Public Health Major
Through teaching, scholarship and service, a major in public health and concentration in Health Promotion and Practice prepares students to improve health and prevent disease and disability, locally and around the world. A major in public health is designed for individuals seeking experiential academic training in health education, health promotion, health communication policy and social change, and general public health practice. The program equips students with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary for careers in these areas.
Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for graduate studies or leadership roles in a variety of public health professions. Careers may include health education and promotion, public policy, advocacy, research, nonprofit work, global health initiatives, environmental health, occupational health, community and family health, maternal and child health, adolescent health, health care services and administration, behavioral change campaign development to reduce various health consequences (i.e..., unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, drunk driving, substance abuse), epidemiology, health communication, emergency preparedness, biostatistics, disease prevention, minority health and community program development.
Potential employers include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Association of Education Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Partners in Health, state and local Department of Health, universities, hospitals, community health centers, nonprofit organizations, public and private corporations, institutes and foundations, workplaces, schools, health promotion and social marketing firms, etc.
Admission Requirements
Upon admission to the University, students can declare Pre-Public Health as their major. Students will be eligible to declare a major of Public Health upon completion of MAT 160 or higher (except MAT 180 and MAT 201) with a “C” or higher, AND HSC 236 with a “C” or higher.
Curriculum Description
The public health major is inherently multidisciplinary. Core quantitative disciplines such as epidemiology and biostatistics are fundamental to analyzing and understanding the broad impact of health problems, allowing us to look beyond individuals to entire populations. In addition, disease prevention is at the heart of public health; therefore, the program includes content in social sciences to better understand health-related behaviors and their societal influences. Also, focusing on health information, how it is generated and disseminated greatly influences individuals, public officials, organizations, communities and entire populations. Marketing and communication skills enable our students to identify contexts, channels, messages and benefits that will motivate individuals to listen, understand and use health information. Further, successful public health efforts must be led by those who can mobilize, coordinate and direct collaborative actions within complex systems; therefore, our students receive intense coursework in total quality management and leadership.
The curriculum emphasizes health promotion, health education, communication, public and social policy, population health, collaborative leadership, and public health practice. A solid foundation in behavioral sciences principles and theories is provided, along with advanced skills in program planning, execution and evaluation. The curriculum includes several courses in health education and promotion that will allow them to be eligible for a professional certification test in health education (CHES) to complement their public health general degree.
The curriculum consists of required foundational courses and a minimum of 6 academic credits of internship field placement. The internship is designed to provide students with an opportunity, under supervision, to apply the knowledge and skills from the classroom to real-world public health practice. This internship course may be repeated for credit for a maximum of 12 credit hours.
Specific course content includes:
- Quantitative and qualitative skills needed for problem solving.
- Multidisciplinary, collaborative and ecologically based strategies for solving health-related problems.
- Communication skills in working with diverse populations.
- Understanding social and behavioral determinants of health.
- Development, execution and evaluation of interventions and policies leading to the improvement of population health, and
- Management and leadership development in advocacy and public health service
Students pursuing a B.S. in public health must declare and complete a concentration in Health Promotion and Practice.
Students must maintain a Public Health major GPA of 2.5 to be eligible for graduation.
Degree Requirements
Required foundational courses for the public health major:
| BIO 198 | General Biology I | 3 |
| BIO 198L | General Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
| or | |
| BIO 183 | Microbiology for the Allied Health Sciences | 4 |
| CHE 152 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHE 153L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| or | |
| CHE 150 | Chemistry for Health Care Professions | 4 |
| HSC 236 | Introduction to Public Health | 4 |
| HSC 237 | Determinants and Disparities in Health and Disease | 4 |
| HSC 240 | Global Disparities in Environmental Health | 4 |
| HSC 275 | Health Education Theory and Strategies | 4 |
| HSC 340 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 |
| HSC 350 | Biostatistics | 4 |
| HSC 355 | Research Methods in Health Education and Promotion | 4 |
| HSC 360 | Principles of Epidemiology in Exercise and Public Health | 4 |
| HSC 446 | Public Health Systems | 4 |
| HSC 447 | Public Health Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response | 4 |
| HSC 450 | Public Health Management and Leadership | 4 |
| HSC 490 | Internship in Public Health | 2-6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 58 |
Each student must choose the Health Promotion and Practice Concentration.
Required courses for Health Promotion and Practice concentration:
| HSC 380 | Materials and Methods in Health Education and Health Promotion | 4 |
| HSC 440 | Health Policy and Social Change | 4 |
| HSC 445 | Program Planning and Evaluation in Health Promotion and Education | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 70