Public Health

Saddleback College is excited to offer our new Public Health programs this year. The certificates and degrees we offer allow students to pursue careers in health information, community health outreach, data reporting and analytics, health advocacy, and more! Our programs prepare you for careers in hospitals, health departments, non-profit agencies, educational bodies, research organizations, health clinics, and more! Many of our programs share courses, which allows you to complete more than one program with us. See the Venn diagram below to see what courses are shared between programs.

Whether you are looking to obtain a certificate to work in the field or pursue a degree to transfer to a Bachelor’s program, our public health department has a program for you. Many of our courses are offered fully online, so you can attend classes from across the state.

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Associate Degree for Transfer

Public Health

Certificate of Achievement

Certificate of Completion (non-credit)

Community Health Worker

View Classes in the Class Schedule

Public Health Associate Degree to Transfer

The AS-T degree in Public Health offers a direct path to both transfer and career paths by applying critical analysis skills to contemporary health issues and assessing the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system and the significant differences in systems in other countries. This degree is designed to prepare students with a general education in the principles, concepts and methodologies of Public Health and provide students with a foundation for a future career in public health, health education and other health-related fields. Students will gain a broad level understanding of individual, community, and population health at the local, national and global levels.

This degree is designed for seamless transfer to a California State University.

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Public Health Associate Degree to Transfer Road Map

Course ID	Course Title	Units
HLTH 1	CONTEMPORARY HEALTH ISSUES	3
HLTH 1	INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH	3
BUS 10 OR MATH 10 OR PSYC 44	BUSINESS STATISTICS OR INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS OR STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES	3 3 3
BIO 20	INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY	4
BIO 20 OR CHEM 1A OR BIO 11 OR BIO 12	FUNDAMENTAL CHEMISTRY OR GENERAL CHEMISTRY OR HUMAN ANATOMY OR HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY	4 5 4 4
PH 103	HEALTH & SOCIAL JUSTICE	3
HS 170 OR PH 102 OR PSYC 5 OR HLTH 3	ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS IN OUR SOCIETY OR HEALTH EDUCATION & PROMOTION OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN SEXUALITY OR WOMAN’S HEALTH ISSUES	3 3 3 3
PSYC 5	PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN SEXUALITY	3
Total Units for the Major:		23 - 24

PHIT Program Information

The Saddleback College Public Health certificate provides skills and knowledge to work in a new, multidisciplinary field. Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of public health infrastructure, data analysis and reporting, public health informatics and information systems, health services organization and delivery methods, data interchange standards, disruptive innovation, and data integrity, privacy, and security. Students can explore careers in the fields of public health, health information management, IT, and health informatics. The certificate is for both entry-level individuals and for providing additional competencies to those employed in various fields.

The mission of the new PHIT program at Saddleback College is to provide comprehensive and high quality courses that enable students to become a proficient and innovative public health informatics professional, and to prepare students to pursue advanced learning opportunities in the public health sector and become lifelong learners.

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PHIT Tuition and Fees

Tuition/Fees	PHIT Certificate (14 units)
Tuition at $46 per unit (CA resident)	$644
Books (Average $100 per course)	$500
Health Fee ($26 per semester)	$26

NOTE: This is just an estimate. Costs may vary for each student and are subject to change.

PHIT Road Map

Roadmap for the Public Health Informatics and Technology Certificate. Effective Spring 2024.

Course	Title	Units
HIT 100	Health Information Science	2
MATH 10* OR PSYC 44* OR BUS 10*	Introduction to Statistics Statistics for Behavioral Science Business Statistics	3 3 3
HIT 230	Introduction to Public Health Informatics and Technology	3
HIT 240	Public Health Data Reporting Techniques	3
HIT 111*	Introduction to Informatics	3

*Course has a prerequisite, co-requisite, limitation, or recommended preparation; see course description.

Community Health Worker Certificate (Credit)

The fully online Community Health Worker (CHW) Certificate of Achievement program provides the students with the skills needed to work in public health, healthcare, and social services. CHWs provide services including health education, navigation through healthcare systems and services, health outreach, community health data collection, and health promotion. Graduates will be able to help improve quality of life by identifying the social determinants of health and disparities in communities, increasing access to health care services, promoting health screening, and providing public health education on available health services and recommendations.

The certificate is for both entry-level individuals and for providing additional skill sets to those employed in various fields. Graduates can work in various settings including healthcare clinics, mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, nursing homes, assisted living, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations.

