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College of Micronesia - FSM

Public Health Training Program - PHTP

The Public Health Training Program is a multi-entry, multi-exit educational opportunity for high school graduates who wish to enter studies in the health domain, as well as for Health Workers who wish to enhance the effectiveness of their work and improve their working conditions.

PHTP offers 2 certificates:

1. Certificate of Achievement in Basic Public Health (CABPH)
2. Advanced Certificate of Achievement in Public Health (ACAPH)

and 1 associate degree:

3. Associate of Science Degree in Public Health (asdph)

and 1 third-year certificate of achievement:

4. Third-year Certificate of Achievement as: SPECIALIST IN PUBLIC HEALTH (CASPH)

Those who complete the 3rd Year Certificate of Public Health are expected to be able to gain admission into a Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) at institutions awarding those degrees around the Pacific Rim.

There are four steps in the career ladder Public Health academic program at COM-FSM, each requiring general education and public health studies. 
At the end of each step an exit qualification is awarded.

The entry criteria, course and credit requirements for each step are:

Step 1: Certificate of Achievement in Basic Public Health (CABPH)
(See certificate programs)

Step 2: Advanced Certificate of Achievement of Public Health (ACAPH)
For students holding a CABPH this step is the natural academic progression. However, this step offers also to the current workforce an academic entry-point towards attaining an Associate of Science Degree in Public health (ASDPH). Moreover, other professionals, wanting a career change, may use this as their entrance into the health domain.
This step provides the entry to the Associate of Science Degree in Public Health (ASDPH), and the ensuing Third Year Certificate of Achievement as Specialist in Public Health (CASPH; CAPHS).

Entry Criteria: Certificate of Achievement in Basic Public Health (CABPH)
Or: A qualification equivalent [*] to CABPH
And: appropriate public health work experience of at least 4 years

All candidates to sit C.O.M.E.T (College of Micronesia Entry Test)

Total credits required = 31

[*] = as determined by a review panel chaired by the division chair of the Math/Science Division with members of the Public Health faculty.

Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Recognize, describe and discuss the basic public health science facts and principles;
   
   
2. List and discuss the essential public health functions and their interrelationships at community and district level;
   
   
3. Describe and discuss adult, children and family health issues;
   
   
4. Discuss and demonstrate an understanding and practice of some generic public health competencies;
   
   
5. Demonstrate proper public health skills for public health practice in the community as a state or local public health officer;
   
   
6. Discuss and demonstrate community and cultural sensitivity in the health care environment;
   
   
7. Describe and discuss the health determinants and problems of adults, children and families;
   
   
8. Demonstrate proper cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid techniques;
   
   
9. Demonstrate the ability and discuss how to make a community diagnosis based on the determinants of health;
   
   
10. Identify and demonstrate good public health practice; 
    
    
11. Have had work experience at a public health facility at community and district levels.

 

General Education courses and credits - 13 Credits

• EN 110    Advanced Reading (3)
• EN 120a  Expository Writing I (3)
• CA 100    Introduction to Computing (3)
• ESS 100  Exercise Sport Science, any 100-level course (1)
• PH/ MS 109  Maths for Public Health (3)

PHTP/ Major courses and credits - 18 Credits

*Students to choose either PH 151 or PH 152, in consultation with PHTP faculty.

• PH 111  Introduction to Basic Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3)
• PH 112  Introduction to Epi-Info and Computing for Public Health (3)
• PH 121  Environmental Prevention and Control of Disease (3)
• PH 131  Food and Nutrition in the Life Cycle (3)
• PH 141  Principles of Health Promotion (3)
• PH 151  Intro. to Pacific Health Care Systems and Traditional Medicine (3)*
• PH 152  Practical Health Services Management (3)*

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Suggested Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Associate of Science Degree in Public Health (ASDPH)

Students completing this step are awarded the public health degree that provides the minimal standard for licensure as a professional public health practitioner.

Entry criteria: Advanced Certificate of Achievement in Public Health (ACAPH);
OR: Diploma in Public Health or in a Public Health Specialty;
OR: A qualification in Public Health equivalent (see [*]) to those abov
And: appropriate public health work experience of at least 6 years;

All non-ACAPH-holding candidates to sit C.O.M.E.T. (College of Micronesia Entry Test)

             and attain placement for the pre-requisite courses of this qualification
             and gain admission to a COM-FSM Degree Program.
Total credits required = 34
[*] = as determined by a review panel chaired by the division chair of the Math/Science Division with members of the Public Health faculty.

General Education courses and credits - 16 Credits

• 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 Credits

• 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)

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Suggested Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEP 4: Third Year Certificate of Achievement/Specialist in Public Health (SPH)

The qualifications offered at this step are aimed at the continuing education of licensed public health practitioners who aspire to postgraduate studies and health research.  A proper mixture of courses at this level will assist senior national and state health administrators in their different public health projects and grants.

The following qualification may be awarded:   

3rd Year Certificate of Achievement as: Specialist in Public Health (CASPH)

Entry criteria: Associate of Science Degree in Public Health (ASDPH), or a similar   Associate of Arts or Science Degree;

OR: Diploma in Public Health, or equivalent (see [*]) 
and: significant public health work experience of at least 8 years;                              
OR: satisfactory completion of a health-related research study
and: significant public health work experience of at least 8 years
and: favourable interview with program faculty;

All non-ASDPH-holding candidates to sit C.O.M.E.T. (College of Micronesia Entry Test)

and attain current admitting scores.

Total credits required = 30

[*] = as determined by a review panel chaired by the Division Chair of the Math/Science Division with Members of the Public Health faculty.

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Recognize, describe and discuss  and research about the basic principles and practices of the specialty;
2. List, discuss and demonstrate the essential public health functions or the specialty and its interrelationships with the other specialties and health disciplines at community and national levels;
3. Describe, discuss and research adult, children and family health issues at community level;
4. Discuss and demonstrate an understanding and practice of the speciality public health competencies;
5. Demonstrate proper public health skills for its practice in the community as a national specialty practitioner;
6. Discuss and demonstrate community and cultural sensitivity in the health care environment;
7. Describe, discuss and research the health determinants and problems of adults, children and families;
8. Demonstrate proper cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid techniques and other healing and patient care abilities;
9. Demonstrate the ability and discuss how to conduct a community diagnosis and need assessment of the health determinants of the specialty in a community;
10. Identify and demonstrate good practice in the specialty;
11. Have had management, planning experience and leadership role at a public health specialty at community and national levels.

PHTP/ Major courses and credits for
Specialist in Public Health (CASPH) - 30 Credits

A minimum of 6 (six) courses awarding 3 credits each selected by the student, in consultation with faculty, from among the 300-level courses listed in the next pages, for cumulative 18 credits;

and

A minimum of 2 (two) courses, awarding 6 credits each, one titled as “Placement in a Public Health Practicing Facility” and the other titled “Research Project in …..”, selected by the student, in consultation with faculty, from among the 300-level courses listed in the next pages, for cumulative 12 credits.

• PH 312 Research Methods for Health Services Management (3)
• PH 314 PH Surveil. & Mgt. of Health Information System (3)
• PH 316 Research Proj. in Applied Epi. and Hygiene (3)
• PH 321 Food Handling, Microbiology and Hygiene (3)
• PH 334 Community Nutrition (3)
• PH 351 health Care Management and Systems in the Pacific and Micronesia (3)
• PH 365 Placement in Public Health Practicing Facility (6)

 

THIRD YEAR CERTIFICATE AS SPECIALIST IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Suggested Schedule