Ph.D. in Health Education and Promotion Program Guide

Today, a poor diet is tied to excess — excess calories, fats, sugars, and sodium, according to the National Institutes of Health. High rates of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases are on the rise in the U.S., at times even shortening life expectancy to the same levels as cigarette smoking.

Earning a Ph.D. in health education can put you at the forefront of researchers, academics, and practitioners working to address this growing crisis. In this program, you’ll learn all about healthcare and how to educate others on healthy living.

A doctorate in health education takes a multidisciplinary approach to health promotion and disease prevention.

Doctoral programs in health education and promotion typically last 3-5 years. They often begin with a year of fundamental knowledge-building, allowing you to deepen your understanding of the principles of public health.

You can then specialize in a particular health education area and hone your research and methodology skills. Doctoral students must also complete and defend a dissertation.

You can earn a Ph.D. or a doctor of education (Ed.D.) in health education and promotion. Ph.D. programs usually focus more heavily on research, whereas Ed.D. programs emphasize education practice.

Doctoral programs in health education and promotion prepare you to develop, implement, and evaluate health programs, as well as to become a leading teacher and researcher in the field.

Doctoral students in health education explore the environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic determinants of health and healthy behavior. You’ll also learn about effective health education programming.

You can specialize in certain areas such as nutrition or prenatal health. Or, you can concentrate on helping certain subpopulations, such as children from low-income households.

Ph.D. programs in health education typically include classwork, field experience, and a dissertation. Some sample courses you might take include:

A Ph.D. in health education and promotion is a serious commitment of time and money, but can be well worth it if your goal is to help people and communities live healthier lives.

Most doctorate in health education and promotion programs take 3-5 years.

That said, how long you spend on your degree will ultimately depend on the program you choose and whether you already have a master’s degree in a relevant field.

The University of South Carolina’s Ph.D. program, for example, requires 36 credits of coursework for those entering the program with a master’s degree and 48 credits for those without a master’s degree.

Several schools offer online and hybrid doctoral programs in health education and promotion. This type of learning can benefit busy professionals who want more control over the pace of their studies.

Here are some examples of online and hybrid health education doctoral programs:

Applying for a health education Ph.D. program can take time. Make sure you begin the process early and keep track of application deadlines.

Typically, health education Ph.D. candidates must have a master’s in health education or a relevant subject and at least a 3.0 GPA. Some schools might waive the master’s degree requirement in lieu of additional coursework or work experience.

Other common application materials include:

Occasionally, doctoral programs, such as Texas A&M’s Ph.D. in health education, might require a writing sample and/or an interview.

A Ph.D. can cost upwards of $40,900 a year in tuition and living expenses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Many people take 3-5 years to earn their doctorates, which can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in higher education.

Many Ph.D. in health education candidates, however, earn a stipend as they pursue their degrees or receive scholarships and grants. Doctoral students can hold teaching fellowships at universities and assist with research to reduce their educational costs and debt.

Around 58% of doctoral recipients graduated with $0 in debt for their doctoral studies, the NCES reports. Average debt amounts for those who borrowed money to pay for their doctorates was around $26,140.

Health education and promotion is a growing field, with researchers and practitioners needed, especially as the U.S. seeks to improve health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

Health education specialists held about 62,100 jobs in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Many work for the government, at hospitals, or in healthcare centers. Some also work in social assistance and educational service agencies.

Health education and promotion centers on the idea that teaching people about health and wellness can improve communities and prevent disease.

The BLS projects that jobs for health education specialists will grow 7% between 2023 and 2033.

This above-average growth rate is anticipated, in part, because the government, healthcare providers, and social services agencies are seeking to improve health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs, according to the BLS.

According to STAT, American taxpayers offered $1.8 trillion in federal and state healthcare expenditures in 2022 — about 41% of total healthcare spending.

Quality health education and promotion reduces healthcare spending and boosts individual productivity, lessening the amount of work missed due to preventable illnesses and disease.

Health education specialists made a median annual salary of $62,860 in 2023, according to the BLS. Those working in hospitals boast the highest median salaries, at $79,460 per year.

Ph.D.-holders tend to make more money than those with master’s degrees or bachelor’s degrees as their highest degrees earned, as they often take on program management, development, or executive roles.