Bachelor of Science in Community/Public Health

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Community/Public Health is the application of a variety of methods that result in the identification and assessment of factors contributing to the health of a population. The community/public health professional is responsible for the mobilization and education of community members into actions to resolve health issues and problems that affect their community. These methods include but are not limited to group process, mass media communication, interpersonal communication, community organization, organization development, strategic planning, skills training, legislation, policy making, and advocacy.

A community/public health specialist is a practitioner who is professionally prepared in the field of public health education who demonstrates competence in the planning, implementation, assessment, and evaluation of a broad range of health promoting programs for community groups. The practitioner helps communities maintain safe and healthy environments for their citizens and teaches skills that motivate populations or foster behaviors that lead to lifetime wellness. The ultimate professional mission of a community/public health practitioner is to prevent premature mortality and unnecessary disease and disability among the populace.

The fundamental mission of the Community/Public Health degree is to provide the competencies necessary for the integration and application of basic knowledge, skills, and concepts from the core curriculum, supporting field, and electives to the specific knowledge base that is unique to the discipline of Community/Public Health.

• Prerequisites: HLTH 112 (Healthy Life Skills) is required prior to taking the Introduction to Community Health course.

Career Opportunities

• Health Administrator
• Counselors
• Health Career Educators
• Fundraiser
• Patient Advocate
• Health Social Work
• Pharmaceutical Sales
• Environmental Specialist

Helpful Links

For information on being CHES certified, visit The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing

Professional Associations

• Oklahoma Public Health Association
• American Public Health Association
• Society for Public Health Education

Public Health (and Related) Agencies

• Oklahoma State Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
• National Institutes of Health

For questions about the Community/Public Health major, please contact Dr. Sunshine Cowan

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