Bachelor of Science in Education in Community Health
The Community Health program offers a wide selection of elective options so that students can maximize their program experience. Those interested primarily in Community Engagement, which emphasizes health education, health promotion, community outreach and community partnerships, are encouraged to explore our approved minor options. The minor provides students with application-based and service-oriented opportunities to engage with communities and their needs. Complimentary to this, those interested in Pre-Clinical work, which promotes bringing a community health lens to the clinical setting, are encouraged to explore our alternative elective options. This tailors the 24-credit hours of electives nicely for students interested in entering professions such as medicine, dentistry, and rehabilitation science so that they can promote health education, community health, and culturally mindful care within their practices as future health professionals.
Incoming Freshman Students: Students can be admitted into the Community Health program as freshmen if they meet KU’s assured admission standards and declare Community Health as their major.
Incoming Transfer Students: Students can be admitted into Community Health as transfer students if they are admitted to KU, declare Community Health as their major, and meet the following criteria:
- A KU + Transfer Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75
Current KU Students: Students can be admitted into Community Health as current KU students if they meet the following criteria:
- A KU + Transfer Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75
Students that do not meet the requirements above can petition through the online SOEHS Admission Petition form.
For information about initial admission to KU, visit the Office of Admissions. Visit the Office of International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Primary responsibility for meeting graduation requirements rests with the student.
- Complete an approved program with a minimum of 120 credit hours of course work. At least 30 hours must be taken in residence.
- A 2.75 minimum KU + Transfer cumulative grade-point average for all academic coursework, including transfer hours.
- Other general regulations of the School and University, including KU Core Goal requirements.
Requirements to begin internship:
- A minimum KU + Transfer Cumulative grade-point average of 2.75.
- All program requirements must be completed before internship.
Graduation requirements
- All courses must be completed for graduation (at least 120 hours)
- A KU + Transfer Cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for graduation
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | ||
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | 34 | |
LDST 200 is a required course of the major. Students are strongly advised to satisfy 3 credits of their Core 34 Social and Behavioral Sciences by taking this course. | ||
| Program Course Requirements | ||
| HSES 279 | Introduction to Community Health | 3 |
| HSES 330 | Principles of Nutrition and Health | 3 |
| LDST 200 | Introduction to Leadership Studies and Applications | 3 |
| COMS 246 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| or COMS 342 | Problem Solving in Teams and Groups | |
| GEOG 201 | Culture and Health | 3 |
| or AAAS 203 | Culture and Health | |
| or GIST 210 | Culture and Health | |
| HSES 403 | Health Behavior Theory | 3 |
| HSES 445 | Program Planning in Health Education | 3 |
| HSES 430 | Foundations of Health Education | 3 |
| JMC 315 | Health and Science Communication | 3 |
| HSES 465 | Program Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| HSES 405 | Fundamentals of Writing in Community and Public Health Professions | 3 |
| HSES 415 | Current Issues in Community Health | 3 |
| HSES 489 | Health and Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HSES 310 | Research and Data Analysis in Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences | 3 |
| HSES 365 | Peer Health Education | 3 |
| HSES 578 | Health Internship Seminar 1 | 2 |
| Select 24 credit hours from the following list of electives and minors 4 | 24 | |
| Introduction to Child Behavior and Development 3 | ||
| Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | ||
| Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | ||
| Principles of Organismal Biology | ||
| Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | ||
| Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | ||
| Basic Microbiology | ||
| Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Sciences | ||
| Fundamentals of Human Anatomy | ||
| Human Anatomy Observation Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Human Physiology | ||
| Principles of Human Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Principles of Genetics, Honors | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology, Honors | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Mammalian Physiology | ||
| Mammalian Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Introductory Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences I | ||
| Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences II | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry I, Honors | ||
| Organic Chemistry II, Honors | ||
| Medical Terminology: Greek and Latin Roots 5 | ||
| Medical Terminology 5 | ||
| Kinesiology | ||
| Health and Pathophysiology | ||
| Medical Terminology for Health Professionals 5 | ||
| Exercise Physiology | ||
| Biomechanics | ||
| Preparing for Programs in the Health Professions | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| College Physics II | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| General Physics I Honors | ||
| General Physics II Honors | ||
| General Physics I Laboratory | ||
| General Physics II Laboratory | ||
| Child Development 3 | ||
| Psychological Disorders | ||
| Psychological Disorders, Honors | ||
| Human Development | ||
| Introduction to Respiratory Therapy | ||
| Sociology of Health and Medicine | ||
| Elective course | 1 | |
| Capstone | ||
| HSES 580 | Internship in: _____ (Community Health) 2 | 14 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
The following minor programs are approved: African American Studies; Environmental Studies; Global and International Studies; Healthcare Management; Nutrition; Psychology; Spanish: Sociology; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Sport & Exercise Psychology; Clinical Trials Management; Pre-Health Professions; Pre-Medicine Minor; Global Health & Medical Humanities; Health Policy and Management; Environmental Health; Social Justice in the U.S..6
- 1
Must have a grade of a "C" or higher.
- 2
All coursework must be completed before the internship is approved. A 2.75 KU + Transfer Cumulative GPA is required before one can apply for the internship. Internship students are required to be present at the internship site a minimum of 560 hours across the 16-week semester - NO EXCEPTIONS.
- 3
Only one child development course may count toward 24 credit hour requirement.
- 4
Courses used to satisfy KU Core 34 requirement may not count toward 24 credit hour requirement.
- 5
Only one medical terminology course may count toward 24 credit hour requirement
- 6
Any listed minor may be declared and completed as 24 elective credit hours OR taken as individual courses toward the 24 required elective hours.
This is a sample plan of study. Students should consult with their academic advisor to create an individualized plan for degree completion.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (Core 34: English (SGE))010* | 3 | ENGL 102 (Core 34: English (SGE))010* | 3 |
| MATH 105 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030 | 3 | COMS 130 (Core 34: Communications (SGE))020* | 3 |
| PSYC 104 (Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE))050* | 3 | LDST 200 | 3 |
| HSES 279 | 3 | HSES 330 | 3 |
| BIOL 100 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))040* | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| BIOL 102 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))040* | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMS 246 or 342 | 3 | PHIL 160 (Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE))060* | 3 |
| AAAS 203, GEOG 201, or GIST 210 | 3 | HSES 365 | 3 |
| HSES 403 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| HSES 430 | 3 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 | Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HSES 445 | 3 | HSES 405 | 3 |
| JMC 315 | 3 | HSES 465 | 3 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | HSES 489 | 3 |
| Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 | Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 |
| Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 | Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HSES 310 | 3 | HSES 580 (Capstone) | 14 |
| HSES 415 | 3 | ||
| HSES 578 | 2 | ||
| Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 | ||
| Required Minor Course/Pre-Health Elective1 | 3 | ||
| Elective course | 1 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- 1
See list of possible minors on the Degree Requirements page.
Notes:
* - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge in the planning and development of health promotion programs that applies an appropriate theoretical foundation for the target population as the basis for that program.
- Demonstrate cultural competency as health education/promotion professionals when planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs.
- Apply rudimentary knowledge of evaluation research and analysis in conducting assessments of health promotion programs.
- Identify evidence-based health promotion programs that apply appropriate theoretical foundation(s) for the population of interest.
- Effectively communicate and disseminate evidence-based health information to target populations within both oral and written settings, and in both professional and community-based settings.