45 Credits
3 Semesters
12 Months

Enrollment Options

Full-time / Part-time

Classes Offered

Onsite / Hybrid
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The Master of Community Health Education program will prepare the next generation of leaders with the skills and training to bring equity and justice to today’s changing health and wellness environment and help make a difference in the locations where you live and work. During this accelerated program – which can be completed in just one year – you’ll focus on mastering the critical components of community health education, prevention and outreach.

Through our unique purpose-centered education model, each semester you will be engaged in a constructive action that provides real-world experience. Throughout the program, you will develop a community health project that involves assessing community health needs, working with stakeholders to develop a project that meets those needs, implementing your project and evaluating the results.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics

  • Employment of health education specialists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

  • 39% work in healthcare and social assistance.

  • 25% work in state and local government

  • The median annual wage for health education specialists was $63,000 in May 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $112,900.

What is a Community Health Educator?

Community health educators use data collected on various populations to understand and develop health and wellness programs to meet community needs and advocate with governmental agencies for the development of programs and funding to improve community health. They teach people how to live healthy lives, obtain preventive screenings, and avoid costly diseases, medical procedures and unnecessary hospitalizations.

They engage in preventive education programs that explain how individuals can reduce the probability of contracting illnesses such as lung cancer, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis and skin cancer and engage community resources in these efforts. In addition, they work in the community to develop programs that cope with expected life changes such as prenatal and well-baby care programs; sex, suicide and drug education programs for teens; and exercise and nutrition programs for senior citizens. They focus on harm reduction strategies to decrease cigarette smoking, excessive drinking, obesity, unprotected sexual behaviors and illicit substance abuse.

Career Paths in Community Health Education

A degree in Community Health Education opens the door to work that directly improves lives, strengthens communities, and advances health equity. Graduates may pursue roles such as:

  • Behavioral Health Program Coordinator
    Support mental health and addiction recovery programs

  • Community Health Director
    Lead local wellness initiatives and education efforts

  • Environmental Health Specialist
    Address environmental risks that impact public health

  • Global Health Program Manager
    Coordinate health initiatives across international communities

  • Health Policy Analyst
    Influence laws and policies that shape healthcare systems

  • Healthcare Data Analyst
    Turn data into insights that improve health outcomes in communities

  • Nonprofit Program Director
    Advance programs focused on access, equity, and community care

  • Occupational Health Specialist
    Promote safer, healthier workplaces

  • Public Health Advisor
    Guide programs for government and health organizations

  • Urban Health Planner
    Design healthier, more equitable communities

MCNY Alumni Find Their Purpose

Join more than 12,000 alumni who have made a positive impact on human services, education, business, and public administration through their Constructive Action projects. Find out how they got their start at MCNY and what they did to solve real-world challenges in their work.