COMMUNITY HEALTH

Mission Statement

The goal of the Community Health program is to provide students with the education needed for entry-level community health positions and for graduate studies. Of major concern to any society is the health and well-being of its citizens. Although the human lifespan has increased, chronic and degenerative diseases, and continuing and emerging infectious disease and injuries are urgent problems that must be addressed. Enhancement of health at both the individual and community levels is the major focus of this program of study.

Student Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the BSH in community health program will be able to:

Content/Discipline Specific Knowledge & Skills

• Obtain health related data about social and cultural environments, growth and development factors, needs, and interests
• Exhibit competency in carrying out planned educational programs
• Develop plans for coordinating health education services
• Distinguish between behaviors that foster and those that hinder well-being
• Determine factors that facilitate or inhibit learning and formulate a wide variety of alternative educational methods
• Develop subordinate measurable objectives as needed for instruction and monitor educational programs, adjusting objectives and activities as necessary

Critical Thinking Skills

• Develop a theory-based framework for health education programming Develop a logical scope and sequence plan for a health education program
• Organize subject areas comprising the scope of a program in logical sequence
• Establish effective consultative relationships with those requesting assistance in solving health-related problems
• Apply critical thinking skills to making ethical decisions
• Pretest learners to ascertain present attitudes and behaviors to proposed program objectives and analyze the results of pre-testing as they apply to program implementation

Communication Skills

• Select methods and media best suited to implement program plans for specific learners
• Utilize computerized health information retrieval systems effectively
• Select a variety of communication methods and techniques in providing health information
• Recruit community organizations, resource people, and potential participants for support and assistance in program planning
• Communicate need for the program to those who will be involved
• Deliver advanced training and instructional programs

Assessment Approaches

Numerous direct and indirect measures of student learning will be employed to assess mastery of the identified student learning outcomes.  Pass rates on relevant state and national exams will be a central direct assessment measure.  Other direct measures may include professional poster presentations, professional portfolios and preceptor evaluations.  These direct measures of achievement will be supplemented by indirect assessment measures such as alumni surveys, student perception surveys,  employer feedback and job placement rates.

Career Opportunities

For information on the many career options available to Community Health majors, go to What Can You Do with a Community Health Major at: http://www.unf.edu/dept/cdc/majors/communityhealth.html

For More Information

To learn more about the UNF Public Health Department and majoring in Community Health, go to http://www.unf.edu/brooks/bshcomhl.htm

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