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Versatility and Demand in the Community Health Field

  • 22 February 2019

Health care professionals are called to serve others, but not everyone is suited to provide care in an operating or emergency room. The Clarkson College Community Health program supports an individual’s desire to provide direct patient care outside the clinical setting. The versatility of this degree option prepares students to address, sustain and improve the health needs of the community—wherever they may be. 

Meet a Rising Need for Community Health Workers

Many regions and communities within the United States suffer from a lack of qualified health care professionals with rural areas being some of the most highly impacted areas. Individuals with a degree in Community Health are especially qualified to serve in these areas because the curriculum is applicable to a wide range of fields. Community health workers have the opportunity to work with individuals as part of a non-profit, social service agency, women’s health organization, public health department, school system and long-term care facility, among others.

In many cases, community health workers serve as intermediaries to help patients connect with providers and organizations who can help them with their needs. Students get the best of both worlds at Clarkson College because the program prepares them to work with patients on a micro level, and also to effect change within organizations and the community on a macro level. This approach also allows graduates to provide wholistic health care for everyone from children and their families to the aging population.

Individuals who work within the health care field come from a variety of backgrounds, which is why Clarkson College offers opportunities in Community Health for people of all educational and professional experiences.

Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Community Health degree offers more career options and versatility than almost any other health care-related degree. The interdisciplinary curriculum helps students develop a knowledge base and skills set that makes them highly valuable and marketable within the work place. The Bachelor’s degree option can also prepare health care workers to complete graduate programs in social work, public health, community counseling, public administration and other related fields.

Designed for individuals of all backgrounds, including those with no college credit, the program is 100 percent online and can be completed in 12 semesters. Students complete courses in four of the five concentration areas of Gerontology, Health Care Business, Human Services, Public Health and Women’s Health, as well as fieldwork at an organization of their choice.

Post-Associate Degree Transfer Option

The post-associate degree option allows individuals who have previously earned an associate's degree from an accredited institution to earn their Bachelor’s degree in Community Health. Eligible students may receive 60 direct transfer credits from both general education and concentration courses. Once enrolled in the program, students must complete core, support and major courses and choose one concentration in Women’s Health, Gerontology, Human Services, Health Care Business or Public Health.

This option is ideal for individuals looking to advance their education, increase their knowledge within their field and move into leadership roles within their organization. Students can complete the post-associate degree option in as few as three to four semesters and complete their coursework online on a part- or full-time basis while they continue to work.

Certificates in Community Health

Earning a certificate in Community Health helps expand students’ knowledge of specific fields, allowing them to better serve diverse populations within their communities. Clarkson College offers certificates in Gerontology, Human Services, Public Health and Women’s Health, each tailored to help individuals meet their specific career goals.  

A certificate in Community Health is the perfect supplemental option for individuals already working in their field of choice or looking to broaden their professional scope of practice. The 21-credit hour certificate options are offered year-round, on a part- or full-time basis.

Learn more about the Community Health program and discover how the curriculum can prepare you to affect change and empower those around you.

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