From advising to career services, resources are available to make the student experience as productive, supportive and enjoyable as possible.
Learn more about our Bachelor of Science in Community Health degree or the Accelerated BS/MPH Program on their respective degree pages.
Current UMD Students
If you are an existing UMD student who would like to change your major to Community Health, you are required to successfully complete the two-step major change process. Students must first attend a Community Health Change of Major Workshop. At this workshop, attendees will receive an orientation to the major, including degree requirements and course sequencing. After attending the Community Health Change of Major Workshop, students will complete an Academic Plan and have it reviewed by one of our advisors. Once complete, students must meet with one of the BCH advisors for the plan to be approved.
For a change of major workshop please visit the appointment scheduler. All workshops are held remotely and you must be registered for a workshop in advance to attend. Directions for completing the virtual workshops will be provided via email.
Prospective UMD Students
After reviewing the information above, if you have additional questions regarding the Community Health major, please contact a member of the BCH advising staff: behavioralandcommunityhealth@umd.edu
Find out more about what you can do with a bachelor of science degree in community health by reading our Community Health Career Guide.
UMD Winter Session
India: East Meets West: Contrasting Public Health Priorities, Pragmatics and Polemics in the US and India (HLTH489I). Learn more about the HLTH489I course on the UMD Study Abroad website.
The Department of Behavioral and Community Health Honors program offers undergraduates the opportunity to engage in challenging educational experiences related to the social and behavioral aspects of public health. Rising juniors with strong academic records and significant interest in intellectual pursuits are invited to apply for this opportunity to partake in independent, mentored, scholarly work.
View the BCH Undergraduate Honors Program Application.
To be eligible for the program, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- Community Health major
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Have successfully completed at least 3 HLTH classes (9 credits with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in HLTH classes. Must have taken HLTH200 by the start of the program.)
- Have completed 45 total credits before applying to the program. Students should be of “junior standing” their first semester in the program (approximately 60 credits)
- Ideally should have 2 semesters left of coursework before the BCH internship
Some Program Highlights:
- Getting to work 1:1 with a BCH faculty member on a thesis/project topic of your choosing
- Graduating with the distinction of departmental honors
- Ability to take HONR seminars and be a member of the University of Maryland Honors College
- Access to a small seminar class (HLTH 410) to develop personal interests and professional skills
Overview of Program Requirements:
- Enrollment in HLTH 410 (health elective) in the Fall
- In Spring and Fall, students work with a faculty mentor of their choosing (faculty members must agree) to complete a research-oriented thesis or an honors-level project. This may be original work or one that is derived from the ongoing work of the faculty mentor’s lab or research group (6 credits total)
- 12 credits of honors-level coursework through a combination of H sections, HONR courses, or graduate classes
If you have any questions please email Dr. Kerry Green, Undergraduate Honors Program Director, at greenkm@umd.edu.
About
Eta Sigma Gamma is the only National Professional Honorary in Health Education. Since being revitalized in 2017, the Epsilon Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG) has proudly excelled in the ares of service, academics, and membership growth. Through our philanthropy and social activities, members find lifetime friendships and valuable connections for the future.
Mission
The mission of the Eta Sigma Gamma honorary is to promote the discipline of health education by elevating the standards, ideals, competence, and ethics of professionally prepared individuals.
Goals of the honarary:
- Support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health education programs and resources
- Stimulate and disseminate scientific research
- Motivate and provide health education services
- Recognize academic achievement
- Support health education advocacy initiatives
- Promote professional standards and ethics
- Promote networking activities among health educators and related professionals
Membership
All community health majors (graduate and undergraduate) are welcome to join. The initiation of members occurs once per year. To be eligible for initiation members must:
- Attend meetings regularly
- Participate in at least 2 events per semester
- Maintain a GPA of 2.7 or higher
Faculty Advisor
Tracy Zeeger
tzeeger@umd.edu
Chapter Co-Presidents
Madison Greenstein
Natalia Villatoro
The Community Health Internship (HLTH491) is a unique and rewarding experience that provides the Department of Behavioral and Community Health undergraduates with the opportunity to work in a mentored, professional, public/community health setting prior to graduation. This required internship is completed during the student's final semester and only after all other academic requirements have been successfully completed (grades of “C-” or higher and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher). The internship is a 12 credit, 36 hour per week (15 weeks) requirement, and should be considered a full-time commitment (students may not enroll in other classes during the internship semester). The internship is typically completed during the fall or spring semesters; students may request a summer internship by completing the summer internship application. A limited number of summer internships are available. Due to supervisory requirements, the Department of Behavioral and Community Health internships are typically completed at an agency or organization in, or near, the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and are approved by the Department’s Internship Coordinator. There are a limited number of paid internships; however, most interns are not paid.
During HLTH490, students are required to apply and secure an internship for their final semester.
View the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Internship Manual.
Department Contact
If you have additional questions about the Community Health Internship (HLTH491), please contact Tracy Kennedy, BCH Undergraduate Internship Coordinator, at kennedyt@umd.edu.
Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program for undergraduates that centers on preparing yourself to be an engaged, global citizen. This program will provide you with the pre-requisites necessary for applying to the Peace Corps post graduation (admittance not guaranteed). View requirements and application process for UMD students.
