Public Health

Associate of Applied Science Degree

(575) 527-7670

Information based on the 2009-10 DACC Catalog

The associate of applied science degree in public health provides the initial course work to prepare students for a career in public health. Public health is an exciting area of practice which takes a population-based focus to health. Individuals in this field interpret community data to determine health needs and intervention priorities. In addition to needs assessment, they work with community leaders to plan, implement, and evaluate community health education interventions such as smoking cessation, chronic and infectious disease awareness campaigns, vaccination programs, and family planning and prenatal care initiatives. This program is ideal for those who like to work with the public, yet who also like to take the broader view of how to promote the health of communities and groups of citizens.

The associate degree program fully articulates with the bachelor of community health degree program offered at the main NMSU campus in the Department of Health Science, which also offers the master of public health in community health education at the graduate level. The courses in this associate of applied science in public health curriculum at DACC will meet the majority of NMSU’s general education degree requirements and are designed to give students a full overview of what public health and community health education practice is all about. There are no special admissions criteria for this program, but prospective majors are advised to arrange an initial degree advising session with the faculty of DACC’s Health Occupations program in the Division of Health and Public Services. The program director will also be able to advise students regarding choices for elective courses.

NOTE: The Associate Degree in Public Health may be obtained entirely online.

Associate Degree (66 credits)

