Associate of Science Degree in Public Health (ASDPH)
Students completing this step are awarded the Public Health degree they have enrolled in, at their beginning. Furthermore, this step provides the minimal standard for licensure as a professional public health practitioner.
Entry criteria: Advanced Certificate of Achievement in Public Health (ACAPH);
OR: Diploma 2 in Public Health or in a Public Health Specialty;
OR: A qualification in Public Health equivalent (see footnote (1) under ACAPH) to those above.
And: appropriate public health work experience of at least 6 years
All non-ACAPH-holding candidates to sit C.O.M.E.T. and attain placement for the Pre-requisite
courses of this qualification and gain admission to a COM-FSM Degree Program.
Total credits required = 34
Program Learning Outcomes:
- Recognize, describe and discuss and research about the basic public health science facts and principles;
- List, discuss and demonstrate the essential public health functions and their interrelationships at community and district level;
- Describe, discuss and research adult, children and family health issues;
- Discuss and demonstrate an understanding and practice of some generic public health competencies;
- Demonstrate proper public health skills for public health practice in the community as a national public health officer;
- Discuss and demonstrate community and cultural sensitivity in the health care environment;
- Describe, discuss and research the health determinants and problems of adults, children and families;
- Demonstrate proper cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid techniques and other healing and patient care abilities;
- Demonstrate the ability and discuss how to make a community diagnosis of the determinants of health in a community;
- Identify and demonstrate good public health practice; and
- Have had work experience at a public health specialty at community and national levels.
General Education courses and credits (16):
EN 120b Expository Writing II (3)
SC 117 Tropical Pacific Islands Environment (4)
ESS/SC 200 Fundamentals of Wellness and Physical Fitness (3)
Humanities: any 3-credits course (Art-Culture-Music-History-Philosophy-Language) (3)
SS 150 History of Micronesia [3]
PHTP/ Major courses and credits (18):
PH 211 Health Research Methodology (3)
PH 212 Surveillance, Identification and Management of an Outbreak (3)
PH 221 Occupational Health and Safety (3)
PH 231 Food, Nutrition and Lifestyle Diseases (3)
PH 241 Case Studies and Special Issues in Health Promotion (3)
PH 251 Management of Health Information Systems and Epidemiology (3)
(2) The term “diploma” is used primarily to allow admission to PHTP of students who would hold a qualification earned after studies deemed adequate by a diploma-awarding Institution. A possible “benchmark” reference could be the Diploma awarded by the Fiji School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health (formally School of Public Health and Primary Care). Such qualifications could possibly be equated to what in the US system is referred to as a degree, such as the Associate of Arts or Science (AA or AS). Certificates of Achievement are awarded at the exit points of the program, prior to attaining a full AS degree. The 3rd year qualification is also designated as a Certificate of Achievement in the specialty discipline. Other “equivalent” qualifications submitted for either cross-crediting or admission would be assessed by a review panel headed by the chair of the College’s Math and Science Division, and having Public Health faculty as members. Thus, no “diploma” qualification in English would be entertained.
Course Descriptions
PH 211 Health Research Methodology (3)
Pre-requisite: PH 111, or Instructor’s permission
This course introduces students to research as an essential tool to create new knowledge and to develop proper utilization of existing knowledge in health and health care services. The course covers the basic concepts and principles in the classic quantitative approach, which looks at disease causation and patterns in the communities. It also addresses the qualitative approach, which looks at social aspects and individual behavior as factors determining people’s health and disease status. Instructions on how to construct a mixed methods research design will also be presented. Other important issues related to health research, including literature review, ethical considerations, and writing strategies will be discussed.
PH 212 Surveillance, Identification and Management of an Outbreak (3)
Pre-requisite: PH 111, or Instructor’s permission
This course begins with a review of public health surveillance systems (PHSSs), their components and functions. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental role of a PHSS in detecting possible disease outbreaks. Students will learn the basic concepts and principles of outbreak identification and management. Basic principles on evaluation and possible solutions for improvement of public health surveillance systems, particularly those of the Pacific, are also discussed.
PH 221 Occupational Health and Safety (3)
Pre-requisite: PH 121, or Instructor’s permission
This course introduces concepts and a practical guide to recognizing, preventing, and treating work-related and environmentally-induced injuries and diseases. Occupational diseases and the toxicological implications of workplace exposure and basic response principles are reviewed. Students will become acquainted with Health and Safety Legislation and other occupational and safety standards and guidelines. By the end of the course, students are expected to have undertaken an auditing of the hazards in one workplace and instituted a health promotion campaign in that workplace.
PH 231 Food, Nutrition and Lifestyle Diseases (3)
Pre-requisite: PH 131, or Instructor’s permission
This course discusses problems of inadequate and/or imbalanced nutrient intake and corresponding diseases and disorders. Related lifestyle diseases that are relevant in Micronesia will be covered. Potential risk factors for and physiological impact of nutrient deficiencies and diseases will also be discussed. The course also looks at the role of development in relation to nutritionally related diseases in the Micronesian and Pacific communities. Students will be introduced to simple therapeutic diets commonly used as part of the treatment and general dietary advice.
PH 241 Case Studies and Special Issues in Health Promotion (3)
Pre-requisite: PH 141, or Instructor’s permission
This course has two major intentions. Firstly to expose students to a range of Health Promotion planning and evaluation instruments, techniques and methods. Secondly, and in conjunction with the first intention, to examine a range of Health Promotion programs and cases, particularly cases that do not fit in easily with a broad approach to Health Promotion studies.
PH 251 Management of Health Information Systems and Epidemiology (3)
Pre-requisite: PH 111, or Instructor’s permission
This course is designed to promote the management of information systems and the use of epidemiological methods in planning and evaluation. Students will learn to incorporate epidemiology in developing evidence-based health care services and policies. This course will be useful to all health workers at any level of the health service especially those working in health statistics sections.
