Program Overview

The University of New Mexico offers a fully online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Community Health Education (CHED). This major is housed in the Health Education program in the Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences (HESS), College of Education and Human Sciences (COEHS). The 120-credit hour degree program prepares students to work and partner innovatively with diverse populations in response to the changing health needs of New Mexico and the nation. Graduates of this program gain competency and proficiency in working with culturally diverse communities in urban, rural and/or tribal community settings. Students will learn to design, implement, assess and evaluate health education programs and interventions at local, state and national levels with a focus to reduce health disparities and inequities and approaches to engage communities to address solutions to public health challenges. Community health educators work in a variety of settings, including state, community and tribal health agencies, public health-related organizations, private industry, clinical and workplace settings.

The Community Health Education faculty are student-oriented and possess a broad range of experience, expertise, and knowledge. The faculty is also grounded in public health and social justice in addressing public health inequities and social determinants of health and dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Careers and Job Titles

  • Health Education Specialist
  • Community Health Educator
  • Community Health Worker
  • Public Health Educator
  • Patient Educator
  • Health Promotion Coordinator
  • Worksite Health Director
  • Education Program Manager
  • Employee Wellness Coordinator
  • Health Program Analyst
  • Coordinated School Health Program Manager
  • Community Health Organizing and Outreach Manager
  • Wellness Coordinator/Consultant
  • Community Health/Services Director
  • Prevention Program Director

Learning Goals

The Health Education program provides an undergraduate course of study based on the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. The competency-based curricula provide students with the opportunity to gain proficiency in seven major areas:

  1. Assess needs, resources, and capacity for public health education 
  2. Communicate, promote and advocate for health and health education
  3. Plan health education strategies, interventions, and programs
  4. Implement health education strategies, interventions, and programs
  5. Conduct evaluation and research related to health education and public health
  6. Administer and manage health education programming
  7. Serve as a resource person for health education
  8. Apply professional codes of ethics and demonstrate ethical leadership

Learning Objectives

  1. Apply community engagement skills and community-based-participatory research methods to mobilize communities.
  2. Access and analyze credible epidemiological data sets and the local, state, tribal, and national levels to determine health needs.
  3. Design evidence-based, data-informed, and culturally competent interventions to address community health needs.
  4. Implement and manage community health education interventions and programs culturally aligned with community needs and strengths.
  5. Evaluate health education programs and interventions using established protocols in public health education.
  6. Communicate and disseminate health information in culturally appropriate ways.

Admissions

Tuition and Fees

Total cost per credit hour is $431.66 and is comprised of: $394.80 base tuition + $36.86 upper division course premium. There is a student technology fee charged each semester. It is $150 in the Fall, $150 in the Spring, and $20 in the Summer. There may be additional costs, depending on the class. Additional costs are often for textbooks, supplemental course materials, and proctoring fees.

Program Admission Requirements

Admissions to the Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education (B.S.) Program requires twenty (20) hours of degree requirements; completion of HLED 2150, Foundations of Health Promotion with a B or better, and a transfer or UNM GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Degree Requirements

The B.S. in Community Health Education is granted to students upon fulfillment of the following:

  1. Completion of 120 credit hours of coursework from the prescribed curriculum.
  2. Completion of the UNM General Education requirements as outlined at gened.unm.edu.
  3. Completion of extra course requirements outside of the program that are part of the degree.
  4. Completion of 40 credit hours of upper-division coursework. Such courses are numbered 300 or above.
  5. Compliance with the minimum residence requirements as stated in the UNM Undergraduate Catalog.
  6. Maintenance of an overall minimum program GPA of 2.5.

BS CHED Program of Study

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Community Health Education online degree program prepares students to meet the competencies of the entry-level Health Education Specialist. This non-teaching degree provides students with a broad-based introduction to community health and prepares them for professional practice in community and tribal health agencies, public health-related organizations, and clinical and workplace settings. The degree also prepares students for graduate studies in Health Education at the University of New Mexico or any of the many schools of public health in the United States. Applications for the B.S. in Community Health Education program are found by contacting the Center for Student Success Advisement (CSS) at coeadmit@unm.edu.

Area/Course NumberRequirementCredit Hours

 

UNM General Education Requirements

 

Area 1

Communication

9

Area 2

Mathematics and Statistics

3

Area 3

Physical and Natural Sciences

7

Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

9

Area 5

Humanities

3

Area 6

Foreign Language

3

Area 7

Fine Arts

3

 

Subtotal

37

 

Community Health Education Degree Requirements

 

PSYC 2510

Statistical Principles for Psychology

3

EDPY 303

Human Growth and Development

3

HLED 1220

Personal Health Management

3

HLED 2150

Foundations of Health Promotion

3

HLED 2210

Education for AIDS Prevention

1

HLED 2130

Consumer Health 

1

HLED 2530

Fundamentals of Human Sexuality

3

HED 306

Conflict Mediation 

1

HED 310

Injury Prevention

1

HED 321

Violence Prevention

1

 HED 333

Emotional Health and Interpersonal Relationships

 3

HED 362Introduction to Health Behavior Theory3

HED 371

Introduction to Public and Community Health

3

HED 383

Principles of Epidemiology

3

HED 445

Strategies for Prevention of Substance Abuse

1

HED 446

Health Promotion Program Planning

3

HED 451

Prevention Strategies in Community Health

3

HED 477

Stress Management

3

HED 482

Social Determinants and Multicultural Health*

3

HED 495

Field Experience must be approved by faculty of record  

6

 

Subtotal

57

 

Electives

 

 

Electives from HLED/HED course list**

6

 

Electives from PHED

2

 

Electives outside of HED 9 hours must be 300 and above (see program suggested list)***

18

 

Subtotal

26

 

Total

120

*Course meets UNM's U.S. Global and Diversity undergraduate requirement.

**Required Program Elective Courses (Select 6 credit hours)

Course Number

Course Title

Credit Hours

HLED 1113

First Aid and CPR

3

HED 473

Health Issues in Death and Dying

3

HED 487

Physical Activity and Aging

3

***Program Suggested List of Electives Outside of HED

Students must choose a total of 18 credit hours of electives outside of HED. Students are encouraged to choose from this list or select other courses that complement the health education degree. Note: not all courses may be online; prerequisites may apply.

Social, Political, Environment Factors of Health:

  • ECON 2125 Society and Environment
  • POLS 2150 Public Policy and Administration
  • POLS 376 Health Policy and Politics
  • CRP 403 Community-based practice
  • CRP 425 Water and Energy in New Mexico: Conversations on Our Common Future
  • CRP 474 Culture, Place, and Power in Community Development
  • CRP 483 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • SUST *402 Topics in Sustainability Studies

*Course allowed for graduate credit to students enrolled in a graduate program. Normally, a graduate student enrolled in a starred course numbered below 500 is required to complete extra work.

Multicultural:

  • ANTH 330 Principles of Cultural Anthropology
  • PSY 374 Cross-Cultural Psychology
  • SOCI 2315 The Dynamics of Prejudice
  • SOCI 308 Sociology of Gender

Communication:

  • CJ 314 Intercultural Communication
  • CJ 327 Persuasive Communication
  • CJ 344 Interviewing
  • CJ 450 Health Communication

 Accelerated Online Program

At a Glance

Major Requirements: 57 credit hours
Cost Per Credit Hour: $431.66
Length of Classes: 8-week courses

Tuition: Program Details and Tuition & Fee Information.

Contact

Website: College of Education & Human Sciences
Phone: Rick Robb or Olivia Torres-Jojola: (505) 277-9000
Email: online@unm.edu