The online education programs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock continue to garner national attention as the university’s online health education and promotion program was ranked among the best in the country. 

Leading higher education information and resource provider AffordableCollegesOnline.org highlighted UALR among its list of 50 four-year colleges and universities that offer the best online health sciences degree in the country for the 2016-17 academic year.

UALR’s Bachelor of Science in health education and promotion online degree program is designed to prepare students as health professionals in community health agencies, health maintenance organizations, as well as business and industry wellness programs. It is also designed to assist entry-level health educators in taking the National Health Education Credentialing examination.

“We have had the online program for about 10 years, and the online program was very popular with our students,” said Dr. Bennie Prince, undergraduate Health and Human Performance Program coordinator. “Our faculty have a great relationship with our students and care about the quality of their teaching. A goal of our faculty is to have each course receive Quality Matters national certification.”

To be eligible for the list, schools must be accredited not-for-profit institutions, and must offer in-state tuition rates under $25,000 per year for four-year schools. Rankings were based on more than a dozen school-specific statistics, including financial aid offerings and graduation rates.

“Employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 19 percent, or much faster than the national average, from 2014 to 2024,” said Dan Schuessler, CEO and founder of AffordableCollegesOnline.org. “Students pursuing health science degrees can now find affordable, high quality learning options online through these schools, who are ultimately being highlighted here for their efforts to help students excel.”

Graduates of the online health education and promotion program often find careers in health care facilities, counseling and patient education, teaching, nonprofit organizations, public health departments, and pharmaceutical sales, Prince said.