Doctoral in Community Health
Community health programs provide students with knowledge and training in the techniques of protecting and improving the health of communities. Health educators promote healthy lifestyles and wellness by educating people about healthy behaviors. They assess the needs of the people they serve, develop programs and events to teach them about health topics and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and materials.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of health educators and community health workers is expected to increase by 21% from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. The ones who wish to serve the society and conduct in-depth research into the related issues can pursue a degree in community health and work towards building a career.
Community Health Programs
A variety of degrees and certificate programs are available in community health. Students can work towards the bachelor's or master's degree and learn about behavior/community health, environmental health, health policy and related subjects. The bachelor's degree can typically be earned in 4 years while the master's program may be completed in 1-2 years. Online programs are also available. The duration of these programs depends on the schedule that students wish to pursue and so can be shorter or longer. The online programs are self-paced while traditional programs have fixed schedules.
Doctoral in Community Health
PhD degrees are also available in this area of study. This research program prepares students for academic, research, and policy-making careers in the social and behavioral health sciences. Earning this degree allows learners to demonstrate extensive knowledge and understanding of the field. They learn to design and implement research that entails knowledge of behavioral, cultural, social, and biological factors. Students who complete this program will be able to design and conduct original research in order to contribute to public health knowledge.
Curriculum
The coursework in the community health programs may include topics such as business administration, human resource management and healthcare operations. Students may also learn the theories and processes involved in planning and implementing health education programs, and prevention initiatives.
Admissions Requirements
To pursue this advanced degree in community health, students need to hold at least a bachelor's degree in a related area. Other requirements for admissions may vary by school.
Career Outlook
Students with degrees in community health may be able to find various opportunities in a variety of settings such as public health departments and rehabilitation centers. They may also work in human services agencies, hospitals, and wellness centers.
Community health educators made $41,830 as annual median wages in 2012 as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most of these professionals work full time.
Finding a School
The best way to find programs that can help you meet your individual educational and professional goals is to do some research and explore all your options. You should find out the details of the programs available and do comparisons between them in terms of the duration, program content and fee structure. In addition, it is also essential to look at the quality of faculty and the overall reputation and ranking of a school as the choice of the school may have a significant bearing on your career.