Community Health Majors and Programs
A bachelor's degree program with a community health major can teach you to impact the health of communities - on a local and global scale. Completing a community health degree program can prepare you for a career in health advocacy, leadership or community health education. Learn about degree programs, including online options, and careers.
How Will I Learn to Help People as a Community Health Major?
<p>You will learn how to become an advocate for community health issues such as HIV/AIDS, childhood obesity, communicable diseases, sexual health and environmental concerns.
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<p>You can study how to research problem areas and develop solutions for community health issues, as well as implementation strategies. Some programs offer this as a second major, which could supplement your degree in social work, political science or another social science curriculum.
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<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Community Health Major Skills</b></td><td> Advocacy for issues including childhood obesity, research skills and problem solving</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Health care courses, introduction to community health, research methods and statistics, are required courses in this field</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Internships</b></td><td> Internships provide valuable real-life experience and may be applied toward course credit</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Online availability</b></td><td> Some hybrid programs available</td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $48,140 (<i>for all health educators and community health workers</i>) </td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 13% growth (<i>for all health educators and community health workers</i>) </td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---WhatClassesWillITake">What Classes Will I Take?</h3>
<p>As an interdisciplinary program, courses offered in this major may pull from several departments in your university. Beyond your intuition's general education requirements, which can include English composition, math and speech courses, you will also take classes outside of community health classes, such as advanced biology or microbiology, chemistry, toxicology and medicine.
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<p>Your community health major courses can train you in how to educate communities by covering topics such as sex education, lifestyle, aging, health communication, social work and nutrition. Programs may also offer classes in mental health and behavioral issues, as well as global and environmental health topics.
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<h3 id="section---WhatInternshipOpportunitiesAreAvailable">What Internship Opportunities Are Available?</h3>
<p>Some community health programs require you to complete an internship in areas such as an advocacy organization, health and wellness center, hospital, research institution or government agency. You will have the opportunity to work with community health professionals and receive on-site training. In addition to professional experience, you can also apply your internship towards academic credit.
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<h3 id="section---HowCanICompleteThisMajorOnline">How Can I Complete This Major Online?</h3>
<p>Many bachelor's degree programs offer a community health major or specialization. Programs may have special software so you can complete labs and other modules online. The curriculum is generally the same for online programs in community health and can be completed in four years or less, depending on any previous coursework you have completed. Alternatively, you may choose to complete a hybrid program where you will take some of your courses online and attend your school's campus for laboratory or lecture courses.</p>