Department of Community Health

One of the overall goals of the community health field is to be proactive, creating a sense of overall well-being within communities by providing programs that focus on illness and injury prevention.


Two of every three deaths and one in three hospitalizations in the United States are linked to preventable risk factors like tobacco use, accidents, high blood pressure, obesity and alcohol abuse, making preparation in the field of community health highly desirable in today’s job market (Healthy People 2010, 2000).

The Department of Community Health offers the following degrees.

The B.S. in Community Health major prepares graduates to pursue careers in substance abuse prevention, nutrition education, sex education, safety and injury prevention, disease prevention, therapeutic recreation, and environmental health advocacy local or state public health departments, hospital outreach and education programs, community-based programs and agencies, social service programs and agencies, national health organizations, and corporate wellness programs.

The Health Science Minor is designed for students who wish to add specific health knowledge and skills to another major.

The Wilderness Education Minor prepares students to become leaders  in wilderness settings.  If winter camping, rock and ice climbing interest  you  or  are  already your passion, this is the program  for you.

“The Community Health major is an academically challenging opportunity that prepares students to be actively involved in efforts to address important threats to the health of the public.”

- Maureen McCarthy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Department of Community Health