Community Assessment, Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation.
As part of Boston University’s on-campus Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, you will choose at least one Functional Certificate as your area of concentration, building upon your interests, strengths and career goals.
Community Assessment, Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation (CAPDIE) Functional Certificate
Assessing community needs and assets, program design and implementation, and evaluation are core functions of public health practice. This 16-credit certificate equips students with the essential tools and knowledge base to conduct effective community-based health promotion activities with a diverse array of populations and health issues. Special emphasis is placed on acquiring skills for anti-oppressive, culturally humble public health practice and strategies for developing authentic partnerships that amplify sustainable political and social power in marginalized communities.
- Plan and conduct systematic community health needs assessments, integrating multiple sources of data and community and stakeholder input.
- Synthesize the published evidence base with information identified through community needs assessment to create a comprehensive public health intervention plan which responds appropriately and effectively to key identified priorities.
- Formulate an implementation and sustainability plan designed to engage community members, policymakers, practitioners, funders, and researchers.
- Design a program evaluation, including formative, process, and impact evaluation, and be able to articulate a plan for evaluation using a standard logic model.
- Apply strategies for equitable, collaborative partnerships with communities, based on common recognition of sources of structured social privilege and disadvantage and a shared goal of seeking to expand community assets and power to improve health outcomes
Sample Course Titles
- Assessment and Planning for Health Promotion
- Program Design for Global Health
- Planning and Managing MCH Programs in Developing Countries
- Quantitative Methods for Program Evaluation
- Social Justice and the Health of Populations: Racism and other Systems of Oppression in the United States
View the BU Bulletin for Course Requirements
Sample Practicum
- Assisted the Milton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition with the first phase of their community assessment: researching, assessing, and organizing quantitative data related to substance abuse and mental health in Milton
- Member of the research team at Barbara McInnis House (Boston-based respite center for homeless patients run by Boston Healthcare for the Homeless), participated in a Quality Improvement Project aimed at improving rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with FIT (fecal immunochemical testing) among patients staying in respite
- Chronic Disease Epidemiology Intern with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, assisted with developing an evaluation plan for two statewide initiatives (Mass in Motion and an additional grant from CDC) which aim to prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke via several mutually reinforcing strategies
Integrative Learning Experience
The ILE will give students the opportunity to practice the skills essential to interpreting a basic community needs assessment and formulating an intervention, implementation, and evaluation plan in the form of a short community grant proposal.
Certificate Director
Fall 2024/Spring 2025 CAPDIE Certificate Roadmap
Fall 2023/Spring 2024 CAPDIE Certificate Roadmap
Fall 2022/Spring 2023 CAPDIE Certificate Roadmap
*Please note that all roadmaps are subject to change
CAPDIE ILE Assignment for Fall 2023 (Editable Word Doc)
Contact the Department of Community Health Sciences, the home of the CAPDIE Certificate, for any questions.
Registrar
Graduate Student Life
Frequently Asked Questions