MTSU HHP Health Education | Middle Tennessee State University

Careers/Job Opportunities

CAREERS

Graduates of the Community and Public Health option in the Health Major qualify to take the Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) exam.

A Certified Health Education Specialist is specifically trained to effectively:

Assess individual, organizational and community health education needs.
Run, develop, implement, manage and evaluate health education programs.
Communicate health education needs.
Build coalitions.
Identify resources and make referrals.
Act as an advocate for health issues.
Train assistants and volunteers.
Develop and use a variety of educational methods and materials.

A Certified Health Education Specialist is trained and qualified to plan and coordinate health education programs on weight control, hypertension, nutrition, substance abuse prevention, physical fitness, stress management, smoking cessation and many other vital topics. Health educators are specialists in educating the public about health. They are professionals who design, conduct and evaluate activities that help improve the health of people. These activities can take place in a variety of settings.

(CHES) Career Descriptions:

Wellness Professional - This position is responsible for developing a health program that provides a complete range of wellness services including health education and behavior change programs, 1:1 sessions, wellness seminars, fitness assessments, exercise programs, ergonomics, and much more.
Chronic Diseases Program Coordinator - This position is dedicated to promoting policy, program, and research efforts to improve the health and well-being of communities.
Director for Health Promotion - This position is responsible for identifying priorities for health promotion outreach programs, direct planning and design theory-based efforts for health promotion programs, developing strategic plans, goals and quantifiable objectives to measure health promotion outreach, developing and implementing peer education initiatives, and directing the development and dissemination of marketing and health communications activities.
Field Director of Training and Education - Responsible for training and coordinating volunteers engaged in health education programs.
Substance Abuse/ Health Educator -This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating the health promotion and wellness programs. The Substance Abuse/Health Educator is responsible for developing comprehensive health promotion and wellness activities and takes a primary role in development and implementation of needs-based health promotion programs.
Community Health Educator - Under general direction, the community health educator plans, develops, implements, and evaluates district-wide comprehensive health education programs; provide technical and in-service training; conducts community health assessments; and performs related work as required.
Health Promotion Specialist - Health promotion specialists plan, ensure implementation of, and evaluate policies and strategies to promote health within a specialist setting, relating to a specific issue, or within a particular population.
Patient Educator - Responsible for planning an educational experience for the patient as a part of his/her care that relieves anxiety and promotes healing.
Public Health Educator - The public health educator uses a variety of skills derived from theories and principles of education, public health, and social psychology to assess, plan, organize, and implement, health education services and programs at the State and local level.
Worksite Health Promotion Manager - Reduce workplace stress and injuries and improve the health and well being of employees.
Clinical Health Educator - Responsible for coordinating diabetes, weight management, and other health classes.
Health Inspector - Conducts investigations of work environments to determine if safety and health requirements are being met.
Safety Directo r- Directs an organization's safety programs. Develops, implements, and manages safety programs, procedures, and policies. Responsible for maintenance of safety/accident records.
Wellness Program Administrator - Assists in the administration of wellness programs and activities designed to improve employee health and well being. Responsible for recommending changes and /or additions to programs that reflects the needs of the employees.
Preventive Medicine and Community Medicine - Preventive medicine (in the U.S.) and community medicine (in Canada) specialists manage programs in public or community health and conduct research to prevent and control disease; provide direct patient care; use scientific methods to identify health and safety hazards in the workplace and work to prevent occupational illness and injury, work to improve preventive and primary care services to under-served and high-risk population; assess and eliminate environmental health hazards.
Preventive Medicine and Community Medicine - Preventive medicine (in the U.S.) and community medicine (in Canada) specialists manage programs in public or community health and conduct research to prevent and control disease; provide direct patient care; use scientific methods to identify health and safety hazards in the workplace and work to prevent occupational illness and injury, work to improve preventive and primary care services to under-served and high-risk population; assess and eliminate environmental health hazards.

***Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) are those who have met the standards of competence established by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) and have successfully passed the CHES examination.

This program accepts all students who are currently enrolled at MTSU and all pre-nursing courses will transfer to the health degree. Contact Dr. Dianne Bartley at 898-2811 or Dr.Dana Umscheid at 904-8358.