Public Health (PBH)

The Associate in Science degree program in Public Health provides students with foundational knowledge in public health that can be used in a wide range of health-related fields and other sectors. This program is designed specifically for students who intend to transfer to an upper-level college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree in Public Health or related field of study.

Public Health professionals work within a variety of settings including state and local health departments, hospitals, workplace wellness programs, government agencies, educational institutions, research organizations and international development agencies. A Public Health degree may be an option for students who are interested in a healthcare career, but may not be drawn to a profession that requires direct patient care.

The five required Public Health courses are offered online only at DCC’s low tuition rate through the Hudson Valley Educational Consortium; the remainder of the courses are offered on the DCC campus and some may be offered online.

This degree program will provide students with a solid foundation in the core Public Health curriculum enabling students to successfully transfer to a four-year degree program in Public Health.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Define public health and related roles and responsibilities of government, non-government agencies and private organizations.

  • Describe risk factors and modes of transmission for infectious and chronic diseases and how these diseases affect both personal and population health.

  • List the leading causes of mortality, morbidity and health disparities among local, regional and global populations.

  • Discuss the role of gender, race, ethnicity and other evolving demographics in affecting population health.

  • Discuss major local, national and global health challenges.

  • Describe how the methods of epidemiology and surveillance are used to safeguard the population’s health.

  • Communicate health information to a wide range of audiences through an array of media.

  • Conduct a literature search on a health issue using a variety of academic and public resources.

  • Recognize the impact of policies, laws and legislation on both individual and population health.

  • Analyze ethical concerns and conflicts of interest that arise in the field of public health.

 

First Semester

Course No.

Descriptive Title

Credit Hours

ENG 101

Composition I

3

BHS 103

Social Problems in Today's World

3

MAT 110

College Algebra

3

BIO 105

General Biology I

4

PBH 101

Introduction to Public Health* 

 3

TOTAL

 

16


Second Semester

Course No.

Descriptive Title

Credit Hours

ENG 102

Composition II

3

BIO 106

General Biology II

4

MAT 118

Elementary Statistics

3

PBH 102

Promoting Healthy People and Communities*

3

Free elective

 

3

TOTAL

 

16


Third Semester

Course No.

Descriptive Title

Credit Hours

BIO 122

Nutrition

3

PSY 111

Introduction to Psychology

3

PHI 205

Introduction to Ethics

3

PBH 203

Concepts of Epidemiology*

3

PBH 204

Global Health*

3

TOTAL

 

15


Fourth Semester

Course No.

Descriptive Title

Credit Hours

Arts or Foreign Language (Appendix H or I)

3

BHS 216

The Sociology of Health and
Medicine in the US

3

American History (Appendix D)

 

3

SPE 101

Public Speaking

3

PBH 205

 U.S. Health Care System*

3

TOTAL

 

15

 

 TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

62

 

* Note: All PBH courses are available online only.