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Wondering how you can improve the well-being of entire communities? The growing field of community health gives you a deep understanding of how race, education, gender, and socioeconomic factors are connected to health inequities and social justice issues on the local, national, and global level.
Curriculum
Community Health majors learn about the biological, social, and behavioral factors affecting public health, and examine the ethical and legal issues in modern-day health care. You’ll study drug and alcohol abuse, the sexual health life cycle, and chronic and communicable diseases, and learn how to assess individual and community health needs so you can plan, implement, and evaluate community health programs.
Health Science Option
The BS in Community Health is closely aligned with its sister program, the BS in Health Science, which is designed for students who are interested in exploring clinical career paths such as dentistry, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, or medicine. The overlap of health courses allows students to switch majors with simple adjustments, giving you greater flexibility to shift your career goals with little or no loss of time or tuition.
Dual-Degree Program Options
Students have the option of pursuing an accelerated, cost-effective dual-degree program where you can earn your BS in Community Health and a:
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Health Administration
Dara’s Dream
Community Health/Class of '20
Dara Gleeson wants to make the planet a healthier place for all, especially mothers and children. As a Community Health major at Hofstra, Dara – who is now getting her Master of Public Health at Yale – got invaluable real-world experience,
Learn from Experts
You’ll engage in lively, challenging discussions and learn from faculty mentors who are respected scholars and working professionals. They will work with you in a collaborative environment to explore your interests, help you develop your career goals, and advance your knowledge about the health and well-being of individuals and populations.
The Student Experience
Explore potential career paths, get real-world insights, develop valuable workplace skills, and build a network of professional contacts through internships, field experiences, and campus organizations.
Our students have recently interned at:
- Northwell Health
- Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center
- Developmental Disabilities Institute Inc.
- Hospital for Special Surgery
- Nassau County Department of Human Services
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Long Island State Veterans Home
- Mount Sinai Health System
Clubs and Networking
You can also meet students with similar interests and participate in service-learning activities through student organizations such as Future Healthcare Leaders of Hofstra University; the Hofstra Health and Wellness Club, which raises funds and spreads awareness of local health issues; Eta Sigma Gamma Honor Society; and the Center for Civic Engagement, which brings light to social justice issues such as poverty and racism that are strongly tied to health inequities.
The Outlook
Job prospects in health care continue to be very strong. With our comprehensive program, you’ll be ready to pursue either a career right after graduation or advanced study. Based on a survey of recent grads:
97%
Accepted a position within six months of graduation
$48K
Mean salary within one year of graduation
Alumni Success
Community Health graduates enjoy considerable success upon graduation, whether they obtain positions at prestigious organizations or pursue advanced study at top graduate schools.
Recent alumni work at organizations such as:
- CityMD Urgent Care
- Developmental Disabilities Institute, Inc.
- Equinox Fitness Club
- Hackensack UMC Fitness & Wellness Powered by the Giants
- Hospital for Special Surgery
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Long Island FQHC Inc.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Nassau County Department of Health
- Northwell Health
Those pursuing graduate degrees study at:
- Albany Medical College
- Boston University
- Drexel University
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- Howard University
- Icahn School of Medicine
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
- New York University
- Yale University
"The opportunities to do internships and conduct health research alongside professors have really helped me discover my interest in public health, particularly in working to improve maternal, child, and family health inequalities."
- Dara Gleeson '20, Community Health, now attending graduate school at Yale University
Questions about our program?
Contact Us
Sharon R. Phillips, PhD
Program Director and Associate Professor of Population Health
516-463-4314
Sharon.R.Phillips@hofstra.edu
Irma Hidayana, EdD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Population Health
516-463-2897
Irma.Hidayana@hofstra.edu