The Bachelor of Science in Community Health prepares students for careers in the broad field of community health. Coursework includes training in health topics, intervention development and evaluation, health behavior theory, policy and teaching methods. The program also prepares students to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam, which is given by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). This credential ensures that students are trained and qualified to plan and coordinate community health education programs. The B.S. in Community Health provides practical field experiences and experiential coursework to prepare students for employment in public or private agencies; local health departments; volunteer organizations; hospitals; health insurance companies; worksite/employee health promotion and wellness programs; and a variety of community-based organizations.
Mission Statement: Our mission is to advance health equity through the preparation of Community Health Education Specialists who explore the multiple levels (individual, family, community, policy, systems) and social determinants that influence behavior and health. Community health professionals focus on the community as the setting for analysis, assessment, advocacy, program planning, intervention, evaluation, and research, and are committed to developing, enhancing and using evidence-informed strategies to improve population health.
Admission Requirements: Admission requirements for this program are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University.
Advising questions should be directed to the Division of Academic Services, College of Education, 489 Education, phone 313-577-1601.
A minimum of 120 credits are required for completion of this degree: satisfaction of the University General Education Program. All coursework must be completed in accordance with the academic procedures of the College of Education and the University governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees. All courses must be completed with grades of ‘C’ or better and an overall 2.5 grade point average, to meet College graduation requirements. Course changes may occur through periodic curriculum revision and students are urged to consult assigned advisors prior to each registration period to ensure that all requirements are met.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| HE 1010 | Foundations of Health and Health Promotion | 3 |
| HE 2310 | Dynamics of Personal Health | 3 |
| HE 2320 | Advancing Policy in Community Health Education | 3 |
| HE 3440 | Nutrition and Health Education | 3 |
| HE 3344 | Methods and Materials in Community Health Education | 3 |
| HE 3500 | Human Disease | 3 |
| HE 4010 | Foundations of Community Health Program Planning | 3 |
| HE 4902 | Health Education Internship | 5 |
| HE 6310 | Reproductive Health Education | 3 |
| HE 6320 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse | 3 |
| HE 6330 | Health Behavior Change | 3 |
| HE 6501 | Measurement and Evaluation in Community Health Education | 3 |
| HE 5522 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| LFA 2330 | First Aid and CPR | 3 |
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| Total Credits | 120 |
Community Health AGRADE Overview
The Division of Kinesiology, Health, and Sports Studies (KHS) in the College of Education offers degrees that focus on the broad careers of health, wellness, exercise, sport, and human performance. With programs in Athletic Training (AT), Community Health (CH), Exercise and Sport Science (ESS), Health and Physical Education Teaching (HPET), and Sport Administration and Management (SAM), KHS prepares students to excel in a range of health-related professions.
The Community Health AGRADE program is available to academically strong students completing B.S. degrees in Community Health; Exercise and Sport Science; Health and Physical Education Teaching; and Sport Management so they can begin a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree. Coursework taken during a student's senior year (up to 16 credits) can simultaneously qualify toward the bachelor's and master's degrees. In this case, after completing any bachelor's degree in this division, students would have also completed a substantial portion of the coursework required for the Master of Science in Community Health. This allows motivated students the opportunity to complete the requirements for both degrees in an accelerated format.
Our bachelor's programs typically have between 15-25 elective courses in their plans of work. This AGRADE program allows students to utilize graduate courses in Community Health to fulfill these elective requirements. Students, in consultation with their advisor, can select Community Health graduate courses that count toward the student’s bachelor's and master's degrees. The graduate coursework completed while enrolled as an undergraduate is assessed at the undergraduate tuition rate, resulting in significant tuition savings.
Admission Criteria
Students may apply for the Community Health AGRADE program no earlier than the semester in which ninety credits are being completed. Applicants must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.30. After admission, the AGRADE program requires a continuing undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.30 and a grade of B or higher in Community Healthy master's coursework.
Advising
AGRADE advising is provided by the Division of Academic Services College of Education.
Eligible AGRADE Courses
The following table outlines the Community Health master's courses that could be included in an undergraduate plan of work. Students may take up to a maximum of 16 credits from the following list. In addition, other master's courses may qualify as exceptions.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| HE 6350 | Health Education and the Nation's Health | 3 |
| HE 6530 | Principles and Practice of Health Education and Health Promotion | 3 |
| HE 6550 | Teaching Methods and Techniques in Health Education | 3 |
| HE 7310 | Psychology of Learning Across Development | 3 |
| HE 5522 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| HE 6420 | Introduction to Health Education Program Design | 3 |
| KHS 8540 | Theories of Health Behavior | 3 |
