M.A. degree program in community health
HEGIS code 1214
NYS SED program code 78495

The master of arts degree in community health serves both national and international students who are pursuing a career in health promotion/disease prevention. Many of our graduate students are in practice in the field and come to Brooklyn College for advanced training and professional development.

The program has three concentrations: Community Health Education, Thanatology, and Food and Health Equity. The Community Health Education concentration provides broad knowledge of community health and health services with an emphasis on community planning and assessment. Graduates will design educational programs, conduct, and evaluate community and public health activities and services to help improve the health of communities and individuals. Graduates typically find employment in public health departments, community-based organizations, hospitals, and clinics as patient educators, health coaches, community organizers, public health educators, and health program managers.

The thanatology concentration provides community health training with a focus on the development of expertise in the area of dying, death, and bereavement. Graduates are prepared for a variety of positions in community health settings, including community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and in hospice and palliative care.

The Food and Health Equity concentration prepares graduates to work in community settings with a focus on addressing inequities in our food and nutrition systems that disproportionately impact vulnerable and economically disadvantaged groups. Program graduates may work in preventive health services, including clinical healthcare, in corporate wellness centers, community nutrition outreach centers, college health services. Food and health equity program organizers and developers may work in healthcare settings creating food and nutrition programs that focus on diversity; programs that address access to healthy and affordable foods in urban neighborhood.

Students who have completed a Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) from an ACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics) -accredited program may also apply to the Brooklyn College Dietetic Internship (DI) after completion of 24 credits in the MA Food and Health Equity program. The DI provides students with the supervised practice needed to sit for the Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist (RDN) exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

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Matriculation requirements

Applicants for the Community Health Education and Thanatology concentrations must have at least 18 credits in acceptable health-related courses at the undergraduate or graduate level and a minimum GPA of 3.0. One year of relevant experience in the field may be accepted in place of up to 18 credits.

Applicants for the Food and Health Equity concentration must have at least 18 credits in acceptable health-related and/or nutrition courses as well as a course in human nutrition. Credit for coursework in the Food and Health Equity concentration may be given for relevant experience in the field (up to 6 credits). Credit will be determined by the Chair


Degree requirements (30-36 credits)

Thirty to thirty-six credits are required for the degree. Students must complete one of the following three concentrations of study: Community Health Education (36 credits), Thanatology (30 credits), or Food and Health Equity (30 credits). The MA in Community Health is a fully online program. Students also have the option to take courses in-person at Brooklyn College or at another CUNY college. The fully online delivery of the program is awaiting NYSED approval as of June 2023.

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Community Health Education concentration
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Required courses (33 credits): Health and Nutrition Sciences 7110X, 7120X, 7140X, 7141X, 7150X, 7163X, 7170X, 7171X, 7925X, and 7930X.

Elective courses: 3 credits

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Thanatology concentration
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Required courses (30 credits): Students must complete 18 credits from the following courses: Health and Nutrition Sciences 7175X, 7180X, 7181X, 7182X, 7183X, 7184X, 7185X, 7186X, 7187X, 7188X, 7901X. Students must complete Health and Nutrition Sciences 7110, and 9 additional credits from the following courses: Health and Nutrition Sciences 7120X, 7141X, 7150X, 7163X, 7170X, 7171X, 7930X, 7950X

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Food and Health Equity concentration
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Required courses (21 credits): Health and Nutrition Sciences: 7110X, 7221X, 7230X 7242X, 7243X, 7244X, 7931X
Elective courses: Students must complete 9 credits from the following: Health and Nutrition Sciences 7140X, 7184X, 7201X, 7202X, 7212X, 7232X, 7233X, 7234X, 7240X 7950X

Students who choose a capstone project as the exit requirement must complete Health and Nutrition Sciences 7950X.

Students with advanced preparation may substitute other courses for required courses with the permission of the deputy chairperson.

Students interested in applying to the Dietetic Internship (DI) accredited by ACEND must have completed a Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) and 24 credits in the MA Foods and Health Equity program, including the elective course HNSC 7240X prior to the start of the internship.

Dietetic Interns must register for the following courses: Health and Nutrition Sciences 7200X, 7201X, 7202X, and 7203X. The supervised practice courses, Health and Nutrition Sciences 7202X and 7203X, will not count for electives towards the MA in Foods and Heath Equity completion requirements. Only students accepted to the Dietetic Internship may use HNSC 7200X and 7201X as elective courses.

Note: Separate applications must be made to the DI and to the M.A. Food and Health Equity program.

Dietetic Internship (DI)

The ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) at Brooklyn College is a two-semester program that provides the supervised practice experience required to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) examination. Students must be enrolled in the M.S. Nutrition program or the M.A. in Community Health-Food and Health Equity program in order to be eligible for the DI, and they must file a separate application through DICAS (Dietetic Internship Central Application System.) Students who have completed a DPD and have earned a graduate degree are also eligible to apply to the Brooklyn College DI. The supervised practice program enables students to apply theory and research to practice in clinical, community, and food service settings, thereby enriching their education and preparing them to make significant contributions to the profession.


Exit requirements
Students matriculated in the Community Health Education concentration are required to submit an acceptable capstone project at the culmination of HNSC 7925X.

Students matriculated in the Thanatology concentration are required to pass a comprehensive exam or complete HNSC 7950X Capstone.
Students in the Food and Health Equity concentration must pass a comprehensive examination or complete a capstone project - the course 7950X must be completed as the capstone course. Information about the requirements for the comprehensive examination is in the section "Academic Regulations and Procedures."


Courses in the Health and Nutrition Sciences Department offered toward the degree must be 7000-level courses.

Community Health Education students interested in national certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) may take the examination administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Thanatology students interested in national certification in Thanatology (CT) may take the examination administered by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC).