Program Overview
Are you interested in pursuing a career promoting the health and wellness of individuals, families, and communities? Would you like to help connect people with needed health care services? Then a career in public health is for you.
iHealth@NECC’s Associate Degree in Public Health will provide you with classroom theory and field work experience and will prepare you for an entry-level position in the public health field. The program will also prepare you to transfer to a four year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in health education, health administration, or environmental health.
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of the program, you may be eligible to pursue opportunities in private, public, and federal health care agencies. Public health generalists have many different job titles and functions, including community health educators, patient navigators, public health field workers, community advocates, and environmental science and protection workers.
Program Requirements
Starting in the fall of 2014, any student enrolled in an associate degree program who is new to NECC and has no academic history at the college, must take at least one course designated as intensive in each of NECC’s six core academic skills in order to graduate. In most cases, the program’s core required courses include these intensive courses. Plan to see an advisor for more complete information about this graduation requirement.
Students who pursue the iHealth@NECC Associate Degree in Public Health will complete most of their course work in an online “hybrid” format. Students will come to the Lawrence Campus one or two evenings per week for in-class meetings. In order to progress in the program, a student must have a “C” in all courses to move to the next level and graduate. 68 credit hours are required for graduation.
The Public Health Program has additional admission requirements. See the Admission Criteria Packet below:
Public Health Criteria Packet 2017 (PDF)
Public Health Criteria Packet (High School Seniors Only) 2017 (PDF)
Public Health Criteria Packet 2016 (PDF)
Public Health Criteria Packet (High School Seniors Only) 2016 (PDF)
Drug Screening
Students enrolled in this academic program may be required to pass a drug screening analysis.
Health
Students are required to complete a health evaluation, including the Hepatitis B immunization series, prior to final acceptance to the program.
Student Professional Liability Insurance
Students are required to carry professional liability insurance. The premium is to be paid at the time of course registration.
CORI/CHRI/SORI
Students interested in participating in this program may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Criminal Records Central Repository (CHRI) check, and a Sex Offender Record Information (SORI) check. For more information, visit the CORI/SORI/CHRI page on the NECC website.
Northern Essex Community College is committed to the success of every student. Students with legal issues in their background will meet with a committee as part of the CORI/SORI/CHRI process and will receive guidance and counseling throughout the review of their records. NECC personnel make every effort to help students prepare for careers in their chosen field. Students are encouraged to seek assistance and support.
Required Courses
Required Courses:
| BIO115 | Physiological Chemistry | 4 | Science Technology Intensive |
| BIO121 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 | Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive |
| BIO122 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 | Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive |
| BIO220 | Microbiology | 4 | Information Literacy Intensive Science Technology Intensive |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 3 | |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
| CHW100 | Personal Health and Wellness | 3 | |
| CHW101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 | |
| CHW102 | Health Communications | 3 | |
| CHW103 | Health Education | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| CHW202 | Introduction to Public Health Administration | 3 | |
| CHW204 | Environmental Health | 3 | |
| CHW206 | Prevention and Community Health | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| CHW208 | Public Health Preparedness | 3 | Written Communication Intensive |
| CHW290 | Public Health Practicum/Seminar | 3 | |
| HES102 | Learning Strategies for Success in Healthcare Careers | 3 | |
| MAT125 | Statistics | 4 | Quantitative Reason Intensive |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| PHI101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 | |
| SOC101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
Courses with Prerequisites: BIO121, BIO122, BIO220, ENG101, ENG102, CHW101, CHW206, CHW290, HES102, MAT125, PSY101, PHI101, SOC101
Courses with Co-requisites: BIO115, CHW100, CHW102, CHW204, CHW208
Electives:
| Humanities Elective |
3 |
Foreign Language Recommended (except ESL100-ESL299 and ASL100-ASL299), Examples of the Global Humanities courses are: ART104, ART105, DAN147, LIT224, LIT263, LIT271, LIT272, MUS112, REL101, THE101, Minimum Grade of C |
Program Notes
Prerequisite Courses: English Composition I (ENG101) 3 Credits and Learning Strategies for Success in Healthcare Careers (HES102) 3 credits.
Recommended Course Sequence Public Health Associate Degree
Year 1
Fall
| BIO115 | Physiological Chemistry | 4 | Science Technology Intensive |
| CHW100 | Personal Health and Wellness | 3 | |
| CHW101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 | |
Spring
| BIO121 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 | Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive |
| CHW102 | Health Communications | 3 | |
| CHW103 | Health Education | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
Summer
| BIO122 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 | Quantitative Reason Intensive Science Technology Intensive |
| SOC101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
Year 2
Fall
| CHW202 | Introduction to Public Health Administration | 3 | |
| CHW204 | Environmental Health | 3 | |
| PHI101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 | |
| MAT125 | Statistics | 4 | Quantitative Reason Intensive |
Spring
| BIO220 | Microbiology | 4 | Information Literacy Intensive Science Technology Intensive |
| CHW206 | Prevention and Community Health | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| CHW208 | Public Health Preparedness | 3 | Written Communication Intensive |
| CHW290 | Public Health Practicum/Seminar | 3 | |