2.6.a Identification of core public health competencies that all MPH or equivalent professional masters degree students are expected to achieve through their courses of study.
The MPH program has adopted the Responsibilities and Competencies delineated through the National Commission for Health Education Credentionaling (NCHEC) and the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals from the Council on Linkages (COL) Between Academia and Public Health Practice. Over 90% of public health academic institutions use these core competencies to identify and meet workforce development needs. The program faculty members have identified 10 student competencies which meet the MPH curriculum and incorporate corresponding skills within each competency domain. The 10 student competencies are:
1. Monitor health status to identify community health problems
2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community 3. Inform, educate and empower people about health issues
4. Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts 6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of healthcare when otherwise unavailable
8. Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce 9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-
based health services
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2.6.b A matrix that identifies the learning experiences by which the core public health competencies are met. If this is common across the program, a single matrix will suffice. If it varies by degree or specialty area, sufficient information must be provided to assess compliance by each.
The following Table 2.6.b1 provides the 10 student core competencies and examples of learning experiences for each of the competencies. All students in the MPH program should master these competencies following the completion of the program. A table with the complete set of learning experiences will be available in our resource files at the time of the site visit.
Table 2.6.b1. Student Core Competencies and Examples of Corresponding Learning Experiences
1. Monitor health status to identify community health problems
Courses Offered
Learning experience examples
Assess individual and community needs for health education based on thorough community, behavioral and environmental analyses
Identify current university and community health problems and the role of health educators as they are involved in those problems
Understand the importance and explain procedures of a needs assessment
Understand the current development of the chronic disease burden and the underlying causes of these diseases
Discuss current trends in infectious diseases including emerging and re-emerging diseases and nosocomial infections
Identify prevention and control measures used in epidemiologic research for diseases and the challenges facing researchers in their study HSCI 587 HSCI 588 HSCI 589 HSCI 592 HSCI 693A HSCI 694
2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community
Courses Offered
Learning experience examples
Assess individual and community needs for health education based on thorough community, behavioral and environmental analyses
Identify current university and community health problems and the role of health educators as they are involved in those problems
Discuss current trends in infectious diseases including emerging and re-emerging diseases and nosocomial infections
Identify prevention and control measures used in epidemiologic research for diseases and the challenges facing researchers in their
HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 539 HSCI 587 HSCI 588 HSCI 589 HSCI 592 HSCI 693A
study
Understand the concept of screening and testing in health settings
Discuss current trends and research among chronic diseases
HSCI 694
3. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Prepare a report elaborating upon the significance and implications of the findings to the university community. Incorporate policy and health education suggestions.
Assess individual and community needs for health education based on thorough community, behavioral and environmental analyses
Present individual work to peers and community partners
Evaluate written educational materials including pamphlets, flyers, and posters using health communication principles to address major public health issues
Reflect upon activities and ability to connect course material to community needs HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 536 HSCI 537 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 693A
4. Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Formulate community health action strategies and interventions for obtaining community participation in coalition building and community advocacy situations
Discuss the special considerations in assessment, planning,
intervention, and evaluation of health care programs for multicultural groups
Identify and discuss the ethical considerations in working across cultural groups
Conduct a needs assessment that differentiates an intended population from an intended group
HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 536 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 693A
5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts
Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Plan and develop externally and internally consistent health education programs
Identify and differentiate between social planning, community development and social action in settings where community health educators are involved in community organization activities
Prepare a report elaborating upon the significance and implications of the findings to the university community. Incorporate policy and health education suggestions
Write health education and promotion goals and objectives
Describe and articulate the role of community health educators in public policy/health-related policy development activities
HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 536 HSCI 537 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 693A
2011 CSUN MPH Program Self Study, 83
6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Advocate for the advancement of the practice and profession of health education through involvement in political action
Conduct themselves in an ethical manner in all professional activities consistent with the code of ethics established by the Society of Public Health Education HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 536 HSCI 537 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 693A
7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Implement health education programs and coordinate health education programs using administrative, managerial, and
supervisory principles and practices generally found as effective by the management professional
Identify the importance of developing multicultural working partnerships within a community
Identify and apply the concepts of cultural competence and sensitivity to their own personal development as multicultural health care
practitioners
Act as a qualified resource person using the latest information technology to match clients’ needs with credible information and information sources HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 536 HSCI 537 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 693A
8. Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce
Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Articulate, critique, and apply various theories of social change and identify their role as health education agents of change in community settings
Identify and differentiate between social planning, community development and social action in settings where community health educators are involved in community organization activities
List and describe epidemiological approaches to defining and measuring health problems in defined populations
Prepare and conduct surveys, including the design of data collection instruments
Conduct themselves in an ethical manner in all professional activities consistent with the code of ethics established by the Society of Public Health Education
Interpret research analyses to determine the relevance of the statistical findings
Deliver a research presentation on a health-related hypothesis
HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 536 HSCI 537 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 541 EOH 554 HSCI 587 HSCI 588 HSCI 589 HSCI 592 HSCI 693A HSCI 694
identifying strengths and limitations of the research including threats to internal and external validity
9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services
Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Evaluate the effectiveness of health education programs using
designs and methodologies which are consistent with the protocols of sound scientific research
Critically read and evaluate epidemiologic studies in the medical and public health literature
Provide rationales for selecting an intervention strategy and explain the advantages of using a combination of several intervention activities versus a single approach
Compare and contrast the various types of evaluation and identify the problems that may hinder effective evaluation
Identify prevention and control measures used in epidemiologic research for diseases and the challenges facing researchers in their study HSCI 531 HSCI 533 HSCI 535 HSCI 536 HSCI 537 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 693A
10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems
Courses Offered Learning experience examples
Discuss current trends in infectious diseases including emerging and re-emerging diseases and nosocomial infections
Describe the different approaches to research and discuss the strengths/limitations of each
Use current technology to present epidemiologic research in a sufficient manner
Critique research projects and journal articles
Examine issues related to the application of technology in program planning, implementation and evaluation
Discuss ethical and political considerations of research
HSCI 536 HSCI 537 HSCI 538 HSCI 539 HSCI 587 HSCI 588 HSCI 589 HSCI 592 HSCI 693A HSCI 694
2011 CSUN MPH Program Self Study, 85