Health Education

Careers

K-12 Health Teacher

Hofstra’s Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in Health Education prepare students to teach health education at all grade levels in public and private schools, and lead to New York state teacher certification. Utilizing an experiential approach to teaching, program faculty provide students with a strong and functional knowledge base, integrating technology and issues of diversity in all course work. This program meets both the New York State Learning Standards for Health Education as well as the standards of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE).

Please visit the “Student Resources” tab to learn more about resources within the School of Education. 

Certified Health Ed Specialist

In addition to certifying Health Education students to teach in the K-12 classroom setting, the M.S. also prepares students to become Certified Health Education Specialists.

Learn About the CHES Exam

Health Educators can work in a variety of settings including:

  • Federal, state or local health agencies
  • Corporate wellness settings
  • Community health clinics and outreach education programs
  • Advocacy agencies and private health organizations.
  • K-12 classrooms in public and private schools.

Additional Information (according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics):

  • 5 out of 10 health educators work in health care and social assistance and an additional 2 out of 10 work in State and local government.
  • A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for entry level jobs, but many employers prefer to hire workers with a master's degree. Hofstra prepares its students to qualify to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) Exam, which grants licensure to qualified practitioners and assures employers that services are provided by professionals who have met national standards. Over the last several years, more employers indicate “CHES preferred” on health educator/health promotion positions.