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Health Education Services Option

Health Education Services Option

Make Our World a Healthier Place: Get There With South Carolina State University’s Health Education Program

Ready to push yourself even further by expanding your education and your career? Thinking about a career as a health program coordinator or public health educator?

At South Carolina State University, our health education services degree will help you develop the additional skills and knowledge to excel in health education careers in a variety of settings, including government, academia, health care, business, and the community.

Our health education degree — which is a concentration within our physical education degree — will prepare you for a career in promoting, improving, and protecting the health of people across their lifespan. As a health education program graduate, you’ll be skilled in promoting positive behavior change and healthy lifestyles and ready for an active career in physical education and health education areas. You may seek career positions like health program manager, public health educator, or other positions in health care, wellness, and beyond.

Choosing the health education program option also allows you to gain hands-on experience through service learning programs and practicum opportunities. Combining your physical education degree program with aspects of a health education degree, you’ll be well-prepared to launch your career or prepare for graduate school.

By the Numbers

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20:1
Student-to-faculty ratio in physical education and health education courses
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12%
Job growth outlook for graduates of physical education and health education programs
schedule
4
Years to complete your physical education degree with the health education option

Method of Instruction

  • Face-to-face
  • Online
  • Hybrid

Health Education Program Highlights

Combining your physical education degree with components of a health education degree program, you’ll gain knowledge and skills in both areas, as well as better understand how to leverage both disciplines to develop healthful strategies to benefit the whole person. By choosing SC State for your degree, you’ll enjoy a number of advantages, including the ability to:

Gain real-world experience to hit the ground running

Take advantage of ample opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the community. Through service-learning opportunities, an extensive practicum experience, and possibly a student research assistant position, you’ll develop a strong background of putting theory into practice that will help you stand out to employers.

Develop your individual career path with personal career advising

You’ll work closely with your educational and career adviser to chart your course to graduation and beyond. Developing your personal education plan will include optimizing your health education program courses and experiences based on your career goals.

Build your personal and professional network

Connect with peers and professionals in organizations like the Health and Physical Education Majors’ Society, the South Carolina Public Health Association, and the South Carolina Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Earn a well-respected degree that is also affordable

South Carolina State offers you an outstanding education and a respected degree. We are the only public, land-grant HBCU in the state, and we are frequently rated as one of the most affordable four-year schools in South Carolina.

Learn from certified faculty who are health education experts

Our health education program faculty members are certified by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, with certifications including Certified Health Education Specialist and Master Health Education Specialist. Our highly experienced, caring faculty focus on helping you achieve your professional and career goals.

What Can You Do With a Health Education Degree?

While SC State’s physical education degree with the health education option does not qualify you for teacher certification, the program does prepare you for professional career positions in a wide range of settings, like state and local health departments, federal or state organizations, universities and public or private schools, hospitals, doctor’s offices, insurance companies, community centers, civic organizations, and nonprofit organizations.

Our graduates have found employment in positions like:

  • Health program coordinator
  • Community health manager
  • Wellness coordinator
  • Public health director
  • Public health educator
  • Fitness trainer

Some of our graduates have gone on to attend graduate and professional schools, earning master’s degrees in health care management, speech and audiology, teaching, and public health, as well as earning certifications as strength and conditioning specialists and certified health education specialists.

What You Will Study in the Health Education Program Option

In addition to the physical education curriculum, you’ll complete the health education program option curriculum, which draws upon health education degree coursework, elements of public health education, and the latest innovations in human health and wellness. You’ll gain valuable expertise and demonstrate competence in key areas such as the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health programs. Courses you’ll complete include:

  • Contemporary Health Problems
  • Concepts of Community Health Education
  • Public and Environmental Health
  • Consumer Health
  • Mental Hygiene
  • First Aid and Safety