If you are interested in improving the well-being of the public, then you should think about becoming a Community Health professional. Skim through this guide to get an idea about different Community Health programs being offered across the U.S.
What Is Community Health?
The field of public health that focuses on improving, protecting, and studying the health of a population is called Community Health.
What Can You Do with a Community Health Degree?
Community Health graduates can work as Health Education Specialists, Health Services Administrators, Health Care Coordinators, Social Services Directors, Medical and Health Services Managers, and Community Health Workers.
The employment figures for some of these roles have been mentioned in this section. The wage statistics listed here have been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Community Health Workers
These professionals help communities and individuals adopt healthy behaviors. They are responsible for conducting outreach for health organizations or medical personnel to implement public health programs in their communities. They may also be required to provide informal counselling and social support services.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $40,360 | 13% | $44,390 | New York | 7,750 |
| District of Columbia | $62,780 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Health Education Specialists
These professionals manage and provide health education programs that enable communities, families, and individuals, to maintain and maximize healthy lifestyles.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $55,220 | 10% | $60,500 | California | 7,230 |
| District of Columbia | $92,630 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Medical and Health Services Managers
These individuals supervise and manage the business activities of different healthcare providers. They work to enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery systems.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $100,980 | 18% | $115,160 | California | 36,940 |
| District of Columbia | $150,040 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
What to Expect from a Community Health Program?
The Associate of Science (A.S.) in Public Health program helps students learn about different technologies that are needed to deliver health care services to the public. To graduate from this program, candidates have to study a range of modules, such as Health Care Administration, Health Services Organization, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Public Health in America, and Foundations of Nutrition.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Community Health is targeted at individuals who want to create sustainable and healthy communities. This program helps students learn how to work in partnership with public and private organizations to address the health issues of different population groups.
The curriculum of the Bachelor’s program covers a range of topics, such as Research Methods for the Health Care Professional, Environmental Community Health, Communication within Communities, and Program Development and Management for Community Health.
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Community Health Education is designed for those individuals who want to learn how to implement and create health education programs for different population groups. Students enrolled in this degree get to study many interesting courses, some of which include Planning Health Education Programs, Social Marketing and Health Communications, and Health Services Administration.
How to Choose a Community Health Program?
Students should take several factors into account before selecting a Community Health program. They should check whether the course content is relevant and up-to-date, whether the program is accredited, and whether ample professional development opportunities are available for program participants.
Community Health Program Admission Requirements
To get admitted to a Community Health program, students have to send a list of documents to the admissions office. These documents include:
- School/college/university transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Recommendation letters
- Aptitude test scores and English language test scores (if applicable)
- Updated Resume
*These guidelines are very generic, therefore we would advise you to conduct your own research to find out more about the admission criteria of the particular program that you are applying to.