Graduate Certificate in Community Health and Development

World Map in white paint on a plain brick wall.

Educational objectives and rationale for the certificate program:

The Department of Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) has established a one-year Certificate Program in Community Health and Development. The certificate program offers advanced training and University-based certification to those involved in building healthy communities. The focus is on training in core aspects of community work—from community assessment and strategic planning to intervention, evaluation, and sustainability.

Educational objectives include to:

  1. Promote understanding of the processes and methods of promoting community health and development (drawing on models and methods of related disciplines),
  2. Develop core competencies in this work (e.g., creating partnerships, community assessment, analyzing problems and goals, strategic planning, intervention, advocacy, evaluation, planning for sustainability)
  3. Enhance experience and competence through supported practice in addressing issues in community health and development (e.g., substance abuse, prevention of chronic diseases, independent living, violence and injury prevention, youth development, neighborhood development).

The program draws from the knowledge and practice areas of behavioral science (e.g., behavioral psychology, anthropology, community psychology), public health, and community development. Practicum experiences with community-based organizations and partnerships provide opportunities to apply competencies for promoting community health and development issues in real-world contexts.

Requirements and course sequence associated with the certificate program:

Students will enroll in three (3) three-hour graduate-level courses. The requirements include the following:

  1. ABS 710 (3 hrs – typically Fall semester) Community Health and Development — Provides an introduction to concepts, methods and related core competencies in this work (e.g., creating partnerships, community assessment, analyzing problems and goals, strategic planning, intervention, developing logic models, evaluation, advocacy, cultural competence, planning for sustainability). [Taught Fall semester only, typically Tuesdays 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.]
  2. ABS 876 (3 hrs – typically Fall semester) Practicum in Community Development — Enhances experience and competence in core competencies through supported practice in implementing and evaluating community development projects (e.g., evaluating a youth development initiative). [Typically, Mondays 3:30–5:00 p.m. for a common meeting, with field work (5-6 hours per week) by agreement with the practicum site.]
  3. ABS 875 (3 hrs – typically Spring semester) Practicum in Community Health Promotion — Enhances experience and competence in core competencies through supported practice in implementing and evaluating community health promotion projects (e.g., developing a strategic plan for prevention of chronic diseases). [Typically, Mondays 3:30–5:00 p.m. for a common meeting, with field work (5-6 hours per week) by agreement with the practicum site.]

Intended audiences — those who might benefit:

Potential audiences or markets for the curriculum program include: a) University students in related disciplines (e.g., applied behavioral science, preventive medicine and public health, architecture and urban design, social welfare, public administration, anthropology, education), b) practitioners in the fields of community and public health (e.g., from public health departments and community health partnerships), c) practitioners in child and youth health and development (e.g., from United Way agencies and regional prevention centers), d) practitioners in community development (e.g., from community-based organizations), and e) practitioners in global health and development (e.g., from non-governmental organizations).

Faculty associated with or contributing to the certificate program include:

Vincent Francisco, PhD (vtf@ku.edu), Kansas Health Foundation Professor of Applied Behavioral Science, Senior Scientist with the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, and Director of the Center for Community Health and Development (a World Health Organization Collaborating Center)

Jerry Schultz, PhD (jschultz@ku.edu), Associate Director of the Center for Community Health and Development (a World Health Organization Collaborating Center) and Adjunct Faculty Member of the Departments of Applied Behavioral Science Life, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and Anthropology.

Jean Hall, PhD (jhall@ku.edu), Professor of Applied Behavioral Science and Director of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living

Student Eligibility and Administration of the Program:

  • Eligibility criteria for admission to the Certificate Program include a B.A. degree from an accredited institution.
  • Students admitted for the certificate program may be enrolled either as a regular graduate student or admitted to the Graduate School as a non-degree seeking student. [For non-degree seeking students to apply online, go to KU Graduate Application and click on “Non-degree seeking” (Domestic or International Students)]
  • The total credit hours earned from a certificate and transferred into a graduate degree program cannot exceed six hours, eight hours if the student holds a baccalaureate degree from KU.
  • As with other graduate programs, student records will be handled by the Department’s Graduate secretary.
  • Awarding of certificates will be handled consistent with guidelines and timing of degree awards of the Graduate School.