Public and Community Health

Learning Format

On-Campus

Types

Concentration
Public and Community Health

Healthier Communities Start with You

Public and Community Health is a concentration within the Health & Wellness major.

Do you want to make a difference in people’s lives—not just one at a time, but by improving the health and well-being of entire communities? In our Public and Community Health program, you'll gain the knowledge and skills to tackle real-world health challenges, promote wellness, and fight health inequities where they matter most.

In the Public and Community Health concentration, you’ll study population health programs and policies in both national and global settings. A myriad of career options exists in the field of public and community health, including health education specialists and community health workers. Growth in the field will be driven by efforts to improve health outcomes and to reduce healthcare costs through education about practicing healthy behaviors and utilizing healthcare services.

You’ll study topics like health education, public policy, environmental ethics, and disease prevention, all with a focus on social justice and community engagement.  This program prepares you for a meaningful career in a fast-growing field—one that needs passionate, informed leaders like you.

Health & Wellness

Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Students in gym

or

or

or

or

  • NUTR 478 Community Nutrition

Students must take five (5) courses from the following list with at least one (1) course from each of the four (4) areas:

Category 1: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention:

  • HLTH 326 Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior
  • NEUR 225 Biopsychology
  • NUTR 333 Nutrition and Chronic Disease
  • PSYC 245 Health Psychology
  • SOCI 325 Health and Illness
  • SOCI 333 Society, Mental Health, and the Individual
  • SOCI 366 Death and Dying

Category 2: Global and Environmental Health:

  • ANTH 207 Global Issues in Anthropology
  • GEOG 208 The Environment, Health, and Disease
  • GEOG 216 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
  • GEOL 233 Environmental Geology
  • NUTR 212 Food System Sustainability
  • SOCI 204 Environmental Sociology

Category 3: Public Policy, Law & Ethics:

  • ECON 200 The Economics of Globalization
  • ECON 333 Environmental Economics
  • ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy
  • GEOG 235 Environmental Law and Policy
  • PHIL 222 Bioethics
  • PHIL 234 Environmental Ethics
  • POSC 229 Public Policy Analysis
  • POSC 270 Race, Politics, and the Law
  • POSC 325 Public Management
  • SOCI 230 Law and Society
  • SOCI 245 Race and Ethnic Relations
  • SOCI 263 Social Inequality

Category 4: Communications:

  • COMM 215 Science Communication
  • COMM 322 Persuasion and Social Influence
  • COMM 328 Argumentation and Advocacy
  • ENGL 225 Introduction to Journalism
  • ENGL 280 Persuasive Writing
  • ENGL 286 Professional Writing
  • ENGL 311 Writing about Science
  • ENGL 338 Grant Writing
  • ENGL 377 Writing for Online and Social Media

Meet our Faculty

Ann Johnson

Ann W Johnson, Ph.D., MBA, RD, SNS

Department Chair & Professor, Nutrition & Health Studies Department
(508) 626-4689
ajohnson3@framingham.edu
Hemenway Hall
Photo of Susan Massad

Susan J. Massad, HSD, RD, LDN

Professor, Coordinator and Advisor for M.Ed in Nutrition Education Specialization, Nutrition & Health Studies Department
508-626-4743
smassad@framingham.edu
Hemenway Hall
Photo of Megan Mayer

Megan Mayer, Ph.D., M.S.

Assistant Professor, Nutrition & Health Studies Department
508-626-4702
mmayer1@framingham.edu
Hemenway Annex
Photo of Jessica Caouette, MS, RD, LDN

Jessica Caouette, M.S., R.D., LDN

Visiting Lecturer, Nutrition & Health Studies Department
(508) 626-5707
jcaouette1@framingham.edu
Hemenway Annex
View All

Learn More

If the Public and Community Health major sounds like a good fit but you would like to learn more, contact Admissions at admissions [at] framingham.edu (admissions[at]framingham[dot]edu) or 508-626-4500.

 Apply 

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