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
Disclosures
All online and distance education is protected by federal regulations and policies. For details on how, refer to the following resources: State Authorization, Disclosures, Accreditation and Complaint Resolution.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:
- Completion of 120 credit hours of coursework from the prescribed curriculum.
- Completion of the UNM General Education requirements as outlined at gened.unm.edu.
- Completion of extra course requirements outside of the program that are part of the degree.
- Completion of 40 credit hours of upper-division coursework. Such courses are numbered 300 or above.
- Compliance with the minimum residence requirements as stated in the UNM Undergraduate Catalog.
- 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.
Recommended Degree Plan - Full Time Students
Semester 1 - Fall |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
HLED 1220 | Personal Health Management | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st half | 8 weeks | AOP |
BIOL 1110* | General Biology | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
BIOL 1110L* | General Biology Lab | 1 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
COMM 1130* | Public Speaking | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
PSYC 1110* | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
| UNM General Ed – Area II: Mathematics and Statistics | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
Semester 2 - Spring |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HLED 2150 | Foundations of Health Promotion | 3 | Fall and Spring, 2nd half | 8 weeks | AOP |
ENGL 2120* | Professional and Technical Communications | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
PSYC 2510 | Statistical Principles for Psychology | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
COMM 1130* | Public Speaking | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
| HLED Elective or Outside HLED 100-200 level | 3 | Fall, Spring, and Summer | 8 weeks | AOP |
UNM General Ed – Area V A and B: Humanities and Second Language | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
Semester 3 - Fall |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
HLED 2210 | Education for HIV/AIDS Prevention | 1 | Fall and Spring | 4 weeks | AOP |
HLED 2130 | Consumer Health | 1 | Fall and Spring | 4 weeks | AOP |
HLED 2530 | Fundamentals of Human Sexuality | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st half | 8 weeks | AOP |
| Elective from PHED | 1 |
| Any possible course length | Online, non-AOP |
| HLED Elective or Outside HLED 100-200 level | 3 | Fall, Spring, and Summer | 4 and 8 weeks | AOP |
UNM General Ed – Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts | 3 |
| 8 weeks | AOP |
Semester 4 - Spring |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
| HED 306 | Conflict Mediation | 1 | Fall and Spring | 4 weeks | AOP |
| HED 310 | Injury Prevention | 1 | Fall and Spring | 4 weeks | AOP |
| HED 333 | Emotional Health and Interpersonal Relationships | 1 | Fall and Spring, 1st and 2nd halves | 8 weeks | AOP |
| CJ 314 | Intercultural Communication | 3 | 4, 8 and 16 weeks | Online, non-AOP | |
| Electives from HLED/HED | 3 | Fall, Spring, and Summer | 4 and 8 weeks | AOP | |
| UNM General Ed – Area V A and B: Humanities and Second Language | 3 | 8 weeks | AOP |
Semester 5 - Fall |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
| HED 362 | Introduction to Behavior Therapy | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st and 2nd halves | 8 weeks | AOP |
| HED 371 | Introduction to Public & Community Health | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st half | 8 weeks | AOP |
| EDPY 303 | Human Growth and Development | 3 | 8 weeks | AOP | |
| HED Elective or Outside HED 300-400 level | 3 | Fall, Spring, and Summer | 4 and 8 weeks | AOP | |
| UNM General Ed – Student Choice | 3 | 8 weeks | AOP |
Semester 6 - Spring |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
| HED 383 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 | Fall and Spring, 2nd half | 8 weeks | AOP |
| HED 477 | Stress Management | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st and 2nd halves | 8 weeks | AOP |
| OILS 466 | Principles of Adult Learning | 3 | 8 weeks | AOP | |
| HED Elective or Outside HED 300-400 level | 3 | Fall, Spring, and Summer | 4 and 8 weeks | AOP | |
| UNM General Ed – Student Choice | 3 | 8 weeks | AOP |
Semester 7 - Fall |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
| HED 445 | Strategies for Prevention of Substance Abuse | 1 | Fall and Spring | 4 weeks | AOP |
| HED 446 | Health Promotion Program Planning | 3 | Fall and Spring, 2nd half | 8 weeks | AOP |
| HED 495 | Field Experience | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st and 2nd halves | 8 and 16 weeks | AOP |
| Electives from HLED/HED list | 3 | Fall, Spring, and Summer | 8 weeks | AOP |
Semester 8 - Spring |
Course | Course | Credit | Projected | Course | Online |
| HED 451 | Methods in Community Health Education | 3 | Fall and Spring, 2nd half | 8 weeks | AOP |
| HED 482 | Social Determinants and Multicultural Health | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st half | 8 weeks | AOP |
| HED 495** | Field Experience | 3 | Fall and Spring, 1st and 2nd halves | 8 and 16 weeks | AOP |
| HED Elective or Outside HED 300-400 level | 3 | Fall, Spring, and Summer | 4 and 8 weeks | AOP |
*Course counts toward the UNM General Education curriculum.
**Course may include some synchronous online web-conferencing meetings
Note on Electives
Students should refer to their Community and Health Education program advisor for lists of acceptable electives. Not all electives are guaranteed to be offered online but a sufficient number are offered online to fulfill requirements for the B.S. Community Health Education major. Pre-requisite courses may apply.
Program Learning Outcomes
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:
- Assess needs, resources, and capacity for public health education
- Communicate, promote and advocate for health and health education
- Plan health education strategies, interventions, and programs
- Implement health education strategies, interventions, and programs
- Conduct evaluation and research related to health education and public health
- Administer and manage health education programming
- Serve as a resource person for health education
- Apply professional codes of ethics and demonstrate ethical leadership
Learning Objectives
- Apply community engagement skills and community-based-participatory research methods to mobilize communities.
- Access and analyze credible epidemiological data sets and the local, state, tribal, and national levels to determine health needs.
- Design evidence-based, data-informed, and culturally competent interventions to address community health needs.
- Implement and manage community health education interventions and programs culturally aligned with community needs and strengths.
- Evaluate health education programs and interventions using established protocols in public health education.
- Communicate and disseminate health information in culturally appropriate ways.
