As the world continues to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic, the role played by community health workers and health educators has become more imperative than ever.
In response to this fact, Villa Maria College has created a new bachelor’s degree program in Community Health. Students can apply to the four-year program right away and classes will begin on August 30, 2021.
“Community health is a growing focus within the broader interdisciplinary field of public health. Students who enroll in the Community Health program can expect a rigorous and enriching educational experience that is transformative and empowering,” said Dr. Ryan Hartnett, Villa Maria’s vice president for academic affairs. “The program prepares students through a strong, interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum designed with a high degree of flexibility, allowing them to pursue their personal and professional interests within the field.”
The Community Health program builds upon a strong foundation of social justice advocacy based in the Felician tradition of fostering compassion, justice, peace, respect for human dignity and a commitment to service. It includes classes like Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Communication and Education and more.
The demand for a community health program at the College is clear, especially in the Western New York area. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to grow significantly faster than most others and, just recently, New York State ranked among the states with the highest level of employment for community health professions.
“Graduates of Villa Maria College’s Community Health program will be well-rounded individuals who are prepared, practiced, and ready to influence their communities positively,” continued Dr. Hartnett. “Not only will graduates of the program have a strong understanding of the external and historical forces that shape one’s health and they will have the knowledge needed to incite meaningful change that is equitable for all.”
For more information, visit https://www.villa.edu/academics/community-health/.
