Certificate Programs
Adolescent Health
Overview
The certificate builds on the certificate student’s existing clinical knowledge and the clinical, research, and/or program/policy-related skills s/he is developing through his/her degree or training program. It focuses on adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, and violence prevention and on mental health promotion–all of which are strengths of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Certificate topics include:
- Primary causes of adolescent mortality and morbidity both domestically and globally
- Adolescent growth and development including biological, neurological and cognitive, psychological, emotional, and other developmental processes, as well as cultural contexts in which young people live that impact health and health behavior
- Proximate and distal social environments in which young people mature and the mechanisms by which such environments influence health outcomes
- Ethical issues inherent in working with adolescents who are legal minors
- Policies and legislation that are evidence-based as well as culturally and developmentally appropriate and health promoting (e.g., graduated drivers’ licenses)
Educational Objectives
Students earning the certificate will be able to apply knowledge of adolescent growth and development, positive youth development, and cultural and ethical considerations of youth to design, implement, and evaluate adolescent health-related research, programs, and policies. Upon completing the certificate, students will be able to::
- Describe how developmental (biological, cognitive, psychological), environmental (physical and social), and cultural factors do and can be used to influence the health and health-related behaviors of adolescents
- Participate in designing research, programs, and/or policies using family-, school-, and/or community-based methodologies that are effective for addressing adolescent health issues and that adhere to ethical standards for adolescents who are legal minors
- Use integrated knowledge about 1) the factors influencing adolescent health and 2) effective research, program, and/or policy methodologies to design, conduct, and/or evaluate research and/or to develop, implement, monitor, and/or evaluate programs/policies that are appropriate to address adolescent health issues, prevent unhealthy behaviors, and/or promote healthy ones
Eligibility
The certificate is open to currently enrolled masters, doctoral , and post-doctoral students at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the JHU School of Nursing. It is also open to JHU School of Medicine fellows, Urban Health resident, and Preventive Medicine residents.
Admissions Process
Bloomberg School of Public Health masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students and preventive medicine residents are not required to submit a formal application through the Admissions Office. They are, however, encouraged to contact one of the certificate faculty sponsors by email in order to receive advice on selecting electives.
School of Nursing masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students and School of Medicine residents and fellows must apply to the program using the school's online application. Applications must be submitted before October 1 of the year during which they will begin certificate courses.. The certificate application includes official transcripts from all post-secondary schools, a CV, a statement of purpose vis-à-vis the certificate, one letter of recommendation, and written approval from the student's academic advisor to pursue the certificate. Transcripts from non-US institutions must be approved by a credentialing agency. The application does not require scores from the GRE, TOEFL, or ILETS. The certificate program will review the applications and notify each applicant of its admissions decision. Only those approved by the certificate admissions committee may earn the certificate.
Course of Study
The certificate requires a minimum of 18 term credits. Students must complete the three required courses and at least three elective courses (9 term credit units minimum). It is highly recommended, but not required, that one course be selected from each elective group. The certificate courses are listed in the table below.
Students should check the course catalog to confirm when the course is offered. The term and time may change from what is listed in the table below and some courses are only offered every other year. Students should also check for pre-requisites and if instructor consent is required.
The free, non-credit Introduction to Online Learning course must be completed before enrolling in online courses. It is offered five times each year.
Requirements for Successful Completion
All required and elective courses must be taken for a letter grade and a 3.0 or better overall GPA for all Certificate courses is required. Requirements must be completed within a three-year period.
The student must submit a Notification of Completion to the certificate's administrative contact after completing all of the certificate requirements. The student's transcript will not indicate that the certificate was earned until the Notification of Completion has been submitted, verified by the certificate program and processed by the Registrar.