Core Requirements 30 Credits
OR OR	OECS 105OECS 105: Introduction to Microcomputer Technology - 3 cr. History and impact of computers on the economy and society. Development of basic skills in operating systems, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. – Introduction to Microcomputer Technology C S 110C S 110: Computer Literacy - 3 cr. Evolution and application of computers; economic and social implications; introduction to programming on microcomputers. – Computer Literacy BCIS 110BCIS 110: Introduction to Computerized Information Systems - 3 cr. Computerized information systems, their economic, and social implications. Introduction to microcomputer hardware, personal productivity software, and communications. – Introduction to Computerized Information Systems	3
OR	COMM 253GCOMM 253G: Public Speaking - 3 cr. Principles of effective public speaking, with emphasis on preparing and delivering well-organized, logical, and persuasive arguments adapted to different audiences. – Public Speaking COMM 265GCOMM 265G: Principles of Human Communication - 3 cr. Study and practice of interpersonal, small group, and presentational skills essential to effective social, business, and professional interaction. – Principles of Human Communication	3
	ENGL 111GENGL 111G: Rhetoric and Composition - 4 cr. Skills and methods used in writing university-level essays. Prerequisite: ACT standard score in English of 16 or higher during regular semester (20 or above during summer) or successful completion of a developmental writing course or the equivalent. – Rhetoric and Composition	4
	ENGL 218GENGL 218G: Technical and Scientific Communication - 3 cr. Effective writing for courses and careers in sciences, engineering, and agriculture. Strategies for understanding and presenting technical information for various purposes to various audiences. – Technical and Scientific Communication	3
	Laboratory science courses selected from the following list: ASTR 105GASTR 105G: The Planets - 4 cr. (3+2P) Comparative study of the planets, moons, comets, and asteroids which comprise the solar system. Emphasis on geological and physical processes which shape the surfaces and atmospheres of the planets. Laboratory exercises include analysis of images returned by spacecraft. Intended for non-science majors, but some basic math required. This lecture/lab course satisfies the New Mexico Common Core Area III: Lab Sciences requirement – The Planets OR ASTR 110GASTR 110G: Introduction to Astronomy - 4 cr. (3+2P) A survey of the universe. Observations, theories, and methods of modern astronomy. Topics include planets, stars and stellar systems, black holes and neutron stars, supernovas and gaseous nebulae, galaxies and quasars, and cosmology. Emphasis on physical principles involving gravity, light and optics (telescopes). Generally non-mathematical. Laboratory involves use of the campus observatory and exercises designed to experimentally illustrate principles of astronomy. This lecture/lab course satisfies the New Mexico Common Core Area III: Lab Sciences requirement. – Introduction to Astronomy { BIOL 101GBIOL 101G: Human Biology - 3 cr. Introduction to modern biological concepts. Emphasis on relevance to humans and their relationships with their environment. Cannot be taken for credit after successful completion of BIOL 111G or BIOL 211G. Corequisite: BIOL 101L. – Human Biology + BIOL 101GLBIOL 101GL: Human Biology Laboratory - 1 cr. (3P) Laboratory for BIOL 101G. Laboratory experiences and activities exploring biological concepts and their relevance to humans and their relationship with their environment. Corequisite: BIOL 101G. – Human Biology Laboratory } OR {BIOL 111GBIOL 111G: Natural History of Life - 3 cr. Survey of major processes and events in the genetics, evolution, and ecology of microbes, plants and animals, and their interactions with the environment. Appropriate for nonscience majors. Must be taken with BIOL 111L to meet general education requirements. – Natural History of Life + BIOL 111GLBIOL 111GL: Natural History of Life Laboratory - 1 cr. (3P) Laboratory experiments, demonstrations and exercises on interrelationships among organisms, biodiversity, processes of evolution, and interaction of organisms and their environment. Corequisite: BIOL 111G. – Natural History of Life Laboratory } CHEM 110GCHEM 110G: Principles and Applications of Chemistry - 4 cr. (3+3P) A survey of the properties and uses of the elements and their compounds. In addition to classical chemistry, attention is paid to the materials from which consumer products are made, to the production of energy, and to environmental considerations. Prerequisite: 3 years of high school math or CCDM 114N. – Principles and Applications of Chemistry OR CHEM 111CHEM 111: General Chemistry I - 4 cr. (3+3P) Descriptive and theoretical chemistry. Prerequisite: (1) grade of C or better in MATH 120 or a Mathematics Placement Exam Score adequate to enroll in mathematics courses beyond MATH 120; and (2) one of the following: B or better in a second semester high school chemistry course, or grade of at least C in CHEM 100, or an enhanced ACT score of at least 22. CHEM 111/112 are General Education alternative to CHEM 110G. – General Chemistry I GEOL 111GGEOL 111G: Survey of Geology - 4 cr. (3+3P) Covers the fundamental principles of physical geology, including the origin of minerals and rocks, geologic time, rock deformation, and plate tectonics. – Survey of Geology OR GEOL 212GEOL 212: The Dynamic Earth - 4 cr. (3+3P) Introduction to earth systems. Geology and the solid earth, geologic time and earth history, water and the world oceans, atmosphere and weather, the solar system. Branch campuses only. – The Dynamic Earth PHYS 110GPHYS 110G: The Great Ideas of Physics - 4 cr. (3+3P) Conceptual, quantitative, and laboratory treatments of the great ideas and discoveries that have influenced lives and changed perceptions of nature, from Johannes Kepler+s laws of planetary motion and Isaac Newton+s and Albert Einstein+s laws of motion and gravity to the modern concepts of the quantal structure of nature and the big bang universe. – The Great Ideas of Physics OR { PHYS 211PHYS 211: General Physics I - 3 cr. Non-calculus treatment of mechanics, waves, sound, and heat. Knowledge of simple algebra and trigonometry is required. – General Physics I + PHYS 211 LPHYS 211 L: General Physics I Laboratory - 1 cr. Laboratory experiments in topics associated with material presented in PHYS 211 or PHYS 221. Students wishing to use the PHYS 211-212 or PHYS 221-222 sequence to satisfy the basic natural science General Education requirement must register for either PHYS 211L or PHYS 212L. Corequisite: PHYS 211 or PHYS 212 PHYS 212. General Physics II 3 cr. Noncalculus treatment of electricity, magnetism, and light. Prerequisite: PHYS 211. – General Physics I Laboratory }	8
	MATH 210GMATH 210G: Mathematics Appreciation - 3 cr. Mathematics and its role in the development and maintenance of civilization. Prerequisites: High school algebra, and an adequate score on the Mathematics Placement Examination. – Mathematics Appreciation	3
	PSY 201GPSY 201G: Introduction to Psychology - 3 cr. (3+3P) Methods and principles of behavior. Topics include human evolution and development, biopsychology, perception, learning, thinking, motivation, social interaction, and the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behavior. – Introduction to Psychology	3
	SOC 101GSOC 101G: Introductory Sociology - 3 cr. Introduction to social theory, research, methods of analysis, contemporary issues in historical and cross-cultural contexts. Covers groups, deviance, inequality, family, gender, social change, and collective behavior. – Introductory Sociology	3

