Public and Community Health

• Description: Introduction to and an overview of public health. It covers: identifying and addressing population health challenges; determinants of health; and an overview of the health system. The basic concepts and terminologies of public health along with the history and accomplishments of public health officials and agencies are reviewed. An overview of the functions of various public health professions and institutions, and an in-depth examination of the core public health disciplines are covered. Key topics include the epidemiology of infectious and chronic disease; prevention and control of diseases in the community including the analysis of the social determinants of health and strategies for eliminating disease, illness and health disparities among various populations; community organizing and health promotion programming; environmental health and safety; global health; and health care policy and management.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: One of the following: ENGL 1A or 1AH or ESLL 26.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 5 hours lecture per week. 60 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• Transferability: Both
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: This course focuses on the exploration of major health issues and behaviors in the various dimensions of health. Emphasis is placed on individual responsibility for personal health and the promotion of informed, positive health behaviors. Topics include nutrition, exercise, weight control, mental health, stress management, violence, substance abuse, reproductive health, disease prevention, aging, health care, and environmental hazards and safety.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: One of the following: ENGL 1A or 1AH or ESLL 26.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 4 hours lecture per week. 48 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• Transferability: Both
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: This course explores the world-wide crisis and challenge of substance abuse, including its historical effects on various societies and cultures. In addition to examining this from a social perspective, students receive an overview of the epidemiology and toxicology of substance abuse and its relevance to personal and public health. Students are introduced to the concept of substance abuse and dependence, the definition of licit and illicit drugs, and the pharmacologic, neurologic, and physiologic effects of selected substances on the human brain. Political, social, and economic factors involved in the supply and demand for drugs are discussed. Epidemiologic data on the prevalence, incidence, and trends of smoking, alcohol, and prescription and other drug dependencies globally are covered, as well as risk factors associated with the use and abuse of these substances. Current options for recovery are reviewed.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory: Advisory: One of the following: ENGL 1A or 1AH or ESLL 26.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 4 hours lecture per week. 48 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• Transferability: Both
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

• Description: Examines the basic principles that guide growth, development, and the health of individuals across the lifespan, from the prenatal period through senescence including death and grieving. Presents methodological, conceptual, and substantive issues necessary for understanding and evaluating empirical-based information about growth, human development, and health status at different stages of life and from a public health prevention and health promotion perspective. Course covers several themes, including contributions of biological and environmental factors to health and human development, measuring the health of individuals, understanding determinants and consequences of health and development across the lifespan, evaluating the impact of health from a family and cultural perspective, and assessing the implications of health disparities on health outcomes. This is an upper division General Education course, intended for students in the Dental Hygiene or Respiratory Care Baccalaureate Degree Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in these programs.
• Prerequisite:
• Corequisite:
• Advisory:
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 5 hours lecture per week. 60 hours total per quarter.
• Foothill GE Area:English
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note: