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.