Community Health Education at Kean University

Community Health is a distinct area of concentration of Public Health. Community Health professionals promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. They collect and analyze data and identify the health needs of a community. Based on this knowledge they will plan, implement, and monitor health education programs. These programs are designed to support healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. The health educator may also serve as a resource to assist individuals and other health professionals within a community. They may also administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

What is Community Health?

Community health is branch of Public Health. Community Health professionals promote, maintains, and improves individual and community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors.

Community Health at Kean University

While the role of the community health educator is broad, the program at Kean utilizes the vast array of Kean University resources to ensure that students are prepared for real world experiences. The coursework and corresponding practical experiences will prepare our students with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote health and wellness in both individuals and the community.

Are Community Health Educators Certified?

At the conclusion of this program students will be prepared to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination.

Will there be jobs for people with Community Health degrees?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), there were an estimated 57,000 health educators in 2014. It is estimated that employment of health educators will grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Five out of ten health educators work in healthcare and social assistance. Two out of ten work in state and local government.

The top 10 most common job areas for people with community health degrees are:

1. Community Mental Health

2. Behavioral Health Education

3. Outreach Health Education

4. Director of Health Programs

5. Health Promotion Specialist

6. Community Health Coach

7. Immunization Field Coordinator

8. Health Educator (disease and injury prevention programs)

9. Health Educator (disease specific programs)

10. Community Health Worker

REASONS TO PURSUE AN UNDERGRADUATE COMMUNITY HEALTH DEGREE