20 Best Master’s Degrees in Health Education in 2021

California State University, Long Beach offers our top-ranked master's degree program in Health Science program with an emphasis on Community Health Education. The degree program consists of 14 courses, adding up to 42 units of study. Course offerings include Advanced Environmental Health; Advanced Latino Nutrition; Health and Chronic Disease Prevention; and Health Equity and Health Disparities Research in the U.S. Students can culminate the program with a comprehensive exam or research thesis. Exam-track students must complete 480 clock hours of internship, and thesis students must complete 240 internship hours.

Established in 1949, Long Beach State is now one of the largest universities in California by enrollment. It is a public state university and a member of the 23-campus California State University system. Its minimalist campus in Long Beach features primarily International-style architecture, with a focus on greenery such as a ficus grove, a leafy jungle-like canopy, and a eucalyptus-filled courtyard. The space-grant institution is committed to sustainability and operates a Desert Studies Center in the Mojave Desert. Notable alumni include comedian Steve Martin and director Steven Spielberg. The university is often counted among the most racially diverse universities on the West Coast. U.S. News & World Report ranks CSULB No. 26 in Regional Universities West and No. 3 in Top Public Schools. The university also ranks at No. 119 in Public Health and No. 61 in Health Care Management at the graduate level.

The University of Utah offers a Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics through its School of Medicine. The degree program is designed for working professionals seeking modern advanced training in health information technology. The non-thesis program offers students the choice between three tracks: Applied Clinical Informatics, Bioinformatics, and Data Science. Each track requires a minimum of 30 credits of study. Core course requirements for all tracks include Clinical Database Design, Introduction to Programming (Python), and Population & Public Health Informatics. Students are also expected to attend a Business Seminar Series. The degree program culminates in a capstone project in the form of an oral presentation and comprehensive exam.

Established in 1850, U of U is the flagship university of Utah and the oldest higher education institution in the state. A space-grant institution, it is classified by the Carnegie Foundation among doctoral universities with a very high research reputation and recognized for its selective, yet high amount of transfer admissions into the school. The university's research facilities include the American West Center, the Brain Institute, and the Center for High-Performance Computing. Its School of Medicine was the first medical school in the state. Committed to renewable energy, the university is ranked third by the Environmental Protection Agency in university green power usage. U.S. News & World Report ranks U of U at No. 133 in Best Value Schools, No. 119 in National Universities. It also ranks the university at No. 89 in Public Health, No. 38 in Best Medical Schools: Research, and No. 21 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care at the graduate level.

Duke University's Master of Science in Global Health takes an interdisciplinary, global approach to modern health issues. The 38-credit curriculum includes six core courses, including Ethics for Global Health Research, Global Health Challenges, and Health Systems in Developing Countries. Students can expect to spend at least 10 weeks on a mentored, field-based research project in global health. This project leads to the program's culminating research thesis. The degree requires at least three terms of full-time study. The program is also available through Duke Kunshan University in China.

Duke was founded by Methodists and Quakers in 1838. It was originally called Brown's Schoolhouse and located in Trinity, North Carolina. The university assumed its current name in honor of industrialist James Buchanan Duke and his father. Today, it is a nonsectarian private research university in Durham. It operates three campuses throughout Durham as well as schools in China and Singapore. Other Duke facilities include an art museum, a herbarium, a lemur center, a marine lab, and lush botanical gardens. The university is also an anchor institution of North Carolina's Research Triangle. U.S. News & World Report ranks Duke at No. 16 in Most Innovative Schools, No. 13 in Best Value Schools, and No. 8 in National Universities. The university's medical school ranks at No. 31 in Primary Care and No. 13 in Research at the graduate level.

The University of Central Florida provides a Master of Health Administration through its College of Community Innovation and Education. Students can choose from two tracks: Health Services Administration and Executive Health Services Administration. The 51-credit HSA program is a traditional program, while the 44-credit EHSA is designed for professionals with at least three years of experience in health management. The lock-step executive program may be completed online, and the HSA track is offered in a mixed-mode format with evening classes. Students may enroll on a full- or part-time basis. Both are non-thesis tracks, but HSU students must complete an internship, and EHSA students must complete a capstone course.

UCF was founded in 1963 by the Florida Legislature. It opened as Florida Technological University, with the intended purpose of training personnel for the region's growing U.S. space program. It has since grown into a public state university with the largest on-campus student enrollment in the country. Beyond its Orlando campus, the university operates campuses throughout Central Florida. The university is ranked by U.S. News & World Report at No. 165 in National Universities, No. 87 in Top Public Schools, and No. 10 in Most Innovative Schools. It also ranks at No. 46 in graduate Health Care Management.

California State University, Dominguez Hills offers a Master of Health Science program with a specialization in Orthotics and Prosthetics. The O&P field relates to the care of patients with absent limbs or neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorders. The program of study includes courses in Applied Anatomy; Normal Gait and Biomechanics of Movement; and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability. All students must complete a series of capstone activities, including gait analysis tests, laboratory practicum experiences, oral exams, patient interaction and treatment, and written exams. The final term of the program typically involves a guest speaker series. The degree requires 64 to 66 credit hours of study and is designed to be completed in two years.

Cal State Dominguez Hills was founded in 1960. It is a public university and constituent of the California State University system. Located in Carson, California, CSUDH is considered one of the most diverse universities in the American West in terms of ethnicity and economics. It is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. Also committed to welcoming Native American students, the university operates an American Indian Institute and hosts a pow wow honoring indigenous populations. The university encourages service learning and won the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The CSUDH campus is home to the Dignity Health Sports Park, which houses the LA Galaxy soccer team. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university No. 88 in Regional Universities West and No. 32 in Top Public Schools.

