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Public Health & Community Health Education

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Become a leader in public health through our accredited program and help address community health issues like infectious disease and mental health.

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Undergraduate program

Public Health & Community Health Education

Undergrad major

Public health issues are in the news every day from national disease outbreaks to clean water access to car seat safety clinics. Public health officials are the professionals working on these issues to ultimately improve the health of their communities. Health education is an important piece of public health. Health education specialists translate health information to action. They share credible health information, develop and market wellness programs, teach others how to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices and more. 

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Graduate programs

Healthcare Administration

Graduate degree Graduate certificate The online MS in Healthcare Administration and Senior Living Leadership Certificate offer busy adults a flexible education to advance into leadership roles.

Areas of study

Senior Living & Services Leadership

Graduate certificate
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Public Health Online

Graduate degree Earn your Master of Public Health (MPH) in Community Health Education from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 100% online in just 2 years!
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CEPH accredited seal
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse is currently accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) as a standalone baccalaureate program (SBP)

Featured courses

  • Environmental Health
    PH 335 | 3 credits
    This course will examine the interdisciplinary and global impacts of human-environment relationships. Emphasis is placed on the critical nature of our understanding these relationships in order to improve ecosystem health, human health and well-being, global economics and sustainability. Politics, economics, science, technology, human behavior (both individual and collective), history, ethics, and the media are examined for the purpose of improving the quality of life for all people through the creation of a sustainable global society. The science, methods and processes of environmental health will be considered. The role of environmental health in public and population health will be examined. Prerequisite: admission to the public health and community health education major or an environmental studies minor. Offered Fall, Spring.
  • Methods and Strategies for Health Education
    CHE 360 | 3 credits
    The purpose of this course is to help participants develop skills and strategies in relation to facilitation, instruction, as well as the use of theoretical concepts to more effectively implement health education and health promotion programs. Course participants will gain an understanding of the various ways in which people learn and develop a variety of skills to create effective learning strategies. Participants will also comprehend the fundamentals of social marketing as well as health literacy and how these concepts should be used to create more effective health education and health promotion programs. Additionally, participants will learn how to use health behavior theories and models to create culturally appropriate health education materials. Prerequisite: admission to the public health and community health education major. Offered Fall, Spring.
  • Epidemiology and Human Disease Prevention
    PH 340 | 3 credits
    This course provides an introduction to epidemiology as a basic science for public health. It will address the principles of the quantitative approach to public health. The course will introduce measures of frequency and association, introduce the design and validity of epidemiologic research, and give an overview of appropriate data analysis for understand population health. An introduction to the skills needed by public health professionals to interpret critically the epidemiologic literature. The influence of epidemiology on legal and ethical issues will be presented. Prerequisite: admission to the public health and community health education, school health education major, or healthcare analytics management minor. Offered Fall, Spring.
  • Motivational Interviewing for Health Educators
    CHE 370 | 3 credits
    This course introduces participants to principles, concepts, and spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI), which is an evidenced-based method, grounded in theory meant to facilitate behavior change. Participants will learn the process of exploring and resolving the ambivalence that often creates barriers to change in various populations. Participants will also learn how to properly share information, give advice, and plan for action using the spirit and methods of MI. Additionally, participants will also gain an understanding of how to interpret and apply a behavioral screening or diagnostic questionnaire as they relate to the referral individuals for MI with various health concerns that need to be addressed. Prerequisite: admission to the public health and community health education major. Offered Fall, Spring.
  • Health Policy, Advocacy, and Community Organizations
    CHE 400 | 3 credits
    This course focuses on the process of engaging communities in health education and behavior change programs of various kinds. Several organizing paradigms for fostering healthy communities are examined, and their practical and ethical implications are considered. Skill development for community assessment, constituency-building, and leadership of participatory planning efforts is emphasized. Students are paired with health and human services, health policy and social justice agencies, and coalitions to gain an in-depth knowledge of agenda setting, legislative research, and legislative advocacy in relation to specific legislation being proposed in the Wisconsin state legislature. Course will tie policy theory to real-world practice. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: PH 335; PH 340; CHE 360; CHE 370; junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.
  • Senior Capstone
    CHE 480 | 3 credits
    This course is designed as a culminating course that will engage participants in applying the skills and concepts they have developed throughout the program curriculum. In particular, students will apply the profession's areas of responsibility as well as ethical standards in various activities, discussions, and projects. In addition, participants will 1) review selected community health topics in our Public Health and Community Health Education program, 2) be introduced to current issues in community health education, public health and population health, 3) be introduced to the employment, educational, and political dynamics in selected occupational settings, and 4) assess and discuss their specific pre-professional needs at this point in time. Prerequisite: CHE 350 or CHE 380; CHE 400. Offered Fall, Spring.
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Portrait of Kelsey Shuda

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Kelsey Shuda

Pursuing a major in Public Health & Community Health Education has given me opportunities to advocate and work on policy development at a local and national level. From Eta Sigma Gamma meetings to summits in Washington D.C., I was able to continuously prepare for my future career in public health.

Portrait of Rebecca Shirley

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Rebecca Shirley

Since graduating in 2019, I’ve worked for two Wisconsin health organizations, both stating they hired me because I graduated from the UWL Public Health & Community Health Education Program! When our professors say they have a public health undergraduate program like no other, they are absolutely right.

Portrait of Kemmesha Thomas

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Kemmesha Thomas

UWL programs, like the McNair Scholars Program, made me realize so many things I’m interested in. I can develop more knowledge and enjoy doing research.

Portrait of Kitt (Katherine) Drewiske

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Kitt (Katherine) Drewiske

The professors who make up this program are among the most dedicated individuals I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. Not only do they provide high-quality education, they provide their students with opportunities for applied learning to see how public health works from theory to practice at all levels.

Portrait of Mariah Welke

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Mariah Welke

The education, guidance and support of the Public Health & Community Health Education Program made me into the public health professional I am now. I use the skills I learned in the program (and the grad program) every single day in my job. It's invaluable!

Portrait of Kira Hankins

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Kira Hankins

I truly appreciated how much the Public Health & Community Health Education professors cared about our success in the program and our overall well-being. There was never a moment where I did not feel valued in the program.