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Health Education

Health Education

Associate Degrees

Associate in Science Degree

Public Health for Transfer

Students completing this associate degree will have completed lower-division major preparation requirements for a public health degree, an emphasis or option within a public health degree, or a degree considered similar to public health at a participating California State University (CSU) campus.

Following transfer to a participating CSU campus, students will be required to complete no more than 60 units to obtain a bachelor’s degree; however, some CSU campuses may require additional lower-division major preparation. This degree may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus not accepting this degree or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient pathway to transfer as a public health major and to determine which CSU campuses are participating in this program.

Graduation Requirements
  • Complete a minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.
  • Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or "P" or better.
  • Complete the CSU-GE (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C)* general education pattern. *Students completing IGETC may be awarded the degree, but they must complete a course from Area IC: Oral Communication to meet CSU admission requirements.
  • Obtain a minimum CSU-transferable GPA of 2.0.
  • Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.
Program Student Learning Outcome

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to relate and apply the key theories and concepts of public health to advanced academic study.

Course Requirements
Required courses: 
HEAL 101Principles of Health *3
HEAL 180Introduction to Public Health3
BIO 110Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture/Lab) *4
or BIO 111
111L
Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture)
and Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lab)
BTEC 180Biostatistics *3-5
or BTEC 180H Biostatistics (Honors)
or BUS 204 Business Statistics
or BUS 204H Business Statistics (Honors)
or MATH 103 Statistics
or MATH 103H Statistics (Honors)
or MATH 103S Statistics with Integrated Support
or PSYC 104 Statistics for Behavioral Science
or PSYC 104H Statistics for Behavioral Science (Honors)
or SOC 125 Introduction to Statistics in Sociology
List A: Select one course (4-5 units).4-5
Human Anatomy
Human Anatomy (Honors)
Human Physiology *
Introduction to Microbiology *
General Chemistry I: For Science Majors *
General Chemistry I: For Science Majors (Honors)
List B: Select one course (3 units).3
Nutrition Today *
Nutrition Today (Honors)
General Psychology *
General Psychology (Honors)
Introduction to Sociology *
Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
List C: Select one course (3 units).3
Global Health *
Integrative Health and Wellness
Stress Management *
Total Units23-26
*

Course and its "or" counterpart(s) satisfy a general education requirement on the CSU-GE or IGETC general education (GE) pattern. To ensure this degree is completed with no more than 60 units, students should select courses that will also satisfy a GE requirement.

Note: 

Students are strongly advised to select courses that meet lower-division major preparation requirements at their transfer university and to complete the History, Constitution, and American Ideals requirement prior to transfer.

How to Read Course Descriptions

For more detailed information about a course, such as its content, objectives, and fulfillment of a degree, certificate, or general education requirement, please see the official course outline of record, available on the Courses and Programs webpage.

Courses

HEAL 101: Principles of Health

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course focuses on the exploration of major health issues and behaviors in the various dimensions of health. It emphasizes individual responsibility for personal health and the promotion of informed, positive health behaviors. Topics include exercise, weight control, nutrition, mental health, stress management, violence, substance abuse, reproductive health, human sexuality, disease prevention, aging, and environmental hazards and safety. C-ID PHS-100.

HEAL 108: Meditation

Units: 1
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Laboratory 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall or Spring

This course introduces students to the practice of meditation to reduce stress and enhance wellness. Students learn a variety of meditation styles, breathing techniques, relaxation practices, and cognitive tools for practicing mindfulness. Topics include the health benefits of meditation, the history of meditation, and tools to adopt a regular practice of meditation.

HEAL 180: Introduction to Public Health

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This course introduces the public health discipline and the factors that influence health and disease from a population-based perspective. It provides an overview of public health profession functions and institutions as well as an in-depth examination of the core public health disciplines. Topics include the epidemiology of infectious and chronic diseases; prevention and control of diseases; social determinants of health; illness and health disparities among various populations; community organizing and health promotion programming; environmental health and safety; global health; healthcare policy; and career opportunities in public health. C-ID PHS-101.

HEAL 200: First Aid and Safety

Units: 1
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This course acquaints the individual with emergency first aid procedures. It teaches the knowledge and skills needed to give immediate care to an injured or ill person and to decide whether advanced medical care is needed. Topics include musculoskeletal injuries, controlling external bleeding, burns, breathing emergencies, diabetic emergencies, seizures, fainting, epilepsy, stroke, and environmental emergencies. Students who successfully pass all first aid requirements have the opportunity to become certified in first aid by the American Red Cross (valid for 2 years).

HEAL 201: CPR and AED

Units: 1
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This course prepares students to perform high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills consistent with the American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) course. The AHA BLS course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings.The AHA BLS course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations, and provide early use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Students who successfully pass all CPR/AED requirements have the opportunity to receive an AHA BLS Provider course completion card (valid for 2 years).

HEAL 205: Integrative Health and Wellness

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This course introduces evidence-based integrative approaches to health and wellness that consider the whole person-body, mind, and spirit. The course is broken into six parts: characteristics of integrative medicine; mind-body sciences; integrative nutrition; botanicals/herbal medicine and aromatherapy/essential oils; energy therapies, manual healing, and yoga; and future expectations of integrative health. All topics are informed by science and follow the scientific method. Students develop a preliminary portfolio in a selected area of integrative health and wellness.

HEAL 222: Stress Management

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This course introduces students to the concepts of stress management and prevention. It emphasizes the analysis of stressful events, application of appropriate techniques, and development and implementation of a stress reduction/prevention plan. Topics include the physiology of the stress response, adaptive and maladaptive behaviors, stress-prevention strategies, stress-reduction techniques, and how to implement a self-care stress-reduction plan.

HEAL 292: Internship Studies

Units: 0.5-14
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid.
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. Fourteen unit maximum in any combination of work experience education and/or internship studies per semester.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment.

HEAL 296: Topics in Health

Units: 1-3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Lecture 2 hours.
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: To be arranged

This course gives students an opportunity to study topics in Health that are not included in regular course offerings. Each Topics course is announced, described, and given its own title and 296 number designation in the class schedule.

HEAL 299: Occupational Work Experience Education

Units: 0.5-14
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid.
Enrollment Limitation: Career Center approval. Fourteen unit maximum in any combination of work experience education and/or internship studies per semester.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course is intended for students who are employed in a job directly related to their major or career area of interest. It allows such students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills of their discipline to their position and to undertake new responsibilities and learn new skills at work. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment.

Campus Locations

MiraCosta Community Learning Center

1831 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, CA 92058
760.795.8710
888.201.8480
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MiraCosta Oceanside Campus Building

1 Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
760.757.2121
888.201.8480
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MiraCosta San Elijo Campus

3333 Manchester Avenue
Cardiff, CA 92007
760.944.4449
888.201.8480
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MiraCosta Technology Career Institute Building

2075 Las Palmas Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92011
760.795.6820
888.201.8480
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