William Paterson University

Community Health

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Undergraduate Program

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School Nurse Certification

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Community Health: Undergraduate Program

Program Description

Course Rotation

The Department of Community Health offers a major program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in community health education. Certification in school health education is also available for movement science majors. The major in community health is designed to prepare individuals to work as health educators in a variety of community settings. Health educators are responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion/disease prevention programs. Employment opportunities exist in local, state, federal and voluntary health agencies, community health centers, hospitals, clinics, health maintenance organizations and private industry, to name a few.

Curriculum
Degree Requirements
All courses are 3 credits except where noted otherwise

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

**Prerequisites needed in major.

Major Electives

Co-Requirements 7-8 credits:

Required General Education Courses 17 Credits:

Courses

CMHL 120 Current Health Issues
Issues that are crucial to students' personal lives are examined with an emphasis on the relationship between lifestyle and health. The course enables students to deal more effectively with the health problems faced during the college experience, and subsequently through out life. These issues may include stress, sexuality, nutrition, mental health and illness, aging, chronic and communicable disease, drug and alcohol use, and dealing with death, and other selected topics.

CMHL 210 Women's Health
This course addresses contemporary issues on the health of women, with attention given to increasing students' understanding of their bodies, identifying resources and services available in the community, and developing the necessary consumer skills for interaction with the health care system. Topics include mental health, nutrition, sexuality, pregnancy and childbirth, cancer detection and treatment, gynecological care, menstruation and menopause, aging and victimization.

CMHL 215 Drugs and Health
This course presents an overview of the field of substance abuse and addiction from a bio-psycho-sociological perspective. Students examine the dynamics of dependency, codependency, pharmacology, intervention and treatment modalities, prevention strategies, and community services. Skills are developed for assessment, counseling, program development, and referral.
Prerequisite: exercise/movement science, community health major
or school nurse certification

CMHL 220 Stress Management
This course is designed to enable students to understand the role of stress in their lives. The course focuses on the physiological and psychological aspects of stress, the role of stress in the etiology of many chronic diseases, and the development of a repertoire of coping strategies to enable students to manage personal stress. The course examines a variety of interpersonal and environmental stressors ranging from the workplace to the family.

CMHL 221 Nutrition
A foundation study of human nutrition emphasizing its relationship to optimum physical and emotional health. Includes basics of sound nutrition, requirements of various food elements, diet planning, and diet patterns for specific age groups, nutritional fads, and weight control.

CMHL 270 Concepts and Issues of Aging
An introduction and overview of aging as an interdisciplinary and developmental process, with attention to the relationship of one's aging to growing older in contemporary society. Students examine the psychosocial, biological, and cultural aspects of aging. Topics include mental health, nutritional needs, demographics, the common causes of morbidity and mortality, economic concerns, and legislation as it relates to the health needs of aging persons.

CMHL 301 Health Education: Theory and Practice
Provides an introduction to the profession of health education. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of the profession, theoretical rationale, major issues, work settings, and the extent to which these contribute to health education practice. (Taken concurrently with CMHL304 Research Methods in Health) Offered fall semester.
Prerequisite: CMHL 120 and Community Health major

CMHL 303 Applied Program Planning
This course provides students with hands-on experience in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a health education/health promotion program for a diverse community. It requires the student to be an active participant in all steps of the planning process. Offered as requested.
Prerequisite: CMHL 301 1 Credit Pass/Fail

CMHL 304 Analysis and Evaluation of Health Research
This course introduces students to health research methodologies. Students will develop and use the critical skills needed to plan and conduct a health survey including analyzing and presenting the results. Taken concurrently with CMHL 301.
Prerequisite: MATH 130 and Community Health major

CMHL 321 Community Nutrition Through the Life Span
Nutrition is explored through the community supports available to meet the nutritional needs during pregnancy, lactation/early feeding, toddlerhood/ childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and illness. Offered fall semester.
Prerequisite: CMHL 221

CMHL 322 Food and Nutrition: Social Issues
Explores social issues that affect the nutritional status and food supply in the United States and globally. Includes historical, cultural, and psychological factors that influence our food habits and behaviors. Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: CMHL 221

CMHL 340 Environmental Health
This course examines the social, economic, and political dimensions of environmental problems that have an impact on health and development. Emphasis is on those human activities in the environment that contribute to deterioration in quality of life. Professional opportunities in environmental health are covered.

