Community Health Option

The Community Health option is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and perspectives to function as effective community health workers and educators in an urban population that is diverse ethnically, economically and demographically. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of health behavior and strategies for change, health disparities among diverse populations, and the development of programs that increase access to healthcare and related services.

Students in this option will acquire oral and written communication skills needed to analyze public health challenges in local communities, develop health education materials and identify evidence-based methods used to address these problems.

Students interested in pursuing clinical careers in the future such as nursing or allied health care fields, will gain important skills to serve patients more effectively, including interpersonal communication, cultural competency, and understanding the roles of community health service agencies and public health policy.

Community Health students will gain basic proficiency in the skills and knowledge needed to prepare for the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination.