What Can You Do With a Health Education and Promotion Degree?

Health educator is a broad term covering a variety of roles that create, implement, and oversee programs that promote health and well-being within a community. For those with a passion for health advocacy and helping the community, the work can be immensely fulfilling. Learn more about this growing field and the career opportunities that may be available to you with a degree in health education and promotion.

Health Educators Are in High Demand

The field is growing faster than average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• Employment of community health workers is projected to grow 14% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
• Employment of health education specialists is projected to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

The BLS attributes much of this growth to the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Taquina Davis, PhD, faculty in Purdue Global’s School of Health Sciences, believes an underlying shift within the industry is also contributing to the high demand.

“The industry is increasingly recognizing the importance of improving the patient's experience with care, promoting the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of health care,” Davis says. “Health care systems are now asking, ‘How can we be more effective? How can we provide services, create change, and save money? How can we transform health care into health improvement?’”

As the industry continues its efforts to better understand the factors and behaviors that comprise the social determinants of health, the demand for community health workers increases.

Potential Careers for Someone With a Health Education and Promotion Degree

A health education and promotion degree may prepare you for a career as a health educational specialist or a community health worker.

These are two separate but related roles. According to the BLS:

• A health education specialist develops programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.
• A community health worker promotes wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors.

Health education specialists and community health workers can work in similar settings, including government agencies, social assistance organizations, hospitals, and outpatient care centers.

Health education specialist. “This person creates and implements strategies to improve the health of individuals, communities, and organizations,” Davis says. “The education and training they offer complement the work of health care providers, policymakers, and human resources personnel.”

Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree.

Community health worker. “A community health worker understands the communities they serve, which helps them serve as a liaison between the people of that community and the local health care and social services providers,” Davis says. “For example, they may oversee a diabetes prevention program. They may create the program’s educational materials, administer the program, test its effectiveness, and help people find diabetes health services or further information.”

When hiring community health workers, some employers may require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Health Education and Promotion Degree?

Davis says this degree program is a good fit for someone who is:

Able to assess the needs of the community. Being empathetic is essential. “They have to care about what a community needs and wants,” Davis says. “They need to be able to help people get access to information that relates to their health concerns.”

Passionate about helping people. Passion for helping people live healthier lives is mandatory. “You may be interacting with people who already have diabetes or hypertension, and they might not know what to do next. A health educator needs to understand these chronic illnesses and navigate the care for that patient.”

Knowledgeable and up to date on community health care issues. It’s important to understand the development and facilitation of workshops and programs to address the health needs of the patient. “You must read and stay up to date on what's happening in the health care industry and chronic disease prevention,” Davis says. “These patients and community members are depending on us to provide them with the information they need to have a better quality of life.”

Earn a Health Education and Promotion Degree With Purdue Global

Purdue Global’s online bachelor’s degree in health education and promotion and online master's in health education and promotion teach you to plan, implement, and evaluate health programs at the community level, including marketing, advocacy, and financial aspects. These programs are completely online and offer you the flexibility to study on your schedule. The curricula align with the educational requirements for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam, offered through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.

To learn more, connect with an advisor today.