Community Health Option

Description of the Liberal Arts A.A. Degree with the Community Health Option:
As an introduction to the field of public health, the Community Health Option focuses on studying, protecting, or improving the health of individuals, communities, and organizations. The goal of the Liberal Arts A.A. Degree with the Community Health Option is to prepare students with the competencies they need to pursue their professional and academic goals in health-related areas.

Student enrolled in this Option will obtain foundational understanding of current health issues such as health inequity, health promotion and disease prevention. They will develop the skills needed to effectively address contemporary health issues affecting their communities. Students completing this Option will have the ability to work in a variety of settings including nonprofit community health organizations, public health agencies, worksite and health promotion programs, schools, and voluntary health agencies. This Option also enables the student to transfer to a four-year college program in health-related fields. There is an articulation agreement with Lehman College in place.
 
The Community Health Liberal Arts A.A. Option will:
  • introduce students to a wide range of educational experiences within the health field by offering an interdisciplinary overview of basic health concepts (common to all the health professions) derived from biological, behavioral, and social sciences.
  • offer courses that are transferrable to senior colleges, accepted by appropriate accrediting agencies and designed to complement their professional studies in the health field.
  • enable students to join national efforts to eliminate health disparities in New York City and other metropolitan areas in the United States. 
The Requirements of the Community Health Option:
In addition to the courses taken as part of the Common/Flexible Core, students must take 9 credits from the offerings below:

HLT 110 Introduction to Community Health Education (Required)
3 credits, 3 hours; Pre/Co-requisite: ENG 91 or ESL 91
The student will examine and analyze various health organizations and their role in community health; the emerging role of community health workers in promoting health of neglected populations; the spread and control of communicable diseases; the community health structure and the principles underlying health behavior, learning, and change; theories of health behavior and practical models for community health worker interventions.
 
Choose two out of the three courses below:
HLT 214 Substance Use and Abuse
3 credits, 3 hours, Pre/Co-requisite: HLT 110
This course provides students with an overview of the problem of chemical abuse and dependence and an introduction to models of intervention in these problems. The course content will cover the core theory and research related to etiology of chemical abuse and dependence, basic pharmacology of alcohol and other abused substances, as well as drug use and abuse in special populations. The students will also explore the impact of drug and alcohol abuse on family systems, and domestic violence, and introduce treatment process and service systems.

HLT 215 Nutrition
3 credits, 3 hours, Pre/Co-requisite: ENG 110
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the meaning of nutrition and its relation to health. The student will analyze and identify the different kinds of nutrients, their chemical nature and main sources. S/he will also demonstrate his/her knowledge of the specific diets for different age groups and various pathological conditions.

HLT 220 Contemporary Health Issues
3 credits, 3 hours, Pre-requisite: HLT 110
The student will analyze current health problems such as emotional/mental health and psychological disorders, sexuality (STD’s and sexual dysfunctions), Cardiovascular disease, chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse and stress. Students will study theories of etiology and the impact they have on individuals, families and communities.