Innovation at Community Colleges

The Community Colleges and Public Health Project, a joint project of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, the Framing the Future Task Force, and the League for Innovation in the Community College, was initiated in November 2012 to examine the needs, opportunities, and barriers that exist to development of education in public health as part of community colleges. The project’s first phase examined potential roles community colleges could play in public health education, and developed sets of consensus and foundational statements to help guide future efforts. The project’s second phase examined the roles community colleges should play in public health education, and included developing prototype curricular models for community college programs that can fulfill workforce needs and provide career ladders for graduates. These prototypes were vetted by the community college and public health communities. Prototype curricular models were developed for two areas, “Public Health: Generalist and Specializations” and “Health Navigator,” in collaboration with representatives from community colleges, public health education programs, and national associations for public health practice and education. A set of recommendations was also developed for community colleges in implementing public health education curriculum. “Public Health: Generalist and Specializations” is designed as an associate’s degree program preparing graduates for transfer to baccalaureate programs in public health. It includes 30 semester credit hours of coursework in public health as part of a 60 semester credit hour associate’s degree. The specializations include health education, health administration, and environmental health. Health Navigator, also 30 semester credit hours, is intended as a certificate or applied associate’s degree program and includes community health worker, patient care navigator, and insurance navigator options. Prototype curricular models are available as part of the project’s final report at www.league.org/ccph.