Public Health B.S. - Concentration: Community Health

About the Program

The Department of Health Studies degree programs provide students with an innovative curriculum to pursue a variety of career paths in the health field, as well as providing the foundation needed for future graduate studies. The health field is the second largest employer in the United States.

Community Health Educators are professionals who design, carry out and evaluate programs that help improve the quality of health within communities. The quality of health attained by communities is what in turn determines the society’s overall quality of life.

The Community Health Education program prepares students for a rewarding service career that improves the health behavior and health outcomes of residents living in local communities, counties, as well as statewide.

The Community Health Education program also provides a solid foundation for those wishing to pursue graduate training in the public health sciences. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in assessing community needs, planning and implementing community-based health education and health promotion programs; program evaluation; and resource acquisition and development.

Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities in health education and promotion continue to expand due to the increasing emphasis on cost-effective approaches in early detection and prevention of maladaptive health behaviors and resulting disease.

Employment opportunities exist working with youth, families, and the growing number of senior citizens. Typical employment settings include community medical centers and hospitals, local and state departments of health, insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, nonprofit organizations (i.e., American Cancer Society), and other public health settings.

Are you interested in ...

  • Improving the quality of health within communities
  • Preventing illness by educating communities
  • A service career in health care

Choose Community Health Education at ESU

  • Small class size
  • Qualified, experienced faculty
  • Practical internships

Is community health education a career path for me?

Career Potential

  • Coordinator of community prevention programs
  • Patient educator for disease management
  • Trainers
  • Community organizers
  • Work-wellness specialists
  • Wellness project managers
  • Outreach workers
  • Case managers
  • Research associates
  • Public health program managers

Career Settings

  • Hospitals and service delivery organizations
  • Local and state health departments
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Pharmaceutical firms
  • Health insurance agencies
  • Government entities (Centers for Disease Control, Health and Human Services, Departments of Health)
  • Hospice and home health agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations (American Cancer, Red Cross, United Way)
  • Graduate schools in public health

More detailed career information is available from the department.

Internships

Students in the bachelor of science program have the opportunity to complete internships with community and public health agencies located in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and other organizations within Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey. Some students also obtain internships in Washington, D.C., the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, and other locations nationally.

Program Features

58 credits

Required courses:

 

Area of Common Studies

HLTH 210Foundations of Health Science

3 credits

HLTH 230Community Health

3 credits

HLTH 260Foundations of Epidemiology in Public Health

1.5 credits

HLTH 270The Environmental Determinants of Community Health

1.5 credits

HLTH 280Fundamentals of Health Administration

3 credits

HLTH 370Planning and Evaluation in Public Health Practice

3 credits

HLTH 386Pre-Practicum in Public Health Practice

3 credits

HLTH 415Determinants of Disease

3 credits

HLTH 440Modifying Health Behaviors

3 credits

HLTH 460Community Health Organizations

3 credits

HLTH 470Global Public Health

3 credits

HLTH 486Field Experience & Internship

1 - 15 credits

Concentration Major Courses

HLTH 409Health Counseling

1 credits

and 15 additional credits from
HLTH 240Health Emergencies

3 credits

HLTH 340Nutrition for Healthful Living

3 credits

HLTH 355Drug Abuse & Prevention Education

3 credits

HLTH 408Women's Health Concerns

3 credits

HLTH 442Human Sexuality and Reproductive Health

3 credits

HLTH 444Health Promotion Programs and Aging

3 credits

Co-requisite courses:

Common Directed General Education Courses

BIOL 111GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 credits

CPSC 100GE: Personal Computers and Their Uses

3 credits

MATH 110GE: General Statistics

3 credits

CMST 111GE: Introduction to Communication

3 credits

Or

CMST 253GE: Public Speaking

3 credits

Concentration Directed General Education Courses

PSY 100GE: General Psychology

3 credits

SOC 111GE: Introduction to Sociology

3 credits

Additional requirements:

Completion of all health education coursework and an overall quality point average of 2.5 and a quality point average of 2.5 within the major is required for approval to enroll in the internship.

Program Curriculum Plan

The curriculum prepares students to take the Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) examination. The CHES credential indicates that a Health Educator has achieved professional competency required in many employment settings.

The coursework prepares graduates to...

  • Determine individual, organizational and community health education needs.
  • Plan, develop, implement, manage and evaluate health education programs.
  • Communicate health education needs.
  • Develop coalitions.
  • Advocate for community health issues.
  • Train health educators.
  • Employ a variety of educational methods and materials.

(Subject to change by university without notice)

Freshman Year

Fall

HLTH 210Foundations of Health Science

3 credits

CPSC 100GE: Personal Computers and Their Uses

3 credits

MATH 110GE: General Statistics

3 credits

CMST 111GE: Introduction to Communication

3 credits

BIOL 111GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring

HLTH 230Community Health

3 credits

BIOL 112GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology II

4 credits

PSY 100GE: General Psychology

3 credits

SOC 111GE: Introduction to Sociology

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Sophomore Year

Fall

DMET 262Educational Communications and Technology

3 credits

Two Health Electives

6 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring

HLTH 260Foundations of Epidemiology in Public Health

1.5 credits

HLTH 270The Environmental Determinants of Community Health

1.5 credits

HLTH 280Fundamentals of Health Administration

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:18

Junior Year

Fall

HLTH 440Modifying Health Behaviors

3 credits

HLTH 409Health Counseling

1 credits

HLTH 470Global Public Health

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring

HLTH 370Planning and Evaluation in Public Health Practice

3 credits

HLTH 386Pre-Practicum in Public Health Practice

3 credits

Health Elective 2

3 credits

Health Elective 3

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Senior Year

Fall

HLTH 460Community Health Organizations

3 credits

Health Elective 4

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:12

Spring

HLTH 486Field Experience & Internship

1 - 15 credits

Total Credit Hours:12

Total Credit Hours: 120

For more information, contact the department at 570-422-3702 or visit www.esu.edu/hlth.