COMMUNITY HEALTH
The Community Health program prepares professional health educators. Graduates of the program are trained to have expertise in the science and art of (1) preventing disease, (2) prolonging life, (3) promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort for (a) the sanitation of the environment, (b) the control of communicable diseases, (c) the education of individuals in personal hygiene. At Chicago State University, the Department of Health Studies offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree with a Community Health option. Community health educators are employed in such places as the offices of public health with the local and state school systems, faith-based organizations, federal centers for disease control and prevention, National Institutes of Health, and many other non-profit organizations. The salary range falls within $40,000 to $100,000. For further information, please contact the Health Studies department at 773/995-2527 or csu-chs@csu.edu.

HEALTH INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
Health Information (HIA) professionals are experts who secure, analyze, integrate and manage information that steers the health care industry. At Chicago State University, the Department of Health Information Administration offers a four-year program that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and a Post-baccalaureate Certificate. On top of strong job prospects, competitive salaries also await HIA graduates. More than half of new HIA graduates with a bachelor’s degree start with salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. Within five years post qualification experience, HIA practitioners typically earn between $50,000 to $75,000. For further information, please contact the HIA department at 773/995-2593 or csu-hia@csu.edu.

NURSING
Registered Nurses (RN) are caring professionals who use their knowledge, skill and insight to help people maintain good health; recover from illness or injury; learn to care for themselves and their loved ones; adjust to loss or limitations; and live life as fully as possible. At Chicago State University, the Department of Nursing offers a four-year program that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum consists of 1.5 years of pre-professional studies and 2.5 years of professional studies. In addition to the basic BSN track, the department offers a RN to BSN track, a LPN to BSN tract, and a CNA to BSN track. The median salary in the metropolitan Chicago area for a RN is $55,000 to $65,000. For further information, please contact the Nursing department at 773/995-3992 or bacnur@csu.edu.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational Therapists (OT) are health care professionals who assist individuals of all ages whose ability to participate in their everyday activities have been impaired by injury, illness, development problems or aging. Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, schools, community settings, and private homes. At Chicago State University, the Department of Occupational Therapy offers a Combined Bachelor in Health Sciences and Master of Occupational Therapy degree (BS/MOT). The average starting salary for a new graduate in OT is about $51,000. For further information, please contact the OT department at 773/995-2366 or             csu-ot@csu.edu.

PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical Therapists (PT) are professional members of the health care team, specially trained to improve movement and function, relieve pain, and expand movement potential. Chicago State does not offer a professional Physical Therapy program. However, Pre-PT students may complete a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree with a Pre-Physical Therapy option in the Department of Health Studies at Chicago State University and then apply to an entry-level Master’s or Doctoral Physical Therapy Program at another institution. The average salary for a PT is about $51,000. For further information, please contact the Health Studies department at 773/995-2527 or csu-ppt@csu.edu.

MINOR IN HEALTH SCIENCES
The College of Health Sciences offers a Minor in Health Sciences. The minor consists of 20 credit hours; eight hours of required core courses (Medical Terminology, Introduction to Health Professions, and Service Learning in Health) and 12 hours of electives (chosen from selected courses offered within the College of Health Sciences). For further information, please contact the coordinator of the minor in health sciences at 773/995-2527 or                    csu-chs@csu.edu.

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