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Community Health Education Degree Programs (CHED)

We welcome your interest in the Community Health Education Degree (CHED) programs in the College of Education & Human Sciences at the University of New Mexico.

Our Mission

The mission of the Community Health Education Program at the University of New Mexico is to develop and promote sustainable public health solutions for populations in New Mexico and beyond, through the professional preparation of health education specialists, collaboration with communities and organizations, research/evaluation, and advocacy.

The B.S. Community Health Education Program is fully online and offered in 8-week segments. Visit https://online.unm.edu/online-degrees/community-health-education-bs.html for more information on the Community Health Education accelerated online degree program. 

Program Overview

We offer a fully online and Accelerated Online Bachelor of Science (B.S.), a fully online minor, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Community Health Education. Our online B.S. CHED degree offers all courses in 8 weeks. All degree programs emphasize a high-level academic program of studies (POS).

Students of both undergraduate and graduate programs gain proficiency in working with urban and rural communities and develop comprehensive skill-sets.

Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate proficiency in diverse community engagement and community based-participatory research
  • Analyze epidemiological data and learn to access local, state, tribal, and national data sets
  • Create interventions using theory-driven, evidence-based and practice-based methods
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate health education, promotion interventions, and initiatives relevant to the needs, strengths, and desires identified by communities
  • Engage in research partnerships and develop interventions with, hospitals, agencies, schools, tribal and non-tribal communities
  • Design and conduct culturally appropriate community and tribal health enhancement programs
  • Demonstrate a high level of skill-set in creating curriculum and informational technology based tool-kits

The Community Health Education faculty are:

  • Student and community oriented
  • Possess a broad range of experience, skills, knowledge, and cultural expertise in the field of health education
  • Actively involved in diverse teaching approaches (ie. Face to face, online, hybrid, blended) research and service

Degree and Endorsement Programs

Undergraduate - Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduate - Total: 36 Credit Hours

Minor Study (Fully Online)

  • 3 Credit Hours of Core Requirements (HLED 2150 Foundations of Health Promotion course required)
  • 15 Credit Hours of Electives from list of HED & HLED courses
  • Total: 18 Credit Hours

Community Health Education

The non-teaching undergraduate minor in Community Health Education is offered to students majoring in all disciplines except Health Education, and will complement majors of study in, but not limited to, nutrition, exercise science, and other health related fields.

Students pursuing this minor should plan to enroll in the required courses during the fall and spring semesters since undergraduate courses in health education are seldom offered during the summer sessions. Students should contact an advisor at the Center for Student Success in Travelstead Hall for more information and visit the current UNM Catalog.