Mission
The Department of Health Education offers a professional preparation program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Health Education. Students take a common core of courses and do further study in the behavioral and biological sciences, education and public health.

The mission of the Department of Health Education is to prepare students, academically and professionally, to assume leadership positions in public health. The Department is provides students with proficiency in the application of theory, content and skills to promote, support and enable healthy communities. The health education program is designed to prepare professional health educators for practice in a variety of settings such as official public health agencies, voluntary health agencies, healthcare agencies, corporate and business work-sites and community-based settings.

A secondary mission is to promote the health and well being of communities through departmental course offerings, faculty research and community service. Department faculty and staff work within communities to promote sound, life long, self directed health behaviors and lifestyles conducive to health. This focus on community as a setting for research and service provides excellent field work training opportunities and helps ensure that our students are exceptionally prepared to perform effectively in the field of health education. It also provides an environment for faculty members that support effective teaching, research and community services.

Achievements
Since 1995, the Community Health Education Program has achieved distinction in many arenas. Perhaps the most notable is that of being the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) that prepares health educators to be approved by the SOPHE-AAHE Baccalaureate Program Approval Credential (SABPAC). Ninety percent of faculty hold terminal degrees. Forty percent of faculty have been distinguished by receiving outstanding teaching awards at NCCU and from other endeavors. Graduates of the program have distinguished themselves in graduate and advanced study, hold positions at all levels of health promotion settings. In addition, some are in private practice, making use of advanced technology. For its size, the Department has continually placed at or near the top in the total number of research grants and dollars awarded than any other department on campus. The Department stands ready to accept the challenges of preparing health educators for health promotion in the 21st century.