Public Health Education, B.S.

Contact Information

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education program is offered through the Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education and is based on the Seven Areas of Responsibility for an entry-level health educator delineated by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, which represents a comprehensive set of competencies defining the knowledge and skills required of a health education specialist in a variety of job settings (NCHEC, 2006). The program is designed to:

• Prepare students with the knowledge and skills to assess community needs and design, implement, and evaluate public health education programs.

• Focus on improving quality of life and overall well-being of individuals, worksites, and communities through behavioral, environmental, and policy-based initiatives.

• Prepare students for entry to mid-level positions in public health departments, community-based health organizations, outreach education programs, health care settings, private health organizations, and corporate wellness settings as well as advanced studies in Public Health.

• Prepare students to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams, patient care coordination, quality improvement for strategic planning and systems redesign, community engagement, community needs assessment, and health coaching.

• Prepare students for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Public Health Education program is separate from admission to Kennesaw State University. Students must meet the program requirements outlined below to pursue this degree. Students should declare the Public Health Education (PHE) Major-Interest through Owl Express > Student Records > Declare or Change Major/Minor. For more information, view the Office of the Registrar Registration Policies.

As a gated program, formal admission into the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education program is based on the following criteria:

1. Completion of 30 overall course credits including a “C” or better in the following courses: WELL 2000, PHE 2000, and PHE 2100.

2. An Institutional GPA of 2.5 or higher (please note that maintaining a 2.5 GPA is required for continued program admission and entry into PHE 4750).

3. Completion of the online Public Health Education application form, which includes the following: 

• Personal essay that reflects career goals and documentation of up to three hours of public health-related volunteer, extra-curricular, and/or research experience (within the past year - vKSU is a great resource for this).

• Two positive faculty recommendations.

• Completion of a current Public Health Education course check sheet (which must be signed by your advisor and includes planned courses of study).

• Appropriate academic and professional behavior exhibited in classes, academic and field-related experiences, and in interactions with peers, faculty, staff, and community members as documented in PHE Student Dispositions, instructors’ feedback, and additional documentation when applicable.

The required Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education program application materials should be completed in consultation with the student’s assigned academic advisor to review and verify academic records and to plan courses of study.

DEADLINES: Fall Semester is October 1st; Spring Semester is March 1st; Summer Semester is August 1st.

Graduation Requirements

Each student is expected to meet the Academic Policies Graduation Policies and Procedures  outlined in the Academic Policies section of the Catalog.

Program of Study