Public Health
Associate of Science
School: Nursing, Health and Wellness
Dean: Maureen Kroning, maureen.kroning@sunyrockland.edu
Program Director: Talia Lipton, talia.lipton@sunyrockland.edu
Support Staff: Rochelle Mezoff, rochelle.mezoff@sunyrockland.edu
Location: Technology Center, Room 8210, Phone: 845-574-4222
Degrees Offered:
Program Description:
Public health professionals work within a variety of settings, including state and local health departments, hospitals, workplace wellness programs, government agencies, educational institutions, research organizations, and international development agencies. The two-year Associate in Science (AS) degree in designed specifically for students to transfer to the appropriate upper-level college or university of their choice, where they can complete a bachelor's degree in public health or a related field of study. The curriculum includes core courses in public health along with those general education requirements that would be included in the first two years of study at a four-year institution. A Public Health degree may be a great option for students who are interested in a healthcare career, but many are not drawn to a profession of direct patient care. This program will help students build a broad base of healthcare knowledge and introduce them to a variety of healthcare careers.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Define public health and related roles and responsibilities of government, non-government agencies, and private organizations
- Describe risk factors and modes of transmission for infectious and chronic diseases and how these diseases affect both personal and population health
- List the leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and health disparities among local, regional, and global populations
- Discuss the role of gender, race, ethnicity, and other evolving demographics in affecting population health
- Discuss major local, national, and global health challenges
- Describe how the methods of epidemiology and surveillance are used to safeguard the population's health
- Communicate health information to a wide range of audiences through an array of media
- Conduct a literature search on a health issue using a variety of academic and public resources
- Recognize the impact of policies, laws, and legislation on both individual and population health
- Analyze ethical concerns and conflicts of interest that arise in the field of public health