Department of Public Health
The Department of Public Health promotes community health and wellness through community service, research/scholarship and professional preparation in public health and community health education. The mission of the department is to use an integrated approach to promote health and wellness of the community through education, community service and research, and to advance social justice in health. The department currently offers the Master of Public Health degree with a Specialization in Community Health Education.
Master of Public Health with a Specialization in Community Health Education
The primary goal of public health is the prevention of disease and injury through community-level programs and initiatives. The goal of community health education is to promote environments and lifestyles that support the health and wellness of communities. The MPH program is a multidisciplinary program that includes competencies in the five public health core areas of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. The curriculum includes specialized courses and practical experience that enable students to develop competency in community health education. A social justice perspective on public health issues is integrated throughout the curriculum. Students are required to complete a practicum experience and a capstone project in community health education in order to develop the knowledge and skills to work successfully in public health and community health education settings. The program offers students the opportunity to complete electives that support specific career objectives. Graduates of the program are prepared to work as community health educators in a variety of settings including health care facilities, corporate settings, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and colleges and universities.