What is community health?
Community health is a people-oriented, service profession within the health field, focused on educating and making contributions to the overall health and well-being of people and society. Professionals are focused on prevention, rather than treatment, of disease through research, promotion, policy-making, publications, and education. Community health has become a rapidly growing field, as government agencies, clinics, and hospitals see the need for prevention of disease, as treatment of preventable diseases has become a great expense to society. Some important issues that concern community health professionals include substance abuse, safety, HIV/STDs, nutrition, high blood pressure, smoking, pregnancy, diabetes, cancer research, and obesity.
The Bachelor of Science in Community Health program at William Paterson University is housed in the College of Science and Health. Aside from the required 34 credits of core courses, community health majors must take 7-8 co-requisites from other science disciplines and 17 credits of major-specific GE requirements. Classes within the major include, but are not limited to Health Education: Theory and Practice, Community Health Program Planning, Human Disease, Nutrition, and Environmental Health. Students may choose to select a concentration in Nutrition or Gerontology. There is a 12 credit full-time internship during students’ senior year.
To learn more about the degree requirements, please visit this link: http://www.wpunj.edu/cos/community-health/
Admissions information on Community Health is located here:
http://ww2.wpunj.edu/admissions/AcademicPrograms/CommunityHealth.cfm
What interests and skills do potential employers value in this career?
- Enjoy working with people
- Understanding of, and interest in, health issues and social service
- Good oral communication skills
- Research skills
- Leadership skills in group settings
- Excellent writing skills
- Ability to analyze effectiveness of programs and courses
- Ability to be an advocate for community and individual needs
What types of jobs can community health majors get?
Work Environment :
People working within the field of community health have a number of options in terms of work environment. Community health professionals may choose to work in public health departments, hospitals, community non-profit agencies, schools, health maintenance organizations, private companies, and government organizations. Some job titles may require further education beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Possible Job Titles
Administrative Coordinator
Administrator
Assistant Health Educator Coordinator/Manager Program Resource Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator/Manager
Center Manager
Clinical Education Dept Manager
Coalition Coordinator
Community Educator
Community Health Outreach Worker
Community Health Program Specialist Telephone Information Specialist
Community Organizer
Community Partnership Coordinator
Community Relations Specialist
Health Promotion Program Coordinator
Training and Support Activities Coordinator Wellness Coordinator
Counselor
Development Specialist
Director of Health Education
Health Information Specialist
Hotline Project Coordinator
Healthy Start Coordinator
Health Promotion Manager
Occupational Health & Safety Officer
Patient Education Coordinator
Prevention Director
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Prevention Program Director
Program Assistant
Program
Health Professor
Cancer Control Specialist
Public Support Coordinator
Public Health Director
Research Health Scientist
Social Services Coordinator
Sponsored Programs Coordinator
Student Affairs Officer
Trainer
Quality Assurance Trainer
Training Coordinator
Volunteer Development Manager
Wellness Consultant
Workshop Instructor
Health and Safety Specialist
Health Planner
Health Policy Researcher
Internship Coordinator
Management Consultant
Director of Volunteers
Epidemiologist
Grant Administrator
Peer Advocate
Health Inspector
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep
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In what locations and capacities have William Paterson community health alumni worked?
Community Resource Coordinator Village Care of NY
Coordinator, Staff Kessler Rehabilitation
Family Service Specialist DYFS
Family Service Specialist Hackensack University Medical Center
Health Educator Chilton Memorial Hospital
Program Specialist, Gerontology Chilton Memorial Hospital
Sanitary Inspector Bergen County Health Department
Substance Abuse Counselor Essex Substance Abuse Treatment
Assistant Director, Senior Center Community Development
Health Educator Planned Parenthood
Program Coordinator American Lung Association of NJ
Community Relations Director American Cancer Society
Intake Coordinator Pediatric Services of America
Administrator, International Marketing The Hertz Corporatoin
Aside from majoring in community health, what else can I do that may enhance my qualifications?
Successful students tend to seek out opportunities to enhance their qualifications through a variety of means. Within community health, some suggestions may include joining or becoming a leader in health career-related campus organizations; reading health journals; gaining practical experience through an internship/practicum/job shadowing; joining a professional organization; volunteering at a non-profit organization; looking into the possibility of graduate school; and attending networking functions.
Where else can I read about community health?
Related Web Sites :
Public Health Information www.whatispublichealth.org
American Public Health Association www.apha.org
U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services www.hhs.gov
Community Health Charities www.healthcharities.org
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing www.nchec.org
Society for Public Health Education www.sophe.org
Occupational Outlook www.bls.gov/oco/
Industry Information www.vault.com
Job Search and Salary information www.rileyguide.com
Occupation Information http://online.onetcenter.org
Other sources of information :
Please drop by the Career Development and Advisement Center to learn more about careers in community health. The career library carries career-specific books and counselors are available to answer any further questions you may have. Visiting the Community Health Department on campus may also prove valuable in addressing questions.
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