Academic Program Proposal

Date Proposal Activated	Institution and Proposal	Degree Awarded	Academic Program Name	Objection Deadline	MHEC Final Action	Final Decision Date
12/10/2015	Howard Community College Proposal	AA	Public Health	2/8/2016	Approved	3/15/2016
Public Health Program Description
The A.A. in Public Health will expand Howard Community College’s current offering in public health, which is currently only offered as a transfer option.  This new program is being proposed due to student interest in having public health as a degree option.  It will seek to provide an additional level of education for those workers who seek entry-level employment as community workers within the public health area.  For their critical role in supporting health and wellness, students will get a foundation in public health disciplines such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health services, environmental health, behavioral health, and occupational health.  In addition, the program will prepare students to enter the workforce as community health workers who teach people the importance of healthy behavior to avoid chronic diseases.  At the completion of the program, students will be able to: (1) Apply the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, ethics, concepts, and functions across the globe and society; (2) Apply the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use and analysis; (3) Apply the concepts of population health and the basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address major health-related needs; (4) Apply the underlying science of human health and disease; (5) Compare and contrast the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environment…factors that impact human health; and (6) Apply the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment and evaluation.