Community Health

The undergraduate program in Community Health is focused on improving health and well-being for all through the promotion of healthful lifestyles, healthy family functioning, community actions for health, and conditions that make it possible to live healthful lives. The program draws on public health, education, anthropology, psychology, sociology, family science, and other social and behavioral sciences.

The Community Health program stresses community involvement because community health emphasizes an interactive process. The undergraduate program culminates in an internship experience that is research and/or service focused. Throughout the program and in the internship, students will learn to: assess individual and community needs; plan, implement, and evaluate effective health promotion programs; coordinate provision of services; act as a resource person; and communicate health needs, concerns and resources.

Graduates of the Community Health undergraduate program are prepared to work in a variety of settings including family planning agencies, nonprofit agencies, state and federal health agencies, schools, and community health centers. Our students are employed in entry-level positions focused on planning, administration, evaluation, research, and teaching in community health settings. Students are well prepared for and highly encouraged to pursue a graduate degree in public health or other related area upon completion of the undergraduate program.

Completion of the Community Health undergraduate degree establishes eligibility to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination during students' final semester of their senior year. The CHES exam measures the possession, application, and interpretation of knowledge essential to the practice of community health/health education. The CHES certification is a national standard for health education practice and assists employers in identifying qualified health education practitioners.

Community Health is also a great fit for students interested in attending medical school, physician's assistant (PA) school, or occupational therapy (OT) school.  Students should ensure they are taking the appropriate suggested electives as well as meeting with one of MSU's Health Professions advising staff in additional to their regular meetings with their EHHD-specific advisor.

Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher in all required courses.

Suggested Electives (21-35 credits)

Select elective courses that will best compliment your professional goals in community health.  Courses may be counted only once on your program of study.  Check prerequisites to all courses.

Community Health students may also consider the following minors as partial or complete fulfillment of supporting course credits: Business Administration, Global Health, Human Development, Psychology, Sociology, and Spanish.