Health Sciences—Public Health Education, B.S.
The Health Sciences Department’s baccalaureate program in Health Education is nationally recognized as a portfolio-approved program for the basic level in Health Education by the Association for the Advancement of Health Education (AAHE), a specialty organization of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
The health sciences faculty believes in social justice and the right of health for all populations. The mission of the public health education program is to prepare entry-level health education specialists in the community health field who have skills such as health planning, program implementation and evaluation, and health advocacy for diverse populations in a variety of health promotion settings.
The Public Health Education program is a competency-based program with a sequence of courses that are designed to meet the needs of a community health educator. The curriculum builds on theory-based health models, health knowledge, and the application of theory to practice. This is accomplished through student research papers, projects, case studies, health agency site visits, internships, faculty arranged field trips, and other learner-centered activities. The Public Health Education program presents opportunities for students to conduct community needs assessments, organize communities to bring about change, plan, implement and evaluate health programs.
Completion of this major prepares one to assume an entry-level position as a health educator, health educator with a specialty (e.g., AIDS educator), health planner, or health counselor. The program also prepares graduates to take the Community Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. Continued study may include a master’s degree in public health, health education or community health.
The requirements for admission to this degree track are:
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (CGPA) of 2.75.
Transfer Students:
- Transfer students must complete at least 12 credits at NJCU in addition to above requirements prior to declaring a major in Public Health Education.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Requisites | ||
| These courses are required before entering the major and may also meet university general education requirements. | ||
| EESC 252 | GIS I: Contemporary Applications of GIS | 3 |
| BIOL 224 | The Human Body | 3 |
| BIOL 106 | Practical Nutrition | 3 |
| MATH 140 | Statistics I | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses (45 credits) | ||
| HLTH 201 | Seminar in Health Sciences | 1 |
| HLTH 203 | Cultural Aspects of Health | 3 |
| HLTH 210 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| HLTH 211 | Consumer Health | 3 |
| HLTH 220 | Introduction to Human Disease | 3 |
| Intermediate Courses (9 credits) | ||
| HLTH 301 | Health Counseling | 3 |
| HLTH 303 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| HLTH 304 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| Advanced Courses (27 credits) | ||
| HLTH 402 | Health Education Theories and Techniques | 3 |
| HLTH 405 | Health Planning | 3 |
| HLTH 425 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| HLTH 434 | School & Community Health | 3 |
| HLTH 450 | Community Health Research | 3 |
| HLTH 435 | Public Health Education Internship (full time) 1 | 8 |
| HLTH 1435 | Public Health Education Internship (Part Time) 1 | 3 |
| Electives (9 credits) Take 3 of the following | ||
| HLTH 205 | Public Health Aspects of Nutrition | 3 |
| HLTH 206 | Substance Abuse | 3 |
| HLTH 207 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HLTH 300 | Women and Health | 3 |
| HLTH 302 | Mental Health | 3 |
| HLTH 305 | Safety Education & First Aid | 3 |
| HLTH 310 | Public Health Issues of Immigration | 3 |
| HLTH 415 | Family Living & Sex Education | 3 |
| HLTH 430 | 3 | |
| 1 |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| ENGL 101 or ESL 101 | English Composition I or English Composition I for English as a Second Language Students | 4-6 |
| MATH 140 | Statistics I | 3 |
| General Education Course Tier I | 3 | |
| General Education Course Tier I | 3 | |
| INTD 101 | Orientation to College *first time freshmen only | 1 |
| Credits | 14-16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 102 or ESL 102 | English Composition II or | 4-6 |
| HLTH 203 | Cultural Aspects of Health | 3 |
| HLTH 211 | Consumer Health | 3 |
| General Education Course Tier II (BIOL 224) | 3 | |
| General Education Course Tier II | 3 | |
| General Education Course Tier II | 3 | |
| Credits | 19-21 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| General Education Course Tier II | 3 | |
| General Education Course Tier II | 3 | |
| HLTH 201 | Seminar in Health Sciences | 1 |
| HLTH pre-requisite course | 3 | |
| HLTH 200 level course | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| General Education Course Tier III | 3 | |
| HLTH 200 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH 200 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH 200 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH pre-requisite course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| HLTH 300 level course | 3 | |
| HTLH 300 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH 300 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH 300 level course | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| General Education Course Tier III | 3 | |
| HLTH 400 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH 400 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH 400 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH elective course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| HLTH 400 level course | 3 | |
| HLTH elective course | 3 | |
| HLTH elective course | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| HLTH 435 | Public Health Education Internship (full time) | 8 |
| HLTH 400 level course | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 120-124 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Health Sciences Public Health Education BS program, students will be able to understand and demonstrate the "Eight Responsibilities" of Certified Health Education Specialists as put forth by the National Commission of Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC):
- Area I: Assess needs, assets and capacities for health education.
- Area II: Plan health education/promotion.
- Area III: Implement health education/promotion.
- Area IV: Conduct evaluation and research related to health education/ promotion.
- Area V: Advocate for health education/promotion.
- Area VI: Serve as a health education/promotion resource person.
- Area VII: Serve in leadership roles to manage health education/promotion
- Area VIII: Uphold ethics and professionalism in health education & promotion