College of Education Health and Human Services
School of Health Sciences
www.kent.edu/ehhs/hs

About This Program

The Community Health Education B.S. program prepares you for a rewarding career in promoting health and wellness in communities, organizations and schools. With a focus on evidence-based practices, community-based research, and practical skills, the Community Health Education program will equip you with the knowledge and experience needed to make a positive impact on people's lives. Read more...

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: Laurie M. Wagner, MCHES | lyoo@kent.edu | 330-672-0685
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Additional Careers

• Certified Health Education Specialist
• Community Health Educator
• Community Health Education Coordinator
• Diabetes Educator
• Health Educator
• Public Health Educator

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

Freshman Students: Admission to this major is selective. To be admitted directly into Community Health Education, it is required that new freshmen have a 2.750 high school GPA. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement at the time of admission for this major will be admitted to the EHHS General non-degree program until which time they have established a Kent State GPA of 2.750. They may then submit a change of program to declare this major.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and meet all admission criteria listed above to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 Duolingo English score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Conduct strategic planning, analyze the organization`s culture in relationship to program goals, facilitate cooperation between and among levels of program personnel, formulate practical modes of collaboration among health agencies and organizations and develop volunteer opportunities.
2. Exhibit competence in carrying out planned educational programs; employ a wide range of educational methods and techniques, apply individual and group process methods as appropriate to given learning situations and select methods that best facilitate the practice of program objectives; infer enabling objectives as needed to implement instructional programs in specified settings, select methods and media best suited to implement program plans for specific learners and determine the availability of information, personnel, time and equipment needed to implement the program for a given audience; monitor educational programs, adjusting objectives and activities as necessary; and use the code of ethics in professional practice.
3. Analyze factors that influence decision-makers, assess the appropriateness of language in health education messages and select a variety of communication methods and techniques in providing health information; demonstrate proficiency in communicating health information and health education needs and respond to public input regarding health education information; identify the significance and implications of health care providers` messages to consumers; and develop a personal plan for professional growth.
4. Utilize computerized health information retrieval systems effectively and match an information need with the appropriate retrieval system; access online and other health information resources and interpret and select effective educational resource materials for dissemination; assemble educational material of value to the health of individuals and community groups, evaluate the worth and applicability of resource materials for given audiences and refer requesters to valid sources of information; and apply various processes in the acquisition of resource materials, compare different methods for distributing educational materials and analyze parameters of effective consultative relationships.
5. Obtain health-related data about social and cultural environments, growth and development factors, needs and interests, select valid sources of information about health needs and interests and utilize computerized sources of health-related information; employ or develop appropriate data-gathering instruments; distinguish between behaviors that foster and those that hinder well-being and investigate physical, social, emotional and intellectual factors that influence health behaviors; and analyze needs assessments.
6. Synthesize information presented in the literature, develop plans to assess achievement of program objectives, determine standards of performance to be applied as criteria of effectiveness and select appropriate methods for evaluating program effectiveness; carry out evaluation plans, utilize data collecting methods appropriate to the objectives and analyze resulting evaluation data; and interpret results of program evaluation and infer implications from findings for future program planning.
7. Communicate need for the program to those who will be involved; develop a logical scope and sequence plan for a health education program; organize the subject areas comprising the scope of a program in logical sequence; formulate appropriate and measurable program objectives, design educational programs consistent with specified program objectives; match proposed learning activities with those implicit in the stated objectives; select strategies best suited to implementation of educational objectives in a given setting; and plan a sequence of learning opportunities building upon and reinforcing mastery of preceding objectives.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education gives students the necessary tools to plan, implement and evaluate health education programs for individuals, communities and groups. The major features a capstone internship experience during which the student works with a health educator in a community setting. The program qualifies students to take the Certified Health Education Specialist Exam administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.

State/Federal background checks may be required for practicum/internship experiences.