This concentration in the Health Department  is intended to provide health students with the background and skills needed to function on college campuses as health promotion and prevention specialists. These individuals typically work in a variety of health education areas, including sexuality, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, stress management, and health promotion. Responsibilities often involve conducting campus-wide activities, developing peer education programs, and working with college offices in promoting the health of students.

Colleges across the country have been establishing campus programs and services that have as their central focus the reduction of health-threatening behaviors and the promotion of student health. The focus of this concentration is to prepare individuals with the background and skills needed to work in this rapidly growing field.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Assess a community's health needs to determine priority areas amenable to intervention.
2. Utilize models, theories, and frameworks to assess, develop, or plan community health interventions.
3. Analyze the impact and role of public health systems and the environment in the design and planning of community health interventions.
4. Analyze a health issue using an ecological framework to identify opportunities for intervention.
5. Plan an evidence-based program to address a community's health needs and improve quality of life.
6. Select and apply valid sources of secondary data when engaging in community health practice.
7. Collect, analyze, and interpret primary and secondary data needed to address a research question, to evaluate the effectiveness of a program/service, or to assess the health needs of a community.
8. Use the research literature to identify evidence based practices for public health interventions.
9. Plan, implement, and evaluate a health intervention to promote health at the individual, community, or policy level.
10. Collaborate with other community health professionals, stakeholders, and participants to address a community's needs.
11. Effectively communicate community health information in oral and written forms through a variety of sources and channels.
12. Apply ethical principles when working with organizations, communities, and individuals.
13. Demonstrate cultural competence when working with diverse populations.
14. Demonstrate the dispositions needed to be an effective public health professional.
15. Articulate a plan for achieving a career of their choice in public health.

Career Potential

• College health promotion specialist
• College prevention specialist
• College health educator