Military spouse Jade Jones has become an expert in adapting to change. “My husband is active duty, so we move every two years,” she explained.
When he was assigned to a post in Washington State, Jade began working as an educational technician for the U.S. Space Force, caring for the children of other families like hers. She also studied early childhood education at Southern Oregon University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in 2021.
Jade planned to continue to grad school but knew she had to choose a program carefully. “I’m also a twin mom, so I had to find something that was conducive for my schedule and easily transferable,” she said. “That way, if we did go to a different state I wouldn’t have to worry.”
She decided to stay at SOU and enroll in the online Master of Science in Education with a Concentration in Public Health Education program, graduating in 2023.
Since she was eligible for military education benefits, her out-of-pocket costs were low. “It was very affordable,” she noted. Jade also enjoyed the welcoming environment she found in the program.
“You’re not just another student in a huge lecture hall,” she said. “You develop relationships with your professors and advisors and they actually reach out. And you feel the care and the support.”
She liked learning about historical issues and current research in public health. Her favorite course was Healthcare in the United States: Structures, Systems and Policies.
“It was my most challenging, but the most enjoyable one,” she recalled. The class gave her a new perspective on the legal, political and financial aspects of healthcare delivery, as well as the obstacles many patients face in accessing proper care. Studying the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in communities also led her to become an advocate for practices that can slow the spread of communicable disease.
Jade is happy to have her MSEd, and proud that it quickly netted her a promotion, even if she couldn’t accept it. Six months after graduating from SOU, her family was on the move again. “[We] relocated to Germany in June of this year due to my husband’s military orders,” she shared.
Jade continues to work for the U.S. government as an educational technician while in Europe. She says her public health master’s degree has given her resources she needs “to better help children and train new staff members.” Jade also credits her professors and alma mater for the support that helped her earn it.
“They basically set you up for success,” she said of the program. “I definitely recommend it.”
About the Program
The Southern Oregon University online MSEd program with a Concentration in Public Health Education prepares you for exciting careers in community health promotion and disease prevention, as well as healthcare research and advocacy. This multidisciplinary 45-credit program can be completed in as few as 12 months.
You will learn to design effective health and wellness programs by conducting assessments, researching health disparities and implementing effective solutions. You’ll also address the social determinants of health that impact individual patients, as well the behavioral, psychological, biological, genetic, and environmental factors that can impact population health.
Learning the administrative aspects of community health program management will give you the right skillset to monitor progress, evaluate results and drive positive change. Studying the political and economic determinants of health, you’ll gain fresh insight on health policy, health inequities and common barriers to healthcare access.
This online MSEd program prepares you for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam. As a professional with this certification—available through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC)—you will be qualified to meet the highest professional standards in the field of public health education. The CHES® credential is also recognized by healthcare, government and nonprofit employers.
