Community Health Option

About The Community Health Option

The B.S. in Health Education with a concentration in Community Health provides a high level of professional preparation for health educators practicing in a variety of settings, including community health centers, hospitals, long term care facilities, corporate fitness centers and non-profit community organizations.  This program provides a basis for understanding the scientific foundation of health education, community needs within their social and political context, and how to address those needs through program development and implementation. The Community Health Education program is unique in its understanding that individual health is only one important aspect to consider when one is promoting health. Health also has to be addressed on the school, workplace, and community levels. In addition, consideration of policy level intervention to improve health is critical for Health Educators to understand and incorporate.

In the first two years of the program, students develop a strong foundation in the sciences, anatomy and physiology, physiological chemistry, and microbiology. In addition, courses in healthcare systems, community health and environment, and human development will be undertaken. These courses provide an essential introduction and prepare students for upper division courses centered on Health Education program development, contemporary health problems, communication techniques, politics of health, environmental health, and computer methods in health education. The curriculum is dedicated to providing students strong skills in program planning, implementation, and evaluation with special emphasis on health literacy and working with diverse populations. 

The program culminates with an internship in students’ final semester. The faculty work closely with each student to determine the appropriate setting for their internship. Internships are assigned in settings that commonly employ health educators, healthcare facilities, community health centers, corporate fitness centers, etc.

Service Learning is a methodology employed through the undergraduate Community Health Education program, and distinguishes us from other similar programs. Service Learning allows students to learn about health education by doing health education! Students work side-by-side with health educators in the community learning about the practice of health education through well defined projects. Then, in the classroom, students reflect on these experiences and connect them to the academic theories, philosophies, and practice critical to the field.

Additionally, students interested in healthcare management and administration have the opportunity to further their study by enrolling in our department’s joint Bachelor’s to Master’s Program in Health Management and Policy. Students may apply to the program in their junior year, forgo taking the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and take up to 6 graduate level credits in their senior year that will count both toward their undergraduate degree, as well as their Master’s degree in Health Management and Policy.

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Areas of Program Focus:

Areas of program focus are consistent with the Areas of Responsibility and Competency outlined by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. They include:

Assessing Individual and Community Needs for Health Education

Planning Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Implementing Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Conducting Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education

Administering Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Serving as a Health Education Resource Person

Communicating and Advocate for Health and Health Education

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Career Opportunities

With a degree in Community Health Education, you will be well positioned and an employable Community Health Educator. The emphasis the program has on Service Learning and internships as part of the curriculum allows students to network with professionals regularly throughout their undergraduate program. These contacts can be useful upon graduation. Employers of graduates in the last five years include; Massachusetts General Hospital, Lowell General Hospital, Genesis Healthcare, Inc., Lowell Community Health Center, Plus One Fitness, YWCA of Greater Lawrence, Partners Healthcare, Westford Board of Health, Lowell Health Department, and Northeast Center for Health Communities.

Admissions and Degree Requirements

As of January 2008, students graduating from high school with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher and SAT score of 1000 or higher are eligible for admission to the Community Health Option.  For students seeking transfer into the Community Health Option, a minimum previous semester grade point average and cumulative grade point average of 2.7 are required.   All students in the Community Health Option are required to maintain a 2.7 semester and cumulative grade point average and to obtain a grade of C or better in all major courses (courses with prefix 31) to remain in the program.  Students not meeting these criteria will be dropped from the program but may appeal to be readmitted on probation and given one semester to improve performance to meet these standards.  One probationary period is allowed.

All students complete a basic core of courses. The first two years cover a range of health science courses to ground students with knowledge that will serve as a foundation for their chosen applications of health education after graduation. These include anatomy and physiology, microbiology and pathology, physiological chemistry, and nutrition. Students also must take electives and general education courses. Upper level courses focus on contemporary health problems, politics of health, computer technologies, curriculum and methods, communication techniques, and epidemiology.  Each senior student is assigned to a practicum based on individual interest. The total number of required credits is 120.

Community Health Option--Program of Study 

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