"The greatest wealth is health"
  ~Virgil 

What is Applied Health?

Applied health is a people-oriented, service profession within the health field, focused on making contributions to the overall health and well-being of people and society. Professionals are focused on prevention, rather than treatment, of disease through research, promotion, policy-making, and publications. Applied health has become a rapidly growing field, as government agencies, clinics, and hospitals see the need for prevention of disease, as treatment of preventable diseases has become a great expense to society. Some important issues that concern applied health professionals include substance abuse, safety, HIV/STDs, nutrition, high blood pressure, smoking, pregnancy, diabetes, cancer research, and obesity.

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Health program at William Paterson University is housed in the College of Science and Health. Aside from the required 34 credits of core courses, applied health majors must take 7-8 co-requisites from other science disciplines and 17 credits of major-specific GE requirements. Classes within the major include, but are not limited to Health Education: Theory and Practice, Community Health Program Planning, Human Disease, Nutrition, and Environmental Health. Students may choose to select a concentration in Nutrition or Gerontology. There is a 12 credit full-time internship during students' senior year.

To learn more about the degree requirements, please visit this link:
http://www.wpunj.edu/cosh/departments/public-health/undergraduate-programs/?

Admissions information on Applied Health is located here:
http://www.wpunj.edu/admissions/undergraduate/academic-programs/programs_detail.dot?id=126091

What interests and skills do potential employers value in this career?

• Enjoy working with people
• Understanding of, and interest in, health issues and social service
• Good oral communication skills
• Research skills
• Leadership skills in group settings
• Excellent writing skills
• Ability to analyze effectiveness of programs and courses
• Ability to be an advocate for community and individual needs

Related Jobs

Work Environment :
People working within the field of applied health have a number of options in terms of work environment. Applied health professionals may choose to work in public health departments, hospitals, community non-profit agencies, schools, health maintenance organizations, private companies, and government organizations. Some job titles may require further education beyond a bachelor's degree.

Possible Job Titles

In what locations and capacities have William Paterson applied health alumni worked?

Community Resource Coordinator Village Care of NY

Coordinator, Staff Kessler Rehabilitation

Family Service Specialist DYFS

Family Service Specialist Hackensack University Medical Center

Program Specialist, Gerontology Chilton Memorial Hospital

Sanitary Inspector Bergen County Health Department

Substance Abuse Counselor Essex Substance Abuse Treatment

Assistant Director, Senior Center Community Development

Program Coordinator American Lung Association of NJ

Community Relations Director American Cancer Society

Intake Coordinator Pediatric Services of America

Administrator, International Marketing The Hertz Corporatoin

Enhance Your Qualifications

Successful students tend to seek out opportunities to enhance their qualifications through a variety of means. Within applied health, some suggestions may include joining or becoming a leader in health career-related campus organizations; reading health journals; gaining practical experience through an internship/practicum/job shadowing; joining a professional organization; volunteering at a non-profit organization; looking into the possibility of graduate school; and attending networking functions.

Related Websites

Public Health Information www.whatispublichealth.org

American Public Health Association www.apha.org

U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services www.hhs.gov

Community Health Charities www.healthcharities.org

National Commission for Health Education Credentialing www.nchec.org

Society for Public Health Education www.sophe.org

Occupational Outlook www.bls.gov/oco/

Industry Information www.vault.com

Job Search and Salary information www.rileyguide.com

Occupation Information http://online.onetcenter.org

Additional Information

Please drop by the Career Development and Advisement Center to learn more about careers in public health. The career library carries career-specific books and counselors are available to answer any further questions you may have. Visiting the Public Health Department on campus may also prove valuable in addressing questions.

The Career Development and Gloria S. Williams Advisement Center
Student Center 301, 300 Pompton Road Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone 973.720.2281/2282 Fax 973.720.2074

Contact us with comments, questions and feedback about the website.