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
60 credits
Required courses:
| HLTH 210 | Foundations of Health Science | 3 credits |
| HLTH 230 | Community Health | 3 credits |
| HLTH 260 | Foundations of Epidemiology in Public Health | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 270 | Environmental Determinants of Community Health | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 280 | Fundamentals of Health Administration | 3 credits |
| HLTH 370 | Planning and Evaluation in Public Health Practice | 3 credits |
| HLTH 386 | Pre-Practicum in Public Health Practice | 3 credits |
| HLTH 409 | Health Counseling | 1 credit |
| HLTH 415 | Determinants of Disease | 3 credits |
| HLTH 440 | Modifying Health Behaviors | 3 credits |
| HLTH 460 | Community Health Organizations | 3 credits |
| HLTH 470 | Global Public Health | 3 credits |
| HLTH 486 | Field Experience & Internship | 1 - 15 credits |
| | and 15 additional credits in HLTH | 15 credits |
Co-requisite courses:
| BIOL 116 | GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences | 3 credits |
| BIOL 117 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory for the Health Sciences | 1 credit |
| | | |
| CMST 111 | GN: Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| CMST 253 | GN: Public Speaking | 3 credits |
| | | |
| CPSC 100 | GN: Personal Computers and Their Uses | 3 credits |
| MATH 110 | GN: General Statistics | 3 credits |
| POLS 160 | GN: Introduction to Public Administration | 3 credits |
| PSY 100 | GN: General Psychology | 3 credits |
| SOC 111 | GN: Introduction to Sociology | 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 105 | Health Promotion and Lifetime Wellness | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| FYE 100 | University Studies | 3 credits |
| | | |
| HLTH 210 | Foundations of Health Science | 3 credits |
| MATH 110 | GN: General Statistics | 3 credits |
| CMST 111 | GN: Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| BIOL 116 | GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences | 3 credits |
| BIOL 117 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory for the Health Sciences | 1 credit |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring
| HPLW 105 | Health Promotion and Lifetime Wellness | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| FYE 100 | University Studies | 3 credits |
| | | |
| HLTH 230 | Community Health | 3 credits |
| HLTH 415 | Determinants of Disease | 3 credits |
| PSY 100 | GN: General Psychology | 3 credits |
| SOC 111 | GN: Introduction to Sociology | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Sophomore Year
Fall
| CMST 111 | GN: Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| DMET 262 | Educational 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 260 | Foundations of Epidemiology in Public Health | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 270 | Environmental Determinants of Community Health | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 280 | Fundamentals 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 440 | Modifying Health Behaviors | 3 credits |
| HLTH 409 | Health Counseling | 1 credit |
| HLTH 470 | Global 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 370 | Planning and Evaluation in Public Health Practice | 3 credits |
| HLTH 386 | Pre-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 460 | Community 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 486 | Field 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.