Community Health Worker Certificate: Harper College

Create a world of healthy opportunities for your community

Program facts

Credit hours: 16
Stackable to degree: No
Potential job outcomes:
Community health worker, health advocate, patient navigator,
Promotores de Salud

Prepare for a career as a community health worker with this 16-credit-hour certificate program.

Take classes in community health, helping skills in human services, medical terminology, multiculturalism in the helping professions and more.

This program will prepare you for a career as a community health worker, health advocate, or patient navigator at a community-based organization.

Certificate program requirements

Program Overview

Print PDF

This 16 credit-hour certificate program provides entry-level education and field experience for students wishing to obtain a position as a Community Health Worker. This program prepares students for community health positions such as community health advocates, lay health educators, community health representatives, patient navigators, and Promotores de Salud. Beginning with the fall semester of every school year and studying on a part-time basis, it is estimated to take three semesters to complete including a summer session.

F = Fall only course S = Spring only course U = Summer only course

FIRST SEMESTER:

A grade of C or better is required in all courses.

Number	Course Title	Credits
CHW 101	Introduction to Community Health Work F	3
Description: This course is only offered in the fall term. Introduces the student to the role of the community health worker. The evolution of community health work will be explored with an emphasis on the current core competencies for the field. Students will be introduced to case management, home visits, and group facilitation. Class Schedule: Fall 2022 \| Spring 2023
HED 200	Health	3
Description: Provides an in-depth look at the physical, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental factors which contribute to the overall quality of a person’s life. An investigation of how our lifestyle compares with other people in the world and the role and impact of the World Health Organization is emphasized. Mental health, nutrition, fitness, communicable and non-communicable diseases, killer diseases, drugs, human sexuality, family living (marriage, divorce, parenting), middle and old age issues and death and dying are some of the topics covered. Physical and psychological assessments are included in this class. Class Schedule: Fall 2022 \| Spring 2023
KIN 202	Standard First Aid and Cpr¹	3
Description: Provides a comprehensive first aid course which is taught under the guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA). This course includes the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) component, which covers adult, child and infant Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). This course is designed to prepare students to respond to emergency situations with confidence in their ability to perform the necessary skills. Two certificates are issued (Basic Life Support (BLS) and Heartsaver FirstAid) after successful completion of the skills and written tests. Class Schedule: Fall 2022 \| Spring 2023

SECOND SEMESTER:

A grade of C or better is required in all courses.

Number	Course Title	Credits
HED 206	Health and the Public S	3
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Examines the historical and contemporary public health stories to begin to understand the contexts, systems, professions, tools and skills associated with the public health enterprise. Students will learn basic public health principles and will recognize an array of factors that shape both the health of individuals and populations. Students will have the opportunity to see how many different agents and agencies approach public health challenges and interact in the public health arena. This course is intended to stimulate social conscience and to expand thinking about conditions and circumstances that affect the health of individuals, communities and populations. Class Schedule: Fall 2022 \| Spring 2023
LNG 225	Language and Health	3
Description: Provides an introduction to the study and application of concepts and theories from Linguistics and Health Communication. Focuses on practical applications of effective communication strategies across diverse patient populations by discussing case studies from different healthcare settings, and by analyzing actual provider-patient interactions to understand how specific language choices contribute to constructing meaning in health communication. Includes a strong focus on patients’ perspectives regarding language use and culture-specific characteristics surrounding illness and personal identity, patient advocacy, cooperation, and consent. (Also listed as HSC 225. Credit will be given for LNG 225 or HSC 225, but not both.) Class Schedule: Fall 2022 \| Spring 2023

THIRD SEMESTER:

A grade of C or better is required in all courses.

Number	Course Title	Credits
CHW 210	Community Health Worker Practicum	1
Description: Provides the student with a minimum of 125 hours of supervised field placement experience, with application of acquired knowledge and skills through observation and participation in the field of Community Health Work. Introduces students to community health settings, clientele and professionals to provide a foundation for career development. Increases comprehension of how agencies interact with other entities in their communities, and how community health practitioners interact in community settings with individuals, families, health and human service organizations, policy, coalitions and government institutions. Prerequisite: CHW 101, HED 200, HED 206, LNG 225,and KIN 202 with grades of C or better, or consent of coordinator. Class Schedule: Fall 2022 \| Spring 2023

Number

Course Title

Credits

CHW 210

Community Health Worker Practicum

Description: Provides the student with a minimum of 125 hours of supervised field placement experience, with application of acquired knowledge and skills through observation and participation in the field of Community Health Work. Introduces students to community health settings, clientele and professionals to provide a foundation for career development. Increases comprehension of how agencies interact with other entities in their communities, and how community health practitioners interact in community settings with individuals, families, health and human service organizations, policy, coalitions and government institutions.

Prerequisite: CHW 101, HED 200, HED 206, LNG 225,and KIN 202 with grades of C or better, or consent of coordinator.

Class Schedule: Fall 2022 | Spring 2023

¹ - Students who already hold a valid First Aid and CPR certificate through the American Heart Association may substitute one the following classes: HED 201 (all semesters), HED 202 (Spring only), HED 204 (Fall only)

Next steps

For more information about the Community Health Worker Certificate program, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.