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Many sectors of the economy are shrinking, but one that’s growing rapidly is health care. As Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers age, they will need more and more attention to their health, and an online doctorate from an accredited school can give you the skills you need to help them get that attention. If you’re skilled in Health Education, you can teach the caregivers how to take care of their patients and clients, as well as providing health education for members of your community. An online doctorate in Health Education, sometimes called Wellness Studies, from a top school will help you tap into this expanding and important field.

Online PhD in Health Education Requirements

Students applying for a top online PhD program in Health Education should have at least 3 years of work experience in a health care sector, such as nursing, physical therapy, or social work. This work experience should have helped you to identify health education needs in your own community.

Applicants should also have a master’s degree from an accredited school. Some of the degrees which will prepare you best for your online PhD studies include:

• Master’s in Physicians Assistant Advanced Studies
• Master of Health Administration
• Master’s in Dental Health or Public Health with a concentration in Dentistry
• Master of Public Health

Physicians’ assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners, health educators, dentists, and health department social workers are all good candidates for an online PhD in Health Education.

Online PhD in Health Education Academic Overview

Any students pursuing a doctorate in Health Education will be expected to take from 9-15 courses at some institutions, and up to 20 courses at others. They will also be expected to write a dissertation that brings a practical application of health education theory to their practice. The entire plan of study usually takes 3-4 years to complete.

Specializations and Concentrations

Since health education is very community based, most courses are directed toward how to organize, administer, and run this type of health education program. However, a few schools do offer some specializations.

• Community Health Education and Advocacy
• Health Studies
• Exercise Studies
• Psychology

Careers in Health Education

The best online PhD programs are aware that one of society’s most pressing challenges is to provide for high-quality health care that is available to as many people as possible. Health care educators and others with a doctorate in health care education will be a major part of meeting that challenge in the future. Once you’ve earned your online doctorate, you can be part of several different careers in health education that will allow you to be part of the solution.

• Health education professor
  An online PhD qualifies you to teach health studies in any post-secondary setting, which can earn you an average of $103,340 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Health department educator
  The average health educator salary goes up depending on experience and education—putting those with a PhD in health Education near the top of the range at $67,013. These educators work in local health departments and other local agencies to teach their communities about good health practices.
• Lobbyist
  Lobbyists are simply paid advocates for a certain cause or a certain institution. Your online PhD in Health Education gives you the knowledge to meet with law makers and inform them about what kinds of programs are needed. Lobbyists make an average of $46,000 per year, depending on whom they work for and where they work.
• Health care administrator
  According to payscale.com, hospital administrators make between $68,153 and $125,651. They help put into place community education programs and make connections between the hospital and the community.

An online doctorate in health education from an accredited school will open doors into community service, policy making, and education. If you want to serve others, make the future better, and make a good living for yourself, this might be an excellent choice for you.