Master's Degree Programs in Health Care Education
Do you think you have what it takes to encourage someone to live a healthy life? A master's degree program related to health education can give you the skills and training you need to do this kind of work. With the rise in obesity and poor health in this country, this kind of job is likely to become more essential. Read on for more information. Schools offering Health Education degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Can I Do with a Master's Degree in Health Care Education?
With this degree, you can work in schools if you get or have the appropriate school certification or you can work in a variety of government agencies. In a hospital or clinic, you could show people how to take medicine, lose weight or follow a prescribed plan to make you healthy. You could work with students or a community to encourage healthy behaviors and lifestyles.
You might find a job doing statistical research and analyzing health practices for a given area. Another option is to find a job monitoring the progress of a population for everything from better diabetes control to the efficiency of bike trails. You could also work in designing policies for better health. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), available jobs for health educators are expected to grow faster than average (14-19%) in the period from 2008-2018. The median annual wage for a health educator in 2009 was $44,340.
Can I Earn This Degree Online?
There are several available online options to become a health educator. It is more common to find these degree programs in a school of public health, but education programs are also available. There are also online programs designed for nurses to become health educators. If you are a teacher or a nurse pursuing a graduate degree in health education, it is assumed that you would already have teaching or nursing credentials. A few programs also include educational certification at the master's level for teachers.
A distance learning education includes the same level of teaching as the on-campus programs. If you are considering an online degree program, you will need a computer with the Internet and a current Web browser. Online students are expected to have good computer skills, as they will interact with the instructor through an Internet-based course management system.
What Kind of Classes Do I Take?
Specific classes depend on the program you select. For instance, a Master of Education in Health Education may include courses on the foundation of public health, literature and research public education and health education leadership. A Master of Arts in Education program may have courses in communication and leadership and research and trends, along with core coursework in health education. A Master of Public Health in Community Health Education covers public health topics like health care policy and management and epidemiology, as well as education classes on community health organization and health program planning.
Do I Need to Be Certified to Do This Job?
Certification is available and voluntary, so it may not be required in order for you to find a job. To apply for certification, you need to have graduated from an accredited health education program and passed a qualifying exam. For more information, you can check with the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (www.nchec.org).
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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