Public Health (AA)
Note: Previously Community Health Promotion. Program title change effective fall 2025.
Award: Associate of Arts Degree
No. of credits required: 60
For more information: Contact Assistant Professor Deborah Dorsey, 443-412-2064, ddorsey@harford.edu; or Advising, Career and Transfer Services, 443-412-2301.
Program Description
The Public Health program challenges students to think critically about the determinants of health and their impact on protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. Experiential learning is gained through active engagement with the local community to address health-related issues. A multi-disciplinary curriculum provides a foundation for diverse careers in health promotion, disease prevention, and health education. This program creates a transfer pathway to a baccalaureate degree in public health.
Program Goals
Upon completion of the Public Health program the student will:
- Relate connections between the determinants of health and the health of people and their communities.
- Identify basic processes, approaches, and interventions that address the major health-related needs and concerns of communities.
- Use technology to collect and interpret health data, develop health promotion objectives, and deliver health-specific communication.
- Demonstrate practical experiences in public health settings.
Transfer Information
Students should be aware that each transfer institution has unique curricular requirements. Academic advisement of elective course selection is strongly recommended.
Employment Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of health educators and community health workers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will be driven by efforts to improve health outcomes and to reduce healthcare costs by teaching people about healthy habits and behaviors and utilization of available health care services.
Degree Requirements
Recommended Course Sequence
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) | 3 |
| HLTH 101 | Contemporary Health Issues (GI) | 3 |
| HLTH 107 | Stress Management | 3 |
| HLTH 108 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GB) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIO 120 | General Biology I (GL) | 4 |
| HLTH 204 | Women’s Health Issues | 3 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology (GB) | 3 |
| MATH 216 | Introduction to Statistics (GM) | 4 |
| HLTH 281 | Field Placement in Public Health | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| BIO 210 | Nutrition (GS) | 3 |
| CMST 101 | Speech Fundamentals (GI) | 3 |
| HLTH 201 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY 208 | Alcohol/Drugs: Impact on Behavior | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Select from: | 3 | |
| Health Behavior | ||
Health Elective | ||
| HLTH 282 | Internship in Public Health | 2 |
| HLTH 203 | The U.S. Health Care System (GB) | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH) | 3 | |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
General Education Degree Requirements
Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)