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.

Public Health, AAS

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Overview

Learning Outcomes

Course Sequence