Community Health, BS
A Bachelor of Science in Community Health provides a foundation for students planning to enter the fields of public health, health promotion and health education. Health promotion and health education professionals are recognized by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and “provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles” (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics [SOC 21-1091.00]). With a firm grounding in the sciences, students in the program receive training in foundations of public health, epidemiology, identifying community needs, using theory to develop health programs, and planning, implementation, and evaluating health programs. Coursework provides an in-depth development of the 8 Areas of Responsibility and competencies, and sub-competencies for Health Education Specialists from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Graduates with a Community Health degree are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) Examination.
Graduates may work in a variety of settings:
Government health agencies (e.g., local public health departments)
Health-related organizations (e.g., American Heart Association)
Hospitals
Businesses
Schools/universities
Community health graduates may also go on to in-demand careers in the health sciences,
with the advantage of having a firm grasp on population health dynamics and models of
successful collaboration between community and clinical health. Graduates may therefore
also go on to professional schools such as nursing, physical therapy, and occupational
therapy, or pursue positions in related health fields, such as pharmacy, worksite wellness
programs, continuous quality improvement, and research. Graduates may also further their
education by attending masters and/or doctoral programs, or law school.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum 1 | ||
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | Composition II | 3 |
| Technical Writing (or) | ||
| MATH 1314 | College Algebra | 3 |
| BIOL 1306 | Gen Biology I-Attr Living Sys | 3 |
| CHEM 1311 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| American History | 3 | |
| American History | 3 | |
| Government/Political Science | 3 | |
| Government/Political Science | 3 | |
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology | 3 |
| UNIV 1301 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| COMM 1315 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Interpersonal Communication (or) | ||
| Subtotal: | 42 | |
| Required Support Courses | ||
| BIOL 1106 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 2401 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 2402 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| EDHL 1322 | Nutrition | 3 |
| MATH 3301 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| Subtotal: | 16 | |
| Major Courses | ||
| HLTH 2110 | Health Writing | 1 |
| HLTH 2301 | Foundations of Community Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3335 | Data Management and Assessment | 3 |
| HLTH 3325 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3330 | The Science of Health Disparities | 3 |
| HLTH 3345 | Theories and Models of Health Behavior | 3 |
| HLTH 4350 | Emergency Management in Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4340 | Health Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| HLTH 4355 | Health Program Evaluation and Research | 3 |
| HLTH 4325 | Global Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4337 | Disease Entities and Epidemiology | 3 |
| Disease Entities/Epidemiology (or) | ||
| HLTH 4342 | Program Planning for Health Promotion | 3 |
| Prgrm Plan for Hlth Promotion (or) | ||
| HLTH 4670 | Internship in Community Health | 6 |
| Subtotal: | 40 | |
| Directed Health Electives (Choose 12 hours) | ||
| HLTH 3390 | Special Topics in Community Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3320 | Public Health Systems | 3 |
| HLTH 4365 | Field-based Skills in Community Health and Prevention Services | 3 |
| EDHL 3335 | Drug Education | 3 |
| EDHL 4344 | Health and Aging | 3 |
| EDKN 3316 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PSYC 3322 | Gender Issues | 3 |
| Subtotal: | 12 | |
| General Electives (Choose 10 hours) | ||
| BIOL 1307 | Gen Biology II-Biol Organisms | 3 |
| General Biology II - Lab (and) | ||
| BIOL 2411 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 2421 | Introduction to Microbiology | 4 |
| EDHL 3331 | Consumer Health | 3 |
| EDHS 3331 | Ethics in Human Services | 3 |
| HLTH 3170 | Directed Study in Community Health | 1 |
| HLTH 3370 | Directed Study in Community Health | 3 |
| PHIL 1301 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| Subtotal: | 10 | |
| Total | 120 | |
- 1
Other courses may satisfy core curriculum requirements. Courses listed under the core curriculum above are also specific degree requirements and are recommended in the core to expedite degree completion.
This suggested plan of study is intended to be used as a guide in conjunction with official degree requirements outlined in the catalog. While this plan demonstrates a course of study that covers eight semesters, each student’s academic path is unique and your timeline may look different. Students should regularly consult with academic advisors as they plan their course schedules as course offerings may vary.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| UNIV 1301 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 1014 | College Algebra Recitation | 0 |
| BIOL 1306 | Gen Biology I-Attr Living Sys | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| HIST 1301 | US History to 1865 | 3 |
| ARTS 1301 | Art Appreciation | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| COMM 1315 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Interpersonal Communication (or) | ||
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology | 3 |
| CHEM 1311 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| HIST 1302 | US History from 1865 | 3 |
| EDHL 1322 | Nutrition | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| General Elective | 3 or 4 | |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| GOVT 2305 | Federal Government | 3 |
| BIOL 2401 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| HLTH 2301 | Foundations of Community Health | 3 |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| General Elective | 3 or 4 | |
| ENGL 1302 | Composition II | 3 |
| Technical Writing (or) | ||
| GOVT 2306 | Texas Government | 3 |
| BIOL 2402 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| HLTH 2110 | Health Writing | 1 |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| General Elective | 3 or 4 | |
| Directed Health Elective | 3 | |
| MATH 3301 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| HLTH 3335 | Data Management and Assessment | 3 |
| HLTH 3345 | Theories and Models of Health Behavior | 3 |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Language/Philosophy/Culture core course | 3 | |
| Directed Health Electives | 6 | |
| HLTH 3325 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3330 | The Science of Health Disparities | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Directed Health Elective | 3 | |
| HLTH 4355 | Health Program Evaluation and Research | 3 |
| HLTH 4350 | Emergency Management in Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4342 | Program Planning for Health Promotion | 3 |
| HLTH 4337 | Disease Entities and Epidemiology | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HLTH 4670 | Internship in Community Health | 6 |
| HLTH 4340 | Health Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| HLTH 4325 | Global Health | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 119-122 | |