Major code BS8095*

College of Health Sciences and Professions
Department of Social and Public Health
Grover Center W324
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4675
www.ohio.edu/chsp/social-public-health

Heather Harmon, contact person
harmonh@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The community and public health major prepares students for positions in public health. A community health educator can work at a health department, service organization, volunteer health agency, state or federal health agency, hospital or work place. The goal is to improve quality of life and reduce health care costs/expenditures. A health educator is responsible for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of health programs. In addition to these responsibilities, a health educator is expected to coordinate health programs and serve as a resource in the community.

*This program was previously BS8100 which awarded the Bachelor of Science in Health degree. Pending Board of Trustees approval (anticipated June 2024), the new program code will be BS8095 and will award the Bachelor of Science degree effective the 2024-25 catalog year.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program:

• Students will be able to describe factors affecting health issues from a social-ecological perspective.
• Students will be able to describe how epidemiological data are used to assist in health needs assessment and planning.
• Students will be able to develop theory-based community health programs that are responsive to health needs.
• Students will be able to describe how to implement and evaluate theory-based community health programs.
• Students will be able to develop a community health grant proposal.
• Students will be able to integrate professional community health application with their knowledge of community health.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Students who pursue a degree in community and public health are likely to be employed in a variety of health settings, such as health departments, work sites, hospitals, voluntary health agencies, community-based organizations or governmental organizations (such as CDC). As a community and public health major, a student is qualified to design, implement, and evaluate health education/promotion programs in any of the previously mentioned settings. Many of our undergraduates continue their education by obtaining the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification and a Master of Public Health (MPH) or related degree.

Requirements