Online Community Health Degree Program

Online Community Health Degree Programs - What Do You Study?

Community health is a field within public health that studies and aims to improve the health of biological communities. The field often studies communities based on geographic location, however it also studies "communities" with shared characteristics (e.g. women, elderly people). Those who study community health look at how various external factors effect the health of their community of choice. For example, those studying community health may look at how the socio-economic status of a community influences their overall health or how factors such as industrialization and pollution effect the health of a community. Based on these factors, those studying and/or practicing community health look for solutions to improve the overall health of a community. Community health is a sort of middle ground between traditional health studies that focus on one-on-one patient interaction and public health which studies the health of people on a more global scale.

Related Community Health Degree Programs

Colleges and universities that offer community health programs aim to teach their students about current healthcare practices and how these practices differ from place to place or group to group. They also teach students that different communities have different healthcare needs and focus on research methods that help determine what those needs are and how they can most effectively be met. Since community health uses a multidisciplinary approach, those pursuing a degree in this field often take courses based in sociology, biology, nutrition, political science, and/or economics. Specific course topics may include modern health issues, health statistics, health research methods, ethics in healthcare, healthcare law, health program planning, and environmental health. Degrees are offered at all levels but are most often found at the Master's or Doctoral level. No matter what degree level you pursue, a degree in community health will aim to give you the skills and knowledge to implement healthcare solutions for various communities in the 21st century. 

Career Options in Community Health

As healthcare in this country continues to experience changes at both the macro and micro levels, community health specialists are going to be needed to help communities understand how healthcare can work for them and promote healthy living within these communities. One popular option for people who complete this degree is to get into health education themselves and help train the nurses and doctors of tomorrow. There are also opportunities available as a Community Health Educator who may work for the government or community outreach centers to promote healthy living and educate communities about the best health practices available. Furthermore, you can become a Community Health Director, who actually plans and implements programs that can help prevent behaviors that lead to the spread of disease. Careers are also available as a Social Worker, Hospital Administrator, or as a Community Health Advocate at a non-profit organization that specializes in community health. Any career you may choose in community health will reward you with the joy of making a difference in people's lives and the intellectual challenges of devising programs that most effectively improve the health of your community.