with valuable exposure to public health education work.
Upon graduating from the BS in Public Health Education program, you’ll be prepared with:

  • Basic skills necessary to enter the practice of health education

  • Prerequisite training for graduate study in public health education

  • Approved coursework and experiences necessary to sit for the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam

Potential Careers With an Online BS in Public Health Education

The online BS in Public Health Education prepares you for entry-level roles as a health educator in public health departments, voluntary health agencies, health care organizations, corporate worksites, and community-based organizations.

Take a look at some potential careers you can reach by earning your public health education degree:*

Health and Safety Coordinator

Average Base Salary: $62,493

Program Manager, Non-Profit

Average Base Salary: $59,200

Wellness Coordinator

Average Base Salary: $53,011

Health Educator

Average Base Salary: $50,914

Community Outreach Coordinator

Average Base Salary: $48,047

Curriculum & Courses

The online BS in Public Health Education consists of 120 total credit hours, with 35 hours of general education courses, 22 hours of non-departmental cognate requirements, 12 hours of lower-level health education courses, 45 hours of health courses, and 6 hours of electives.

Keep in mind that you’re required to transfer in with at least 24 credit hours and any additional transfer credits may significantly reduce your required hours to graduate..

The required Public Health Education courses include:
General education requirements – 35 credit hours

For information about courses that carry general education credit, view the General Education Program section.

Non-departmental cognate requirements – 22 credit hours

MSCM 1250 – Elements of Speech
PHRM 1000 – Anatomy & Physiology
ENG 2105 – Technical Writing
BIOL 2510 - Microbes and Disease
EDU 3005 – Educational Psychology and Human Development
NUTR 2200 – Introduction to Human Nutrition OR NUTR 2000
PSY 2100 - General Psychology OR PSY 3100 (2120)

Lower level HEDU required courses – 12 credit hours

HEDU 2000 – Introduction to Health Education
HEDU 2100 – Community Health
HEDU 2200 - Health Behavior for Effective Living
HEDU 2400 - Methods and Applications of Group Leadership for Health Personnel

HEDU required courses – 45 credit hours

HEDU 3210 - Foundations of Public Health
HEDU 3010 - Introduction to Health Disparities
HEDU 3400 - Theory and Practice of Health Education
HEDU 3720 - Introduction to Epidemiology & Biostatistics
HEDU 3600 - Planning for Health Education
HEDU 3420 - Principles of School Health
HEDU 3100 - Environmental Health
HEDU 4000 - Communicating Health Information
HEDU 4300 - Research Methods and Evaluation in Health Education
HEDU 4660 - Public Health Policy
HEDU 4120 - Organization and Administration of School and Community Health Programs
HEDU 4410 - Internship Planning*
HEDU 4220 - Senior Seminar in Health Education
HEDU 4420 - Internship in Community Health Education*

Elective courses – 6 credit hours

*Given the working adult student population, Internship and Internship Planning are subject to change
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“Health education is one discipline within the larger field of public health. Public health has a special focus on social justice. Public health professionals work to right injustices in health and to create societies where everyone has an equal opportunity to live a long and healthy life.”

– LaHoma S. Romocki, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Public Health Education Department Chair

Tuition and Financial Aid

$361 per credit hour*
*$433 for out-of-state students

No additional fees

Financial assistance and payment plans available

At NCCU Online, we strive to provide high-quality education that’s financially accessible. At just $361 per credit hour with no additional fees for in-state students and $433 per credit hour for out-of-state students, our online BS in Public Health Education delivers dependable value for your education and prepares you to maximize your earning potential. Grants and scholarships are also available to those who qualify.

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Innovative Online Programs

Immersive online courses engage distance learners by leveraging best-in-class technology and instructional techniques.

Inclusive & Supportive

Our students have access to various forms of support, from academic advising and career placement services to virtual conferences focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Student-Centric Education

We maintain a student-faculty ratio of 16-to-1 and an average class size of 22 to keep you at the center of your learning.

Top-Ranked Education

In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked NCCU No. 11 among historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) and No. 9 among Top Public Universities in the South.

Accredited Academics

NCCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

Industry-Experienced Faculty

Our faculty members are active in their disciplines through conferences, professional organizations, and contract work — and they bring that industry knowledge back to the classes they teach.

The next class start date is approaching. Don’t wait to apply!

The Eagle Promise

NCCU believes in the success of its students — so much so that it promises to empower every student to earn their degree on time and graduate career ready, with countless leadership and networking opportunities along the way.

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What You Need For Admission

NCCU is committed to providing equal educational opportunities and doesn’t discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or ability. Please review the admission details for the online BS in Public Health Education:

  • A completed application for admission.
  • Official transcripts of all college coursework sent from the institution(s) with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  • At least 24 transferable credit hours from the last or current institution attended.
  • A list of academic courses in progress (if applicable).
  • Must not be on academic probation at a previous or current institution; must not have been suspended or expelled from a previous or current institution.
  • Supportive documents, such as personal essays and recommendation letters, are welcomed but not required.

Please note the following:

  • NCCU will not accept a transfer course with a grade lower than a “C.” Accepted courses are recorded on a student’s transcript; grades and grade points are not calculated.
  • NCCU does not accept transfer credit from challenge examinations or for coursework graded pass/fail. The maximum number of transferable credits is 64 semester hours from a two-year college.
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Frequently Asked Questions

For most programs, 120 total credit hours are required to graduate. This includes transfer credits and credits you earn at NCCU.

Yes. 24 transferable credits are required to apply.

Yes. North Carolina Central University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Learn more about accreditation.

At NCCU Online, you can get a high-quality education $361 per credit hour with no additional fees for in-state students and $433 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Learn more about financial aid opportunities.

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About NCCU

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) prepares students to succeed in the global marketplace. NCCU’s flagship programs in the sciences, education, law, business, nursing, and the arts prepare students for professions ranging from clinical research to information science. Founded in 1910, NCCU remains committed to diversity in and access to higher education.

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*General labor market and salary data are sourced from Payscale. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment. NCCU does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional training and experience may be necessary for leadership positions.