Community based participatory action research(CBPAR): Designing a public health course in a participatory manner

There is a rising demand for courses that train students in community-based participatory action research (CBPAR). Students are eager to embark on projects that make a difference and lead to action in local communities. In 2009, students from the Harvard School of Public Health approached members of the Harvard Catalyst to develop a new CBPAR course. This became a participatory endeavor between students and faculty. Over the next three months students conducted focus groups with MS, MPH, and Sc.D. students to ascertain their needs and hopes for the course. In addition, students researched other CBPAR courses nationally to draw ideas for the Harvard course. Students developed the course bibliography and identified appropriate classroom exercises and readings in collaboration with course directors. The curriculum was accepted and the class will be taught in Spring 2011. This presentation will discuss the development of the course with active student participation and the resulting curriculum. In addition, lessons learned from the evaluation of the first teaching of the course will be shared. In order to better prepare public health students to engage communities in shared health improvement, courses in CBPAR are needed in schools of public health.