Related Requirements 17 Credits
	One history course from the following list: HIST 101GHIST 101G: Roots of Modern Europe - 3 cr. Economic, social, political, and cultural development from earliest times to about 1700. – Roots of Modern Europe HIST 102GHIST 102G: Modern Europe - 3 cr. Economic, social, political, and cultural development from 1700 to the present. – Modern Europe HIST 201GHIST 201G: Introduction to Early American History - 3 cr. History of the United States to 1877, with varying emphasis on social, political, economic, diplomatic, and cultural development. – Introduction to Early American History HIST 202GHIST 202G: Introduction to Recent American History - 3 cr. History of the United States since 1877, with varying emphasis on social, political, economic, diplomatic, and cultural development. – Introduction to Recent American History HIST 211GHIST 211G: East Asia to 1600 - 3 cr. History of China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan from earliest times through the sixteenth century. Emphasis on cultural and political developments and their social and economic contexts, and the interaction between East Asian societies. – East Asia to 1600 HIST 212GHIST 212G: East Asia since 1600 - 3 cr. History of China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries. Emphasis on internal development of each country, as well as the social and political impact of Western Imperialism, and the emergence of each country's unique version of modern society. – East Asia since 1600 HIST 221GHIST 221G: Islamic Civilizations to 1800 - 3 cr. History of Islamic civilizations to 1800. – Islamic Civilizations to 1800	3
	One course from the following list: ART 101GART 101G: Orientation in Art - 3 cr. (2+3P) A multicultural examination of the principles and philosophies of the visual arts and the ideas expressed through them. – Orientation in Art ART 110GART 110G: Visual Concepts - 3 cr. (2+4P) Introduction to the philosophies of art, visual thinking, and principles of visual organization. Designed to give students a broad view of aesthetic traditions, ideologies, and techniques basic to the creation and evaluation of art. Principles and concepts are taught in a common lecture and applied in parallel small studio sections. For non-art majors only. – Visual Concepts ENGL 244GENGL 244G: Literature and Culture - 3 cr. Intensive reading of and discussion and writing about selected masterpieces of world literature. Emphasizes cultural and historical contexts of readings to help students appreciate literary traditions. Core texts include works by Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare, a classic novel, an important non-Western work, and modern literature. – Literature and Culture MUS 101GMUS 101G: An Introduction to Music - 3 cr. An introduction to music for the non-music major to encourage the enjoyment of listening to and understanding the world's great music from the past to the present. – An Introduction to Music MUS 201GMUS 201G: History of Jazz in Popular Music: A Blending of Cultures - 3 cr. Jazz in popular music as it relates to music history and the development of world cultures. – History of Jazz in Popular Music: A Blending of Cultures THTR 101GTHTR 101G: Introduction to Theatre - 3 cr. An appreciation class introducing the non-major to all aspects of theatre. Playwrights, directors, actors, and designers visit the class. Students attend and report on main-stage productions. – Introduction to Theatre	3
	Electives from any of the following categories OEHO courses 300- or 400-level courses offered by the NMSU Health Sciences Department NMSU general education courses from the Viewing a Wider World list	11

Technical Requirements 19 Credits
	NOTE: The CHSS and HL S courses listed here may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree program in Community Health at NMSU.
	CHSS 101CHSS 101: Overview of Health and Community Services - 3 cr. Health and community service professions with emphasis on public health, community health education, and environmental/occupational health. – Overview of Health and Community Services	3
	CHSS 216CHSS 216: Ethical and Research Issues in Human and Community Service - 3 cr. Ethical and legal responsibilities of health personnel with emphasis on research applications. May not receive credit for both CHSS 216 and CHSS 316. Community Colleges only. – Ethical and Research Issues in Human and Community Service	3
	CHSS 299CHSS 299: Service Learning Experience in Human and Community Services - 3 cr. Exploration of contemporary social, civic, economic and ethical problems that require student participation in collaborative efforts within the community. Requires 30 clock hours of community based service for each credit. Prerequisite: CHSS 101 or consent of instructor. – Service Learning Experience in Human and Community Services	3
	HL S 100HL S 100: Introduction to Health Science - 1 cr. An overview of professional career opportunities in the realm of health science as well as the functional roles of practice, education, administration, and research. Some field trips will be required. – Introduction to Health Science	1
	HL S 150GHL S 150G: Personal Health and Wellness - 3 cr. A holistic and multi-disciplinary approach towards promoting positive lifestyles. Special emphasis is placed on major problems that have greatest significance to personal and community health. Topics to include nutrition, stress management, fitness, aging, sexuality, drug education, and others. – Personal Health and Wellness	3
	HL S 275HL S 275: Foundations of Health Education - 3 cr. Role and responsibility of the health educator with emphasis on small group dynamics, oral and written communication skills, building community coalitions and an introduction to grant writing. Taught with HL S 375. Cannot receive credit for both HLS 275 and HLS 375. Prerequisite(s): Either HL S 100 or HL S 150G, or consent of instructor. – Foundations of Health Education	3
	HL S 295HL S 295: Foundations of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics - 3 cr. Principles and major areas of public health, including ecological and total-person concept of health care systems; epidemological approaches to disease prevention and control; using basic analytical and epidemological statistics. Taught with HLS 395. May not receive credit for both HLS 295 and HLS 395. Restricted to: Community College campuses only. – Foundations of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics	3

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