FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Students frequently have questions concerning the Community Health track in the Health Sciences. The following may help to answer your questions.
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY HEALTH TRACK WITHIN THE HEALTH SCIENCE TRACK?
The Health Science/Community Health degree prepares prospective health educators to perform health education needs assessment; plan, implement, and evaluate health education programs; coordinate health education services and programs; communicate health information and program information; and serve as a health education resource person in a variety of community settings. Those community settings include voluntary health organizations, hospitals, comprehensive school health programs, healthcare settings, worksite health promotion programs, health and human service agencies and other community-based settings where health education efforts are administered. Therefore the program title “Health Science/Community Health is deemed appropriate as it refers to health education efforts in a variety of settings within multicultural and diverse society.
WHERE HAVE THE HEALTH SCIENCE/COMMUNITY HEALTH TRACK GRADUATES BEEN HIRED?
Graduates in Health Science within the Community Health track have been hired by State Departments of Health, health care systems and clinics, American Cancer, Lung, & Heart Associations, drug and alcohol prevention agencies and organizations, county health collaborative and coalitions, work-site wellness facilities, prisons and various local, state and federal health improvement grants.
WHAT IS THE SALARY RANGE FOR A COMMUNITY HEALTH GRADUATE?Graduates work in a wide variety of settings and locations around the country and therefore the income potential is variable. The starting salary range at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Northcentral District for a Public Health Educator I is $32,724 – 49,722. At a local hospital in Northcentral Pennsylvania that has a history of hiring Community Health Educators the range is $29,000 - $35,000. The best resource for salary information is to contact your potential employer in your area and get that information.
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST (CHES)?
A CHES is a person who has passed the C.H.E.S. national certification examination. Students enrolled in the Health Science Major/ Community Health track are eligible to take the examination within 6 months of their planned graduation. This exam focuses on the ten Areas of Responsibility which are key components of our program. Within HLTH410, Community Health Organization Management the students prepare a professional, electronic portfolio that presents evidence in each area of responsibility.
WHAT ARE THE SEVEN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A HEALTH EDUCATOR?
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- Assessing individual & community needs for health education
- Planning effective health education programs
- Implementing health education programs
- Evaluating effectiveness of health education programs
- Coordinating provisions of health education services
- Acting as a resource person in health education
- Communicating health and health education needs, concerns, and resources