The Department of Community Medicine, SDUMC was established at the time of inception of Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College with an aim of preparing primary health care physicians and public health professionals who are able to provide comprehensive health care services to the community. Since 2007, it is functioning as a University Department under Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar. As a University Department it admits postgraduate students for the preparation of specialists in the field of community medicine. Apart from the class room facilities and public health laboratory facilities for teaching and training of students, the Department has a well-established Urban Health Training Centre at Kolar town and a Rural Health Training Centre at Devarayasamudra village in Mulbagal Taluk of Kolar district.

Undergraduate students, interns and postgraduates are posted to these centers to observe and practice Community Medicine under the supervision of the faculty and field staff. The Department also provides medical services to the communities of Kolar and neighboring Chikaballapur districts through outreach clinics and general and specialty health camps. The Department networks extensively with the district health administration and its health centres, panchayats, non-governmental organizations, trusts, individuals and groups in organizing these services.