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Public Health, Associate in Applied Science

Overview

Narrative

The CDC cites unhealthy lifestyle as the primary contributor to the six leading causes of death in the U.S., which collectively account for over 70% of all deaths and 75% of the nation's healthcare costs. This data illustrates a measurable lack of public health infrastructure. Projections indicate that the U.S. will need an additional 250,000 public health workers by 2020 to meet these rising demands.

We need Public Health and we need people trained in Public Health education to move our population into a healthy and safe future. We need individuals taught to appreciate the importance of health behavior change on the individual, community, population and policy levels. We need people who want to make a difference.

NCC Public Health students have the exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of the transitioning landscape of national and international healthcare promotion and education.

NCC can provide students with the applied skills and knowledge to either enter the workforce directly, or transfer easily into a four-year college or university program.

The career opportunities are endless and the specialties diverse. Graduates would be employable in a variety of settings and career paths, including:

  • Health Promotion Counselor
  • Health Coach
  • Patient Navigator
  • Community Health Educator
  • Health Communication/Public Relations
  • Public Health Worker
  • Wellness Promotion Specialist

The scope of Public Health is not confined only to traditional clinical, healthcare settings. Possible places of employment include:

  • Local, state, and federal agencies
  • Health departments
  • Educational institutions
  • Healthcare organizations
  • Health Insurance companies
  • Not for profit organizations
  • Relief organizations
  • Advocacy groups
  • Crisis agencies
  • Research organizations
  • Global health agencies

Accelerated Track! The Associate in Applied Science Degree in Public Health is now being offered in an online accelerated track format. This option allows students to complete the core Public Health content courses in 16 months instead of the traditional 24 months. Courses are offered online in 7 week blocks that run continuously throughout the year, including summer sessions.

Features

This program is designed to provide our graduates with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills crucial to employment within the Public Health arena. Students will explore an evidence-based approach to improving population health and sustaining those changes through core concepts such as health promotion, health education, health communication, health literacy, advocacy, cultural competency, health disparities, diversity, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, community engagement, and policy change.

During the final capstone course, Public Health Field Experience, students will have the opportunity to broaden their public health perspectives and gain experience in applying the theory and content learned in their public health coursework. It is expected that the field experience will afford students the opportunity to interact and collaborate with public health professionals and participate in actions that constitute public health. Integral to closing the loop on the learning process is the opportunity for students to reflect on the field experience. Students will meet weekly in a seminar format class focused on sharing, comparing, and contrasting the different infrastructures and approaches they are observing and experiencing at each field location.

This program can be completed in two years of full time study.

Requirements

Admission to the program is open to any student meeting the standard college entrance requirements. Successful students will have sufficient backgrounds in math, biology, and English as required by certain program courses. NCC offers preparatory courses that will meet these needs if necessary. Background clearances and medical requirements are based on the internship site requirements.

Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

  • Analyze the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of health education interventions and public health programs.
  • Identify individual, community and organization health infrastructure.
  • Analyze, disseminate and integrate health research and statistics into health promotion.
  • Utilize effective public health specific concepts for communication in written and oral format.
  • Compare public health initiatives in a variety of diverse settings within community health models.
  • Describe the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and health disparities.
  • Define the role of prevention and community collaborations in promoting healthy communities.
  • Discuss local, regional, national, and global population health.
  • Create and apply a health education intervention including planning, implementing and evaluating.

Courses

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits

PUBH100Introduction to Healthcare Careers

1 credits

 

BIOS204Human Anatomy & Physiology I

4 credits

OR

BIOS160Human Biology

4 credits

 

COMM101Introduction to Communication

3 credits

ENGL101English I

3 credits

MATH150Introductory Statistics

3 credits

PUBH101Introduction to Public Health

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:18

Second Semester

NUTR105Introduction to Nutrition

3 credits

ENGL151LEnglish II

3 credits

PUBH102Introduction to Epidemiology

3 credits

PUBH103Social & Cultural Perspectives of Health

3 credits

SOCA103Principles of Sociology

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Third Semester

CISC101Introduction to Information Technology

3 credits

PHIL202GEthics & Moral Problems

3 credits

PSYC103Introduction to Psychology

3 credits

PUBH201Introduction to Global Health

3 credits

PUBH206Environmental Determinants of Public Health

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Fourth Semester

PUBH203Public Health Education Communication

3 credits

PUBH204Community Health Practice

3 credits

PUBH205Public Health Field Experience

3 credits

Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:12

Total Credit Hours: 60