Public Health and Community Health Education
(413) 662-5031
www.mcla.edu/phch
Chairperson: Nicole Porther Ph.D.
Email: nicole.porther@mcla.edu
Public Health and Community Health Education Major
The Public Health and Community Health Education program is an interdisciplinary major that provides a foundation in principles of community health, an understanding of the biological basis of disease, social and psychological aspects of health and disease, distribution and determinants of health and disease and practical strategies for implementing health promotion programs. Evidence-based practice is emphasized throughout the curriculum, and students will design and implement health interventions. Through coursework and field experiences, this program will prepare students for successful completion of the Certified Health Education Specialist examination and for a career in community health education.
Students graduating with a major in Public Health and Community Health Education will be able to:
- Understand and apply fundamental concepts in the discipline;
- Find and analyze primary literature in the field;
- Analyze data, with appropriate statistical analysis;
- Demonstrate basic knowledge and skills related to evidence-based practice;
- Communicate health information verbally and in writing;
- Apply health concepts, health promotion and evidence-based practice in a real-world setting. Transfer of Anatomy and Physiology
Public Health and Community Health Courses
PHCH 150 Introduction to Public and Community Health3 cr
Explores two key questions: “What is the agenda of public health?” and “Is health a right or a privilege?” Through discussions and activities, students will examine the biological, political, and sociological factors shaping health in the U.S. The course emphasizes understanding public health as a system and its interdisciplinary links to other fields. Critical thinking and analysis of major public health issues will be a central focus throughout the semester.
Attributes: Core Self & Society (CSS), Environmental Studies (ENVI), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
PHCH 150H Honors: Introduction to Public and Community Health3 cr
Explores two key questions: “What is the agenda of public health?” and “Is health a right or a privilege?” Through discussions and activities, students will examine the biological, political, and sociological factors shaping health in the U.S. The course emphasizes understanding public health as a system and its interdisciplinary links to other fields. Critical thinking and analysis of major public health issues will be a central focus throughout the semester.
Attributes: Core Self & Society (CSS), Environmental Studies (ENVI), Honors Program (HONR), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
PHCH 200 Health Promotion and Planning3 cr
Introduces the principles of health promotion and strategies to improve individual and community well-being. Examine health determinants, behavior theories, program planning, and promotion through education and policy. Topics include nutrition, mental health, substance abuse, and chronic disease prevention. Focuses on building practical skills through discussions, case studies, and projects, applying health promotion strategies to diverse, real-world settings.
Attributes: Core Self & Society (CSS)
PHCH 200H Honors: Health Promotion and Planning3 cr
Introduces the principles of health promotion and strategies to improve individual and community well-being. Examine health determinants, behavior theories, program planning, and promotion through education and policy. Topics include nutrition, mental health, substance abuse, and chronic disease prevention. Focuses on building practical skills through discussions, case studies, and projects, applying health promotion strategies to diverse, real-world settings.
Attributes: Core Self & Society (CSS), Honors Program (HONR)
PHCH 310 Environmental Health3 cr
Provides a multidisciplinary understanding of the science, practice, laws and policy of environmental health sciences, addressing why risk of disease is modulated by the environment. Topics include types and sources of environmental contaminants, exposure assessment, types of microenvironments, human behavior and time-location-activity patterns, toxicology, the risk assessment paradigm, basics of environmental and occupational epidemiology, and communicating about environmental health sciences.
Prerequisite: Any Science and Technology course, junior status
Attributes: Environmental Studies (ENVI)
PHCH 310H Honors: Environmental Health3 cr
Provides a multidisciplinary understanding of the science, practice, laws and policy of environmental health sciences, addressing why risk of disease is modulated by the environment. Topics include types and sources of environmental contaminants, exposure assessment, types of microenvironments, human behavior and time-location-activity patterns, toxicology, the risk assessment paradigm, basics of environmental and occupational epidemiology, and communicating about environmental health sciences.
Prerequisite: Any Science and Technology course, junior status
Attributes: Environmental Studies (ENVI), Honors Program (HONR)
PHCH 312 Epidemiology3 cr
Introduces the student to the field of epidemiology. Students will learn about the distribution, frequency, and determinants of patterns of disease and health conditions in various human populations.
PHCH 340 Comparative Healthcare4 cr
Compares healthcare systems and organizations in two Pan-American countries; to gain comprehensive understanding of universal health systems, their challenges, and solutions. Students explore healthcare history, the role of government, and cultural impacts on health trends through discussions, guest lectures, facility visits, and service-learning. Topics include healthcare delivery, funding models, workforce issues, & health outcomes. Includes required travel component to one of the two countries and additional fees.
Prerequisite: Junior status, instructor approval
Attributes: Additional Fees Apply (FEE)
PHCH 350 Health Communication3 cr
Examines how communication affects and is intertwined with issues of health, medicine and ethics. Communication will be discussed on a personal, intimate level in the way patients and caregivers interact in the examination and hospital room; at the organizational level, in the way policies and community relations affect how health care is provided and how people feel about providers; and in media campaigns that seek to educate people about health.
Prerequisite: Junior status
PHCH 350H Honors: Health Communication3 cr
Examines how communication affects and is intertwined with issues of health, medicine and ethics. Communication will be discussed on a personal, intimate level in the way patients and caregivers interact in the examination and hospital room; at the organizational level, in the way policies and community relations affect how health care is provided and how people feel about providers; and in media campaigns that seek to educate people about health.
Prerequisite: Junior status
Attributes: Honors Program (HONR)
PHCH 412 Research Methods in Epidemiology3 cr
Introduces the student to research methods in the field of epidemiology. Students will learn the value of research methodology as applied to the field of epidemiology with a focus on concepts and interpretation of basic research design and statistical analysis.
Prerequisite: BIOL 312 or PHCP 312 and junior status
PHCH 540 Internship in Community Health Education3 cr
Provides students with hands-on experience outside of the college in the field of community health and wellness. The student will work with a faculty sponsor and an off-campus supervisor, as appropriate. Repeatable up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: HLTH 200 or HLTH 200H or PHCH 200 or PHCH 200H or HLTH 350 or HLTH 350H or PHCH 350 or PHCH 350H, junior status, department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 12 credits