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:

 

HLTH 210Foundations of Health Science

3 credits

HLTH 230Community Health

3 credits

HLTH 261Foundations of Epidemiology in Public Health

3 credits

HLTH 271Environmental Determinants of Community Health

3 credits

HLTH 280Fundamentals of Health Administration

3 credits

HLTH 355Drug Abuse & Prevention Education

3 credits

HLTH 370Planning and Evaluation in Public Health Practice

3 credits

HLTH 386Pre-Practicum in Public Health Practice

3 credits

HLTH 401 Public Health Preparedness

3 credits

HLTH 411Public Health Strategies

3 credits

HLTH 412Computer Applications in Public Health

3 credits

HLTH 415Determinants of Disease

3 credits

HLTH 440Modifying Health Behaviors

3 credits

HLTH 450Public Health Nutrition

3 credits

HLTH 486Field Experience & Internship

1 - 15 credits

BIOL 117Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory for the Health Sciences

1 credit

Choose three courses from the following:

9 credits
HLTH 240Health Emergencies

3 credits

HLTH 408Women's Health Concerns

3 credits

HLTH 442Human Sexuality and Reproductive Health

3 credits

HLTH 432Death and Dying

3 credits

HLTH 444Health Promotion Programs and Aging

3 credits

HLTH 381Health Economics and Finance

3 credits

HLTH 382Health Ethics & Law

3 credits

HLTH 421Advanced Emergency Care

3 credits

HLTH 470Global Public Health

3 credits

Co-requisite General Education courses:

CMST 111GN: Introduction to Communication

3 credits

OR

CMST 253GN: Public Speaking

3 credits

 

CPSC 100GN: Personal Computers and Their Uses

3 credits

ECON 111GN: Principles of Macroeconomics

3 credits

HLTH 380Health Project and Grant Writing

3 credits

BIOL 116GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences

3 credits

MATH 110GN: General Statistics

3 credits

PSY 100GN: General Psychology

3 credits

SOC 111GN: Introduction to Sociology

3 credits

 

POLS 160GN: Introduction to Public Administration

3 credits

OR

POLS 293GE: Public Policy and Administration

3 credits

Additional requirements:

Minimum overall GPA of 2.8

C or above in all Major classes

4 Year Curriculum Program 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

HPLW 105Health Promotion and Lifetime Wellness

3 credits

OR

FYE 100University Studies

3 credits

 

HLTH 210Foundations of Health Science

3 credits

MATH 110GN: General Statistics

3 credits

CMST 111GN: Introduction to Communication

3 credits

BIOL 116GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences

3 credits

BIOL 117Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory for the Health Sciences

1 credit

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring

HPLW 105Health Promotion and Lifetime Wellness

3 credits

OR

FYE 100University Studies

3 credits

 

HLTH 230Community Health

3 credits

HLTH 415Determinants of Disease

3 credits

PSY 100GN: General Psychology

3 credits

SOC 111GN: Introduction to Sociology

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Sophomore Year

Fall

CMST 111GN: Introduction to Communication

3 credits

DMET 262Educational Communications and Technology

3 credits

HLTH ____Health Elective 1

3 credits

HLTH ____Health Elective 2

3 credits

GenEd ____General Education Elective

3 credits

GenEd ____General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:18

Spring

HLTH 261Foundations of Epidemiology in Public Health

3 credits

HLTH 271Environmental Determinants of Community Health

3 credits

HLTH 280Fundamentals of Health Administration

3 credits

GenEd ____General Education Elective

3 credits

GenEd ____General Education Elective

3 credits

GenEd ___General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Junior Year

Fall

HLTH 440Modifying Health Behaviors

3 credits

HLTH 409Health Counseling

1 credit

HLTH 470Global Public Health

3 credits

GenEd ____General Education Elective

3 credits

GenEd ____General Education Elective

3 credits

GenEd ____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

HLTH ____Health Elective 3

3 credits

HLTH ____Health Elective 4

3 credits

GenEd ___General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Senior Year

Fall

HLTH 460Community Health Organizations

3 credits

HLTH ____Health Elective 5

3 credits

GenEd ____General Education Elective

3 credits

GenEd ___General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:12

Spring

HLTH 486Field Experience & Internship

1 - 15 credits

Total Credit Hours:12

Total Credit Hours: 119

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