2023 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Health Education

The University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh (UW) is a public university with a Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Educator requiring 37 credits. Students are expected to complete this degree in either two years on a full-time schedule or three years on a part-time schedule.

Canvas is UW's primary learning management system (LMS), where students can complete coursework 100% online. The goal of this online degree is to instill leadership traits in nursing students in order to advance their careers in the field. Students also learn about relevant issues that affect the healthcare industry, such as politics and the economy. Coursework includes classes like Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Roles, Healthcare Informatics, and Clinical Prevention and Population Health. An education practicum with 224 educational hours is also required. In general, graduates of a nursing educator master's program may explore careers as nursing instructors, public health nurses, or continuing education specialists.

Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private institution offering a Master of Public Health - Community Health Education. This online master's program requires 36 credits and may take students up to two years to complete while studying at a full-time pace.

Students at CSU use the popular LMS Blackboard for their coursework, which is delivered entirely online and on a flexible schedule. During the course of this program at CSU, students explore health promotion strategies, program planning, and trends in the community health field. They'll also learn how to intervene effectively during health crises and teach communities healthy best practices. Required classes include Concepts of Environmental Health, Strategies of Health Promotion, and Issues and Trends in Community Health. A public health capstone project is also required. Typically, graduates may find jobs in public health agencies, hospitals, and community organizations.

The University of Alabama (UA) is a public institution with an online Master of Arts in Health Studies - Health Promotion. This program requires 30 credit hours, and students can finish in less than two years if they take two courses per semester. Similarly, UA has an online Master of Public Health - Health Education and Promotion.

These fully online programs are delivered through the Blackboard LMS, where students learn the most effective ways to implement health education and promotion programs. The Health Studies online graduate degree meets the requirements that allow students to take the CHES exam or the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exam. Students are offered the chance to take the CHES exam within the program or take a comprehensive written exam from UA. Among the required coursework, UA offers classes in Advances in Health Promotion, Health Behavior, and Health Promotion Techniques. Graduates may work in a variety of health-related organizations, such as fitness facilities, hospitals, and nonprofits.

Pittsburg State University (PSU) is a public university with a Master of Science in Education - School Health (Thesis) requiring 36 credits. Most students complete this program in around two years if they maintain a full-time schedule.

PSU uses the Canvas LMS to complete their coursework 100% online. PSU's health education curriculum is unique because of its focus on school health. As such, students examine relevant issues, such as special education, nursing, and the leadership skills needed to teach K-12 students. The thesis option focuses more on research requiring a minimum of six hours of research credits. Additionally, students take the following classes: Individuals with Exceptionalities, Seminar in Special Education Law, and Partnerships with Families of Exceptional Children and Youth. Note that this program does not lead to licensure for teaching or nursing. Some career options include school nurse, wellness specialist, and community outreach advocate.

Framingham State University (FSU) is a public university offering an online Master of Education in Nutrition Education - Nutrition Education Specialist. This concentration requires a minimum of 10 graduate courses. Students with existing graduate credits can complete a master's program of this size in less than a year by studying full time. Alternatively, FSU also offers an online School Nutrition Specialist concentration with this master's degree.

All online classes at FSU are delivered asynchronously through the Canvas LMS. This curriculum looks at applied nutrition and nutrition education, giving students the tools to develop their own science-based nutrition curriculum. There are core education classes, such as Learning and Human Development and Research Methods in Nutrition. Additionally, there are more nutrition-focused classes, like Public Health Nutrition and Technology in Nutrition Education. The capstone project asks students to develop and showcase their own nutrition curriculum. Upon graduation, job opportunities may be available in community health programs, schools, and organizations within the healthcare industry.