Educational Objectives
To develop students’ skills and competencies for careers in both community-based public health practice and research, particularly for applications in underserved urban settings. By marrying training in these two areas, this certificate will prepare future community public health practitioners and researchers to collaborate.

The certificate will train recipients in the skills and knowledge necessary for community-based public health program development, management and evaluation, community-based participatory research (CPBR) and other research in community settings. It will also train students in the following key competencies for community-based public health practice and research, including:

Cultural Competency Skills and Attitudes
• Identify the role of cultural, social, and behavioral factors in determining the delivery of community-based public health
• Utilize appropriate methods for interacting sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyle preferences
• Develop and adapt approaches to problems that take into account cultural differences

Linking Social and Environmental Causes of Disease and Community Health
• Define, assess, and understand the health status of populations, determinants of health and illness, factors contributing to health promotion and disease prevention, and factors influencing the use of health services impacting communities
• Understand the historical development, structure, and interaction of national and local public health and health care systems
• Identify and apply research methods appropriate for community-based applications

Community Dimensions of Practice Skills and Attitudes
• Promote the utilization of leadership, team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to build community partnerships and maintain key stakeholders
• Utilize best practices for engaging in effective community partnerships
• Identify community assets and available resources

Intended Audience
Students enrolled in any graduate degree program (master’s or doctoral level) at the Johns Hopkins University.

Admissions Criteria
Admission to the certificate program may be granted to any student pursuing a graduate degree at the Johns Hopkins University. Applicants must submit a letter addressed to the faculty sponsor outlining their career objectives and how the certificate program will enhance those objectives.

Students pursuing this certificate should fill out a completion form before the last day of the add/drop period in the term in which they are completing the final course for the certificate. Students should submit the completion form to the HBS Academic Office. No retroactive certificates will be allowed. Students in good academic standing who have met all certificate requirements will have their transcript marked to indicate successful completion.

Course of Study
Students must take all three core courses (minimum total of 8 credit units) and must also complete at least one course in each of the three key competency areas (minimum total of 10 credit units).

All students are required to take the following two courses:
410.630.01 Implementation and Sustainability of Community-based Health Programs (3 units)
410.631.01 Introduction to Community-based Participatory Research: Principles and Methods (3 units)

Public Health students and other students not enrolled in the School of Nursing are required take the following practicum course. Experience prior to enrollment in the student's current degree program is not applicable to the certificate:
550.864.01 Baltimore Community Practicum (2 units)
Students must apply for specific practicum opportunities offered through the Baltimore Community Practicum course. Announcements regarding the application process are sent out in September via the student-l listerv. The application and matching process occurs during 1st term, and students participate in their practicum experience and course seminar throughout 2nd and 3rd terms.

School of Nursing students are required to take one the following two practicum courses:
NR 500.602 Public Health Nursing Theory & Practice – Practicum (3 units)
NR 500.606 Public Health Nursing Leadership, Management & Evaluation Capstone Practicum (3 units)

Each student will select at least one course from each of the following three groups of courses, for a total minimum of 10 credit units:

Cultural Competency Skills and Attitudes (select at least one course)
NR 110.560 Program Development and Evaluation in Health Care (2 units)
410.650.01 Introduction to Persuasive Communications: Theories and Practice (4 units)
410.651.01 Health Literacy: Challenges and Strategies for Effective Communication (3 units)
410.690.01 Ethnographic Fieldword (4 units)

Linking Social and Environmental Causes of Disease and Community Health (select at least one course)
300.711.01 Health Policy I: Social and Economic Determinants of Health (3 units)
410.611.01 Health, Poverty and Public Policy in the U.S. (3 units)
410.615.01 Seminar in Health Disparities (3 units)
410.620.01 Program Planning for Health Behavior Change (3 units)
305.607.01 Public Health Practice (4 units)
305.613.01 Design and Evaluation of Community Health and Safety Interventions (3 units)
380.612.01 Applications in Program Monitoring and Evaluation (4 units)
410.632.01 Introduction to Urban Health (3 units)

Community Dimensions of Practice Skills and Attitudes (select at least one course):
180.880.01 Special Studies in Environmental Health Community Outreach*
410.861.01 Graduate Seminar in Community-based Research*
NR 500.604 PHN Population-based Public Health Nursing Interventions (3 units)
221.635.01 Case Studies in Primary Health Care (4 units)
301.645.01 Health Advocacy (3 units)

*Offered in all 4 terms, 1 unit per term -- minimum of 2 terms required.

Requirements for Successful Completion
Certificate candidates must take all courses for a letter grade, and obtain a grade of B or better in all courses. Courses must be taken within a three-year period.

Faculty Sponsor
Janice Bowie

410.614.6119

jbowie@jhsph.edu

Faculty Co-Sponsor
Mindi Levin

410.955.3880

mlevin@jhsph.edu

Administrative Contact
Barbara Diehl

410.502.4415

bdiehl@jhsph.edu