Framing High School Education in Public Health

A growing interest in epidemiology and public health science (EPHS) at the high school level has been identified. From 2004 to 2012, there has been a 300% increase in the number of undergraduate public health degrees awarded. Secondary school public health-curricula are needed to develop competency and allow for a smooth transition to college-level coursework. At least four states accredit an EPHS-related course in their high school program state-wide. Teachers report accredited courses at the district-level in other states. Two nationally-recognized afterschool programs also have EPHS-related components. Since 1999, Centers for Disease Control’s Career Paths to Public Health (CPP) program has supported this trend and provided leadership, over 75 lesson plans, and has trained approximately 200 science teachers in EPHS. Teachers reported the lack of an EPHS curriculum was as a major obstacle to teaching entire course. In 2016, CPP released Epidemiology and Public Health Science: Core Competencies for High School Students (EPHS-CCHSS) to provide a course framework. EPHS-CCHSS aligns with National Science Standards and ASPPH’s recommended critical component elements of an undergraduate major. Vertical and horizontal connectivity assure that an EPHS-CCHSS courses provides a foundation for future studies. In pilot testing, teachers found EPHS-CCHSS useful, but the demand for a curriculum remained. Future efforts will focus on developing a half-year EPHS course curriculum.