Course No. | Course Title | No. Credits | Online Term | Campus Term |
| Required Courses: Students must take complete the following three required courses | ||||
| 380.623 | Adolescent Health and Development | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 380.725 | The Social Context of Adolescent Health and Development | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.845 | Seminar in Adolescent Health | 3 | - | 4 |
| Elective Courses: Students must complete at least three elective courses (9 credits minimum). It is highly recommended, but not required, that one course be selected from each elective group | ||||
| Elective Courses: Group A | ||||
| 380.720 | Masculinity, Sexual Behavior and Health: Adolescence and Beyond | 2-3* | - | 2 |
| 380.749 | Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.761 | Sexually Transmitted Infections in Public Health Practice | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 380.762 | HIV Infection in Women, Children, and Adolescents | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Elective Courses: Group B | ||||
| 222.655 | Nutrition and Life Stages | 3 | - | 3 |
| 301.627 | Understanding and Preventing Violence | 3 | - | 4 |
| 330.604 | Gender and Mental Health | 3 | - | 4 |
| 330.661 | Social, Psychological and Developmental Processes in the Etiology of Mental Disorders | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 380.624 | Maternal and Child Health Legislation and Programs | 4 | - | 2 |
| Schools and Health | 3 | - | 4 | |
| 380.747 | International Adolescent Health | 3 | 4 | - |
| 410.626 | Alcohol, Society and Health | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.635 | Introduction to Urban Health | 3 | - | 4 |
| 410.752 | Children, Media, and Health | 3 | - | 3 |
| Elective Courses: Group C | ||||
| 224.689 | Health Behavior Change at the Individual, Household and Community Levels | 4 | - | 2 |
| 380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 4 | - | 3 |
| 410.620 | Program Planning for Health Behavior Change | 3 | 4 | 1,WI |
| 410.631 | Introduction to Community-Based Participatory Research: Principles and Methods | 3 | - | 2 |
*= 380.720 Masculinity, Sexual Behavior and Health : Adolescence and Beyond is offered for variable credit; contact instructor prior to registering
WI = Course is offered in the Winter Institute held in January in Baltimore/Washington DC
Sponsoring Department
Population, Family and Reproductive Health
Faculty Sponsor
Name Arik Marcell, MD, MPH
Email amarcell@jhsph.edu
Faculty Co-Sponsor
Name Robert Blum, MD, PhD
Email rblum@jhsph.edu
Administrative Contact
Name Lauren Ferretti Black
Phone (410) 614-6676
Email lferrett@jhsph.edu
Gainful Employment Program Information
| Certificate Name | Adolescent Health1 |
| CIP Code | 512209 |
| Credential Level | Post-Baccalaureate Certificate |
| Occupations and SOC Codes | 11-9110 Medical and Health Services Managers |
| 11-9150 Social and Community Service Managers | |
| 19-1040 Medical Scientists | |
| 19-3000 Social Scientists | |
| View O*Net occupational profiles | 21-1000 Community and Social Service Professions |
| http://www.onetonline.org/find | 29-0000 Health Care Practitioners |
| Program Duration | |
| Minimum Number of Term Credits Required | 18 term credits. Each term is 8 weeks in duration. |
| Weeks2 | 48 (please read footnote) |
| Program Costs3 | |
| Tuition and Fees | The tuition and fees paid by full-time Johns Hopkins University degree students cover the tuition cost of the certificate program. Tuition is $923 per term credit for part-time degree students ($16.614 for 18 term credits Academic Year 2012-2013). Non-degree students pay a one-time application fee of $45. |
| Books and Supplies | $400 (estimated) |
| On-time Completion Rate4 | 1 student earned the certificate in academic year 2010-2011 |
| Job Placement Rate5 | Not required |
| Median Loan Debt upon Program Completion (AY 2011 -2012) | |
| Title IV Debt | $0.00 |
| Private Educational Loan Debt | $0.00 |
| Institutional Financing Debt | $0.00 |
- The certificate is offered to Johns Hopkins University graduate and post-doctoral students (including physicians completing residency or fellowship programs) who are interested in adolescent health.
- The certificate program length is flexible; it varies from student to student, however, the certificate must be completed within three years. Students do not need to be enrolled in a certificate course during consecutive terms. The number of certificate course credits taken may range from zero to 22 per term. Degree students earn the certificate simultaneously with their degree program and determine the number of credits taken each term with advisor approval. Full-time degree students are able to complete the certificate within one academic year.
- Tuition, application fee, and book costs are subject to change from one academic year to another academic year.
- Completion rates will be tracked beginning in academic year 2012-2013.
- The Council of Public Health Education which accredits schools of public health does not require schools to track job placement rates for certificate programs.