2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Health Education (BS.HED)
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Program Description
Vermont State University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Education focuses on preparing students to promote health and wellness in various populations. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to design, implement, and evaluate health education programs, as well as to advocate for health policies and practices that improve the well-being of communities. Students can further their professional skills and knowledge by pursuing a concentration in Community Health or School Health.
Health Education specialists assist individuals, communities and schools in promoting positive health behaviors. Students are trained in topics such as health promotion, disease prevention, behavior change, and health policy. The program combines theoretical coursework with practical, hands-on experiences such as internships, fieldwork, and projects. Health Education majors are trained to become informed, skilled professionals who can effectively promote healthier lifestyles, influence policy, and contribute to public health improvement in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, government agencies, non-profits, and community health organizations.
The concentration in Community Health prepares students for careers in non-school health settings such as community health organizations, public health departments, hospitals, work site health promotion, and non-profit community agencies. This program prepares students to take the Community Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.
The concentration in School Health prepares students for Vermont Agency of Education Level I Teacher Licensure in PreK-12 Health Education. VTSU offers the only Health Education Teacher Education (HETE) licensure program in the state of Vermont. Graduates also find employment in other health education venues such as community and public health organizations.
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate Understanding of Health Concepts - Identify and explain key concepts related to physical, mental, and social health, including factors that influence health outcomes (e.g., lifestyle choices, environmental conditions, and healthcare access).
- Evaluate Community/School/Public Health Issues - Assess the impact of community, school, and public health challenges such as infectious diseases, chronic conditions, health disparities, and emerging health trends, and propose evidence-based strategies for addressing these issues within various communities.
- Community/School Health Needs - Learn how to assess the health needs of a community through data collection, surveys, and analysis of social determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic status, education, access to healthcare, etc.).
- Health Education Program Planning - Develop skills in planning health education programs aimed at improving health outcomes at the individual, group, and community levels.. This includes identifying goals, setting measurable outcomes, creating interventions, and evaluating the effectiveness of programs.
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