Adding a Gerontology Concentration to Existing Community Health Education B.S. Degree Program
Students may now earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education. This degree
prepares them to work in the field education that encourages individuals to protect, maintain and
improve their levels of health and fitness and to enhance overall quality of life. Health education
specialists view optimal health as a multi-faceted state involving physical, social, emotional, intellectual,
vocational, environmental and spiritual dimensions. They endeavor to provide individuals and groups
with the information and motivation necessary to make informed decisions concerning lifestyle and
personal health behavior. In the 21st century, in developed countries such as the United States, the
population is rapidly aging. There is currently a shortage of professionals with expertise in community
health education, especially as it applies to populations of older adults. Students completing the
community health education degree with a gerontology concentration will help to fill gaps that now
exist in the work force. Jobs will be available to these graduates in both the public and private sector.
No new courses are needed to establish this concentration. All core courses for the Community Health
Education degree program and the Gerontology Concentration are already in place. Students electing
this concentration will need to earn a “C” (2.00) or better average in all courses counted toward
the major and concentration.
The concentration in gerontology will consist of the required core courses in Community health
Education (HEA 105, 234, 240, 266, 301, 305, 351, 355, 359, 435, 452, 498; PED 216, 217) and the
courses that are currently described in the existing undergraduate minor in gerontology (GRN 101,
GRN 440, SOC 336, PSY 325, HEA 325) and six additional credits of designated gerontology
elective courses ( COM 392, SOC 220, SOC 418, NSG 334, PAR 215, PSY 223, GRN 446, GRN 491
and GRN 495).
The gerontology concentration will add no new classes. The programmatic needs can be met
with existing faculty resources and space. In addition, all courses required in the degree
program and proposed concentration are currently offered at least once/year and most are
offered every semester. Considering this fact and that if a student chooses to acquire the
concentration, no additional hours will be required to graduate, it becomes clear that adding
this concentration will not impact four-year graduation rates.