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Community Health Worker Certificate (Credit) Road Map

Course ID	Course Title	Units
HSC 104	MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY	3
PH 1	INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH	3
HLTH 1	CONTEMPORARY HEALTH ISSUES	3
PH 102	HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION	3
PH 103	HEALTH & SOCIAL JUSTICE	3
PH 204	INTERPROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION IN HEALTHCARE	1
PH 205	DIRECTED PRACTICE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER	3
MATH 10* OR PSYC 44* OR BUS 10*	INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS OR STATISTICS FOR BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES OR BUSINESS STATISTICS	3 3 3
PSYC 30 OR SOC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OR SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY	3 3

Community Health Worker Certificate (Credit) Application

Application for the directed practice course will be posted in the fall 2024 semester.

Community Health Worker Certificate (Non-Credit)

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Certificate of Completion teaches students communication skills as they relate to medicine and healthcare, healthcare services navigation and coordination, health education and promotion, and knowledge of public health principles. This may lead to employment as a Community Health Worker, the ability to seek higher education in public health, and further exploration in related fields in public/allied health occupations.

Students who complete this program will be able to help improve quality of life for clients by identifying the social determinants of health (SDOH) and disparities in communities, increasing access to health care services, promoting health screening, and providing public health education on available health services and recommendations. Graduates can work in various settings including healthcare clinics, mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, nursing homes, assisted living, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations.

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Community Health Worker Certificate (Non-Credit) Road Map

Course ID	Course Title	Units
PH 401NC	INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH	3
PH 402NC	HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION	3
PH 403NC	HEALTH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE	3
PH 404NC	INTERPROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION IN HEALTHCARE	1
SOC 425NC OR HS 476NC	SOCIOLOGY OF AGING OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS	3 3

Community Health Worker Certificate (Non-Credit) Application

Applications for the spring 2025 program will be posted in the fall 2024 semester.

Resources

View the Public Heath Programs Handbook

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I am interested in these programs. How can I get started?

Your first step is to become a Saddleback student (if you are not currently a student). You can click this link to be directed to the Saddleback College student application.

I'm already a Saddleback student. How do I join these programs?

To join these programs, please meet with a counselor to create an academic plan.

Why do only the Community Health Worker programs have external applications?

For the community health worker program, you will need to complete an application at least one semester before you plan to complete your experiential hours. That way, we can ensure you complete the requirements your externship site requires.

I have a question that was not answered in this list. How can I get an answer?

You can email scph@saddleback.edu, and our program assistant will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also call the School of Health and Wellness division office at (949) 582-4701.

2024-2025 Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance at Saddleback College includes an estimate for tuition and fees, books
and supplies as well as basic living expenses like food and housing, and personal and miscellaneous
expenses. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than the amounts listed below.

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Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 (9-months)

Expenses	Living With Parents (2 Semesters)	Living Away from Parents (2 semesters)
Tuition & Fees	$1,432	$1,432
Books & Supplies	$1,062	$1,062
Living Expenses: Food & Housing	$14,480	$25,916
Personal & Misc.	$4,059	$4,968
Transportation	$1,791	$1,962
Total Resident	$22,824	$35,340
Total Non-Resident	$35,124	$47,640

Summer 2025 (3-months)

Expenses	Living with Parents	Living Away from Parents
Tuition & Fees	$712	$712
Books & Supplies	$354	$354
Living Expenses: Food & Housing	$4,827	$9,276
Personal & Misc.	$1,353	$1,656
Transportation	$597	$654
Total Resident	$7,843	$12,652
Total Non-Resident	$13,993	$18,802

Less Than Half-Time (less than 6 units)

Expenses	Living With Parents		Living Away from Parents
	Fall & Spring	Summer	Fall & Spring	Summer
Tuition & Fees	$1,432	$712	$1,432	$712
Books & Supplies	$1,062	$354	$1,062	$354
Transportation	$1,791	$597	$1,962	$654
Total Resident	$4,291	$1,666	$4,462	$1,723
Total Non-Resident	$16,591	$7,816	$16,762	$7,873

Additional Factors in Calculating the Estimated Cost of Attendance

Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit
- Based on 15-units for Fall, Spring and Summer
Health Fee $26 for Fall and Spring, $22 for Summer
Non-Resident Tuition (in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee): $446 per unit ($376 non-resident tuition fee + $70 capital outlay fee)
Estimated cost of attendance may be adjusted for documented circumstances such as dependent care expenses, purchase of a computer, and other special circumstances (except for students enrolled less than half-time)
- A Cost of Attendance Appeal may be requested by emailing scfinaid@saddleback.edu.