The Department of Public Health and Human Performance offers 2 majors (Public Health and Exercise Science) and six minors (Wilderness Education, Community Health, Sexual Health, Fitness, Nutrition, and Therapeutic Recreation).
The bachelor's degree in Exercise Science focuses on the scientific and applied study of the human body with regards to performance and prevention of injury. SUNY Potsdam's Exercise Science program is part of the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Education Recognition program, a prestigious recognition that gives SUNY Potsdam Exercise Science students an advantage over the competition.
The Public Health major prepares students for work as Public Health Educators. Graduates are prepared to identify health risks facing a diverse set of individuals and communities, develop and evaluate programs and other strategies to promote health and prevent disease, advocate for health-related legislation and policy, and serve as a source of accurate information for your community about health issues. The goal of the those working in community health is to prevent health problems from occurring and improve health and quality of life for individuals and communities. Graduates are prepared for careers in areas such as substance abuse prevention, nutrition and physical activity promotion, sexual health education, and are employed in local/state/national public health agencies or local/state non-profits. Completion of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health makes students eligible to sit for the Community Health Education Specialist Exam (CHES), a certification nationally recognized by employers as a gold standard in public health practice.
The Department of Public Health and Human Performance also hosts a 100% online Master of Science in Public Health. This degree, designed to meet the Council on Education in Public Health Accreditation criteria, prepares students to take on leadership roles in agencies that respond to the most pressing public health problems. Graduates of the MS Public Health are prepared to plan and evaluate public health programs, analyze public health policy, manage in healthcare industries, and conduct theoretical research in preparation for a Doctoral degree.
Caleigh Trzcinski ‘23 discusses the hands-on approach of SUNY Potsdam's exercise science program, and how it's preparing her for a career as a chiropractor.
Destined for Coaching
As a young hockey player, Travis Crickard ’11 dreamed of one day becoming a head coach in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Years later, after completing his undergraduate degree at SUNY Potsdam, a master’s degree at the University of Ottawa, and working for numerous hockey organizations around Canada, he has reached his goal. Last year, Crickard landed a job as the head coach for the Saint John Sea Dogs, one of 60 junior hockey programs in the CHL that regularly funnels athletes directly into the NHL.
When Wilber Parada ’20 arrived at SUNY Potsdam his freshman year, he already had a vision for his future. His plans to one day become a Doctor of Physical Therapy would involve years of hard work, completing undergraduate and graduate degrees, and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination. Seven years later he has made his dream a reality. Parada is now working at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, one of the top-rated hospitals in the country, where he’s conducting research on exoskeletons and robotics, and helping to rehabilitate patients suffering from chronic illnesses.
After graduating with a degree in community health (now public health), Danielle Thompson ’15 immediately landed a job with the New York State Department of Health. She’s now an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and in 2022 she launched her own business, Bloom Breastfeeding, to support new mothers with their breastfeeding goals.
As athletes from around the world converged at Maxcy Hall for the 2023 FISU World University Games, Melanie Heidman ’25 stepped up to the plate as an integral part of the statistics team for the international event. An exercise science major from Rochester, Heidman is parlaying the experience into an internship to examine how people from around the world unite and transcend language barriers through sports.
Ever since graduating from SUNY Potsdam with a degree in community health (now public health), Missi Wooldridge ’08 has continued to make a positive impact on the world around her—focusing her career on drug policy reform and harm reduction. This fall, she will be giving back to her alma mater, and returning as an adjunct professor in the College’s fully online master’s degree program in public health.
Always encouraged by her mother to help those in need, Kristy Coyle ’22 has harnessed those values as she pursues a degree in community health at SUNY Potsdam. Her internships and faculty mentorship opportunities have reinforced her educational experiences—as she looks ahead to a career focused on assisting the less fortunate and educating the community about health disparities.
Not far from their childhood homes, Emily Vierno ’22 and Kristen Parker ’22 realized that SUNY Potsdam was the perfect fit to launch their careers in health care. The North Country natives are now in the final semester at the College, wrapping up their degrees in exercise science as they prepare for graduate school. Both students were recently accepted into the graduate programs of their choice as they pursue their passions for physical therapy and sports nutrition.
Jaylen Kawenninon Francis-Herne ’23, who is pursuing a degree in community health with a minor in human services, first enrolled at SUNY Potsdam in 2012. Fresh out of high school, she wasn’t prepared for the road ahead, and withdrew during her first year. Eight years later, she has returned to the College—this time with an unwavering determination and focus driven by the responsibilities of motherhood and a commitment to serve the Mohawk people within her community.
A community health (now public health) major with graduate school on the horizon, Monica Montero ’21 just wrapped up her senior year with an internship like no other—working for the American Red Cross to assist asylum seekers in Texas. After completing the necessary online trainings and certifications this spring, Montero was deployed to Midland, Texas, to support undocumented teenage boys seeking refuge in the United States.