CMHL 351 Community Health Program Planning
This course introduces the generic skills needed to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate health education programs. Students will use these skills to conduct a needs assessment, and plan a health education program. Prerequisites: CMHL 301, CMHL 304.

CMHL 371 Health Aspects of Aging
This course includes discussion of the basic health needs and concerns of the population, interpretation of health care systems and prevention of illness and promotion of good health throughout the life-span. Offered fall semester.

CMHL 372 Policy and Programs in Aging
An interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of theory and practice of community health resources that offer health and social services to the aging. Examines health and health-related programs and establishes relationships between need and services. Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: CMHL 270

CMHL 390 Human Sexuality
The biological, sociological, psychological, and educational aspects of human sexuality are presented. Students explore the personal decision making process and discuss issues related to reproduction, sexual response, sexual orientation, birth control, dating and relationships, communication, sexual health, atypical behavior, sexual violence, and cultural influences. Offered every semester.
Prerequisite: CMHL120 or PEGE 150 and junior or senior status only.

CMHL 375 Human Disease
Selected disease processes are presented from a health education perspective. Emphasis is on the relationship of risk factors and prevention strategies. Prerequisites: CMHL 301, CMHL 304, BIO 112, BIO 170

CMHL 399 Selected Topics
Study of special health topics not covered in depth in any existing courses. Topics vary from semester to semester in response to student demand and professional interest and are announced in current master schedules. Offered periodically.
Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair 1-6 credits

CMHL 400 Epidemiology
T his course will address the distribution and determinants of diseases/conditions in populations. An overview of epidemiologic principles and practices using current health topics will be presented.
Prerequisite: CMHL 351, CMHL 375 – senior CMHL major

CMHL 430 Counseling for Health Professionals
This course is designed to provide students with the information and skills necessary to conduct one-on-one health education interventions in a variety of settings.
Prerequisites - Senior or Graduate status EMS, CMHL or SNC

CMHL 450 Health Administration: Systems and Policies
Health care policies and systems in the United States, from preventive to long term care, are examined. Access to care, health care costs, financing, health care delivery systems and quality of care are emphasized.
Prerequisite: CMHL351, CMHL 375 and Senior CMHL major

CMHL 451 Methods in Community Health
A variety of methods used to conduct health education/ promotion programs are presented. Students demonstrate these methods, when appropriate, in a group setting.
Prerequisites: CMHL 351, CMHL 375 – Senior CMHL major

CMHL 452 Methods, Curriculum and Theory in School Health Education
This course is designed to provide the student with the skills, knowledge, and philosophy necessary to become a successful school health educator. Principles and procedures used in teaching, planning, and evaluating the school health program are emphasized. Offered spring semester and often summer session .
Prerequisite: PETC 395 or 396, Senior and Exercise/Movement Science major

CMHL 496 Introduction to Internships
This seminar assists student selection of internship sites. It introduces parameters of the internship experience and provides an in-depth look at various settings in which health education is practiced. Opportunities for self-assessment, culminating with students selecting their placement sites are provided.
Prerequisites: CMHL 351, CMHL 375 - Senior CMHL major

CMHL 497 Internship in Community Health
A 480-hour supervised internship designed to provide an opportunity for students to apply their academic preparation in professional work settings. Students are assigned tasks that allow them to develop and increase their competencies as entry-level health educators. Students are required to follow all regulations of the agencies in which they are placed in a professional manner (i.e., dress code, punctuality, confidentiality).
Prerequisite: Completion of all CMHL courses with a major GPA > 2.5 12 credits

CMHL 499 Independent Study
This course provides an opportunity for academically qualified students to earn college credit for a project planned jointly with a faculty sponsor and not already covered by an existing course. The respective dean and the chairperson of the department must sign registration for this course. Offered as requested. 1-6 credits

Nutrition Concentration and

Minor: Program Reference Guide

Required: 15 credits

Electives: 3 credits