Doctoral Degrees in Health Education

<p>Most health education doctoral programs are Ph.D. programs geared towards individuals who want to pursue teaching or research careers after graduation. You may also find yourself working for a university's public health department as an associate professor. Or, you may conduct research for a government health agency such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services. Some programs, such as a Doctor of Health Education (D.H.Ed.), can also prepare you for administrative roles in both private and public health programs. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Career Options</b></td><td> Administrator, researcher, teacher, associate professor</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Health policy, epidemiology multivariate statistics, health education administration, school health</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td> While rare, some online Doctor of Health Education programs are available</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $56,500 (<i>for all health educators</i>)*</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 11% growth (<i>for all health educators</i>)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatTopicsWillIStudy">What Topics Will I Study?</h3> <p>Because most doctoral health education programs are research-intensive, you will most likely complete core coursework in qualitative and quantitative research methods. You'll learn how to design research tools, such as surveys, and interpret the results. </p> <p>The remaining coursework tends to focus on behavioral theory and program planning. You'll assess the needs of a community or evaluate a program's success. You may also learn how to raise awareness about health care services available to low-income or geriatric populations, or determine the best way to inform the public about disease prevention. </p> <p>D.H.Ed. programs also include specialized coursework for those who want to take on administrative roles after graduation. You may learn how to write a grant proposal or manage other health education personnel. Typical doctoral coursework includes the following: </p> <ul><li>Health education administration </li><li>Multivariate statistics </li><li>School health </li><li>Epidemiology </li><li>Health policy </li><li>Health services planning </li><li>Behavioral theory </li><li>Minority health </li><li>Public nutrition </li></ul><h3 id="section---WillIBeAbleToEnrollInAnOnlineProgram">Will I Be Able to Enroll in an Online Program?</h3> <p>Although rare, some online D.H.Ed. programs are available. These programs typically emphasize management coursework rather than the clinical and research components featured in traditional programs.</p>