Community colleges and public health: making the connections

Community colleges, in collaboration with public health agencies, can advance public health education by reaching a diverse student body, integrating public health into general education, and providing specialized associate degrees that serve workforce needs. Career ladders that include transferability of coursework to 4-year institutions and continuing education, including certificate programs, are key to success of these efforts. Community, or 2-year, colleges are well positioned to connect components of the Healthy People Curriculum Task Force's Education for Health framework by providing general education core courses in public health, epidemiology, and global health compatible with the educated citizen and public health movement. To serve specific workforce needs, associate degree programs are proposed, including environmental health, public health preparedness, public health informatics, and pre-health education. A generalist option designed for transfer to public health and related majors at 4-year institutions is also recommended.