Online Bachelor of Science in Community Health

Advance your career in supporting healthy and sustainable communities with a Bachelor of Science in community health online from Arizona State University. In this program, you’ll learn how to support initiatives and interventions for improving the well-being of diverse people and populations. Upon graduating, you can sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist® (CHES) exam if you wish and pursue a variety of impactful roles in community health.

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Quick facts

Next start date:

Next start date: 01/13/2025


Total classes:

Total classes: 39

Weeks per class:

Weeks per class: 7.5

Total credit hours:

Total credit hours: 120

Degree questions, answered

Have questions about the Community Health (BS)? Fill out this form and we’ll get in touch!

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Address health challenges at their source as a community health major

In this program, you’ll learn how to implement community-wide and inclusive responses to health challenges. As a future community health leader, you can pave the way for better advocacy for patients and empower people of all backgrounds. Learning in this program emphasizes:

  • Advocating for diverse individuals, families and communities.
  • Providing health education, health promotion and care coordination.
  • Navigating health-focused partnerships between organizations across sectors. 
  • Understanding components of a healthy, sustainable community.

Additionally, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

Interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) online? Explore the Accelerated Master of Public Health program through Claremont Graduate University in collaboration with ASU.

The importance of community health workers

Extending beyond hospitals and offices, modern health care is a community matter. Community health workers fulfill various roles to improve access to health care resources and treatments. This can include increasing access to nutritious and fresh foods, providing vulnerable populations with preventative checkups and forging partnerships between public and private organizations to leverage resources.

With a background in community health, you can make an impact in your passion area. Your knowledge and skills can lead to opportunities in advocacy and connecting patients with health care providers and social services agencies. You can also pursue roles that assess community intervention effectiveness. Earning this community health degree will set a foundation to pursue a variety of career paths in the field.

Can this program lead to a career in community health nursing?

No, while this health-related program shares similar prerequisites with undergraduate nursing programs, it doesn’t prepare you for nursing licensure. If you’re interested in following a nursing path, a Bachelor of Science in nursing program is a better option for you. Upon completing this community health degree, you’ll be an excellent candidate for roles in health education, community health supervising and health administration.

Additionally, for those seeking professional certification, this program prepares you to sit for the CHES exam. This respected credential can give you a competitive edge when applying for roles in health fields as diverse as nutrition and kinesiology. As a CHES-certified health care professional, you can make an impact by educating individuals and communities on ways to improve health behavior and outcomes.

Will my diploma say ‘online’?

No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”

Online community health degree courses

Courses in this program provide an understanding of the factors that influence community health. You’ll explore organizational collaboration, communication with communities, changing health behaviors, managing and developing programs, assessing needs and more. Your culminating experience will be a capstone project focused on assessing community health factors and designing interventions. You also have the opportunity to pursue internships with community agencies in your area to build practical experience.


The jobs you’ll be prepared for as a community health major

Roles across the public, private and nonprofit sectors can provide opportunities to educate communities on health and connect these communities to services that meet their needs. Graduates can also pursue careers in individualized, community-based or organizational settings to improve health care access. Positions range from health care educator and outreach specialist to community health supervisor and health promotion manager. Additional career examples include, but aren’t limited to:

Community Health Worker


Growth: 14.1 %
Salary: $46,190

Community Specialist


Growth: 6.5 %
Salary: $47,290

Guidance Counselor


Growth: 5.4 %
Salary: $60,140

Health Care Support Worker (General)


Growth: 5.7 %
Salary: $40,420

Health Technician (General)


Growth: 6.6 %
Salary: $44,990

Healthcare Professor


Growth: 19.1 %
Salary: $100,300

Medical and Health Services Manager


Growth: 28.4 %
Salary: $104,830

Patient Advocate


Growth: 6.6 %
Salary: $44,990

Social Services Director


Growth: 9.1 %
Salary: $74,240

Learn from leading educators in community health

The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation is the home to world-renowned and award-winning faculty members. Our faculty’s accomplishments include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Fulbright Senior Scholar.
  • National faculty nursing awards.
  • Rosalynn Carter National Leadership Award in Caregiving.
  • Ruth B. Freeman Award from the American Public Health Association.

Learn from leading educators in community health

The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation is the home to world-renowned and award-winning faculty members. Our faculty’s accomplishments include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Fulbright Senior Scholar.
  • National faculty nursing awards.
  • Rosalynn Carter National Leadership Award in Caregiving.
  • Ruth B. Freeman Award from the American Public Health Association.

How to apply

I am a future

You’re considered a first-year student for application purposes if you’ve never attended college or have fewer than 12 transferable credit hours.

Learn how to apply.

Don't meet admission requirements?

You can still gain general admission to most online programs at ASU through Earned Admission. Through this pathway, you can demonstrate your ability to succeed at ASU by completing online courses with a 2.75 GPA or higher.

To begin, submit an application to ASU. An enrollment coach will reach out with more information if Earned Admission is right for you.

*Some programs may have higher admission requirements. You must meet all program requirements to be admitted.

Don't meet admission requirements?

You can still gain general admission to most online programs at ASU through Earned Admission. Through this pathway, you can demonstrate your ability to succeed at ASU by completing online courses with a 2.75 GPA or higher.

To begin, submit an application to ASU. An enrollment coach will reach out with more information if Earned Admission is right for you.

*Some programs may have higher admission requirements. You must meet all program requirements to be admitted.

Preparing the health leaders of tomorrow

ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation provides a world-class education to students across various health disciplines. We distinguish ourselves by delivering excellent programs and challenging courses led by high-quality instructors.

26+


undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs online.

334


faculty members.

$59 million+


in research expenditures.

7,000+


students.

Tuition calculator

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.

Tuition calculator

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.

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