The University of Texas at Tyler provides a graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Health Sciences. Students can choose a focus area in Community Health and Wellness, Global Health Issues, Health and Behavior, Program Development and Evaluation, or Risk Analysis and Health Promotion. Course examples include Analysis of Needs; Processes and Outcomes in Health; Research Design; and Theories and Models in Health Behavior. The university is an approved testing site for the Certified Health Education Specialist test, which Health Sciences graduate students are encouraged to take. Students can culminate the degree program with a research thesis or internship experience. The degree can be completed in two years.

Founded in 1971, UT Tyler is a member institution of The University of Texas System. The public university has a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. The campus occupies 200 acres in the East Texas lake country near Dallas. The university also operates learning locations in the Texas towns of Houston, Longview, and Palestine. Health Sciences students can expect to make use of facilities in the university's Louise Herrington Patriot Center, including classrooms, computer labs, athletic facilities, and a therapeutic exercise pool. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Tyler at No. 81 in Regional Universities West and No. 27 in Top Public Schools.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock provides a Master of Science in Health Education and Promotion. The degree program is designed to provide professionally-oriented education to students and working health professionals. It offers hands-on experience in a variety of settings, including athletic facilities, rehab facilities, and wellness programs. The 36-credit curriculum blends advanced classroom learning, behavioral research, and community engagement activities. The nine-credit core curriculum consists of three courses: Basic Statistics in Health Sciences, Evaluation of Health Programs, and Research Methods in Health Sciences. Students can choose to complete a thesis or project based on research or practice. All students must also successfully complete a comprehensive exam.

UA Little Rock was established as a junior college in 1927. It has since become a public state university and a member of the state university system. It is also a space-grant research institution. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, the campus includes facilities such as the Emerging Analytics Center and the Sequoyah Research Center. Students may choose to participate in a weekend Japanese education program at the University Plaza. UALR is designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a "community engaged" university.

The University of Florida offers a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Chronic Disease. The degree program incorporates applied research and evidence-based learning. The core curriculum covers biostatistics, epidemiology, and exercise science. Example courses include Health Fitness Management and Human Physiological Assessment. Electives are offered in the areas of epidemiology, nutrition, pharmacology, and strength and conditioning. Example electives include Grant Development and Project Design and Sociocultural Influences on Nutrition. Students can culminate the program with internship experience, a master's thesis, or a research project. Graduate students are encouraged to sit for the qualifying exams for certifications offered by the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The 45-credit degree program is designed to be completed in two years.

UNF is a public university established in 1972. Located in Jacksonville, it is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. The campus spreads out over 1,300 acres surrounded by a natural preserve. Its facilities include a Student Wellness Center, the Thomas G. Carpenter Library, and the UNF Arena. The university is noted for its coastal biology, Jazz Studies, and Transportation and Logistics programs. UNF students are nicknamed Ospreys, and their feathered mascot is Ozzie Osprey. The university is ranked by U.S. News & World Report at No. 58 in Best Value Schools, No. 42 in Regional Universities South, and No. 14 in Top Public Schools. It also ranks at No. 154 in Physical Therapy. No. 138 in Public Health, and No. 65 in Health Care Management at the graduate level.

Johns Hopkins University offers a Master of Health Science through its Bloomberg School of Public Health. The research-based degree program is designed to prepare students for research careers or doctoral studies. The MHS degree is offered in every Bloomberg department, including but not limited to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Clinical Investigation, and Mental Health. Degree requirements and completion times vary by department, but all Bloomberg students must take Public Health Perspectives on Research. Most programs are interdisciplinary, allowing students to take courses in other departments of the Bloomberg School. The School's unique academic calendar is structured in four eight-week terms per academic year.

JHU opened in 1876 where the University was named for its major benefactor, Johns Hopkins. Half of Hopkins' massive donation went to the establishment of the private research university, and the other half to the establishment of Johns Hopkins Hospital. The university operates campuses in Maryland and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, as well as in China, Italy, and Singapore. Medical, nursing and public health programs are offered at the university's Medical Institutions campus in East Baltimore. JHU is a founding member of the Association of American Universities, and it often ranks among the top universities in the world. U.S. News & World Report ranks it No. 18 in both Best Value Schools and Most Innovative Schools, and No. 10 in National Universities. The site also ranks JHU No. 1 in the nation for graduate Public Health programs.

Utah State University offers a Master of Science in Health and Human Movement. Students may specialize in either Exercise Science or Sports Medicine. Qualified applicants will have a relevant undergraduate degree, and Sports Medicine students should also be eligible or certified to be an athletic trainer. The 30-credit program is ideal for students pursuing admission to medical or dentistry school or for those seeking professions in physical therapy or similar health fields. Core courses include Bioenergetics and Exercise Metabolism, Neural Aspects of Rehabilitation, and a Seminar in Human Movement Sciences. Students may culminate the program with a research thesis or a final paper suitable for a peer-reviewed health journal.

Utah State was founded in 1888 as an agricultural college. Today, it is a flagship public research university with the largest public residential campus in the state. USU has been a state pioneer in distance education since 1904 when its professors would travel via train to Idaho to give dairy lectures. In addition to its main campus in Logan, the university operates three regional campuses and 28 other learning locations throughout Utah. Since its founding, the university has operated a creamery on its main campus serving up locally-sourced ice cream. U.S. News & World Report ranks USU No. 205 in National Universities and No. 112 in Top Public Schools.