Public Health, B.S.

Public Health is an interdisciplinary major that includes aspects of biology, economics, exercise science, management, political science, psychology, and sociology. This allows students to explore critical concepts, research, and practices that shape community well-being. Public health majors will gain expertise in epidemiology, health policy, and disease prevention as they prepare for careers or further education in the field of public health.

Program Learning Goals in Public Health

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, students will be able to:

Explain public health history, philosophy, and values
Identify the core functions of public health
Apply qualitative and quantitative methods in describing and assessing a population’s health
Explain the effects of environmental factors on a population’s health
Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health
Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health
Explain the social, political, and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities
Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease
Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health, and ecosystem health
Display competency in a public health professional environment
Display oral and written communication skills that can be used to advance public health knowledge

Major Requirements

31 required foundational credits, which include one research methods course, and an additional 15 credits of electives as well as a 4-credit internship with capstone. For students not declaring a concentration, a minimum of three credits from each of the following categories—Health Policy, Health Communication, Environmental Science, and Social and Behavioral Health—must be completed. Students may obtain a concentration by completing all 15 credits of their electives, the concentration-specific internship, and an associated research course within one category. At least nine elective credits must be at the 3000 level or higher. Students may declare multiple concentrations and complete those categories accordingly.

Foundational Courses (31 credits)

BL 2400	EPIDEMIOLOGY	3
CE 2001	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH	0

DATA 1220	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS	3
	or
DATA 2280	STATISTICS FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES	3

DATA 2600	INTERMEDIATE STATISTICS WITH SPSS	3
EC 2221*	FUNDAMENTALS OF ECONOMICS	3
EC 3362	HEALTH ECONOMICS AND FINANCING	3
ESC 2229	HUMAN NUTRITION	3
PBHL 2500	CURRENT ISSUES IN POPULATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH	1
PS 1010	INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY	3
SC 1010	FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIOLOGY	3
SC 2730	PUBLIC HEALTH IN U.S. SOCIETY	3
Choose one of the following research methods courses:
COM 3041	RESEARCH METHODS	3
PO 3510	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS	3
PS 3011	EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS IN PSYCHOLOGY	3
SC 3500	SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS	3

*Students intending on a minor in business must take the in-person section of this course.

For students not declaring a concentration, the following additional requirements apply:

PBHL 4730	INTERNSHIP IN PUBLIC HEALTH	4
	and
15 elective credits, including at least 3 credits from each of the following concentration categories and at least 9 credits total at or above the 3000-level

Health Policy Concentration

The Health Policy concentration within the Public Health major is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between health, society, and governance. This concentration focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies that affect public health outcomes.

Research methods course requirement:
PO 3510	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS	3
Internship course requirement:
PBHL 4731	INTERNSHIP IN HEALTH POLICY	4
For the concentration, take five of the following (at least 3 must be at the 3000-level or higher):
COM 3493	COMMUNICATION LAW	3
HS 1025	INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS	3
HS 1137	HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN AMERICA	3
HS 1138	HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND THE BODY IN AMERICA	3
HS 1162	SEXUALITY IN AMERICA	3
HS 1239	HEALTH MEDICINE AND SOCIETY	3
PBHL 3500	POLICY ANALYSIS NONPROFITS	3
PO 1600/SC 1600	INTRODUCTION TO LAW AND SOCIETY	3
PO 2210 (LINK)	HEALTH CARE ACCESS IN LATIN AMERICA	3
PO 3140	INTRODUCTION TO POLICY ANALYSIS	3
PO 3160	SOCIAL MOVEMENTS	3
PO 3270	COMPARATIVE HEALTH SYSTEMS	3
PO 3650	CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES	3
PO 3660	GENDER, JUSTICE, AND THE LAW	3
SC 3351	PRISONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS	3
SC 3640	RACE, CRIME, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE	3
SC4350	LAW, ETHICS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY	3
PO 4710 *	POWER, INSTITUTIONS AND CHANGE	3

*Students must have taken at least five prior PO courses to register for this course.

Health Communication Concentration

The Health Communication concentration within the Public Health major emphasizes the crucial role of effective communication in promoting public health and influencing health behaviors. This concentration equips students with the skills to design, implement, and evaluate communication strategies that improve health outcomes at the individual, community, and policy levels.

Research methods course requirement:
COM 3041	RESEARCH METHODS	3
Internship course requirement:
PBHL 4732	INTERNSHIP IN HEALTH COMMUNICATION	4
For the concentration, take five of the following (at least 3 must be at the 3000-level or higher):
COM 2051	PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION	3
COM 2081*	INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION	3
COM 2510	COMMUNICATING ABOUT SCIENCE	3
COM 2552	INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL MEDIA	3
COM 3013	INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS	3
COM 3073	ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION	3
COM 3453	DIVERSITY, STEREOTYPES, & MEDIA	3
COM 3493	COMMUNICATION LAW	3
COM 3602	MEDIA WRITING	3
COM 3712	WEB & INTERACTIVE DESIGN	3
COM 3752	COMMUNICATING ABOUT HEALTH	3
EN 4060	WRITING IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES	3

*Students intending on a Health Communication concentration should begin with this course.

Environmental Science Concentration

The Environmental Science concentration within the Public Health major emphasizes the critical connection between the environment and human health. This concentration equips students with the knowledge and skills to assess, manage, and mitigate environmental factors that impact public health outcomes. Students will study topics such as air and water quality, environmental contaminants, climate change, toxicology, environmental justice, and the impact of urbanization on health.

Research methods course requirement :
SC 3500	SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS	3
Internship course requirement:
PBHL 4733	INTERNSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE	4
For the concentration, take five of the following (at least 3 must be at the 3000-level or higher):
BL 1370 (LINK)	CLIMATE CHANGE: GLOBAL IMPACTS	3
BL 2220	GENERAL ECOLOGY	3
BL 3310	GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE	3
BL 4170 and BL 4175	GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND LAB	4
EN 2635 (LINK)	CLIMATE CHANGE LITERATURE	3
EN 4051	WRITING AND THE ENVIRONMENT	3
HS 2138	ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE USA	3
SC 2800	SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE JUSTICE	3
SC 3600	URBAN SOCIOLOGY	3
SC 3800	ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS	3

Social and Behavioral Health Concentration

The Social and Behavioral Health concentration within the Public Health major is designed to explore the complex social, cultural, and behavioral factors that influence health and well-being. Students will examine topics such as health behavior theory, social determinants of health, mental health, substance use, community health, and the role of socioeconomic factors in shaping health outcomes.

Research methods course requirement :
PS 3011	EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS IN PSYCHOLOGY	3
	or
SC 3500	SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS	3
Internship course requirement:
PBHL 4734	INTERNSHIP IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH	4
For the concentration, take five of the following (at least 3 must be at the 3000-level or higher):
BL 1420 (LINK)	BIOLOGY OF ADDICTION	3
BL 2600	SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND DISEASE	3
PJHR 2750	MODERN SOCIAL PROBLEMS	3
PS 2260	DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR	3
PS 2680	LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT	3
PS 2880	HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY	3
PS 3430	PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE	3
PS 4150	MULTICULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY	3
PS 4260	PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY	3
PS 4570	PSYCHOPATHOLOGY	3
SC 2200	CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS	3
SC 2350	AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCES	3
SC 2550	PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION	3
SC 2571 (LINK)	SOCIAL INEQUALITIES IN SOCIETY	3
SC 2650	VICTIMS OF CRIME	3
SC 2750	FAMILY VIOLENCE	3
SC 3150	SEXUALITY AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR	3
SC 3250	GENDER, HEALTH & MEDICINE	3
SC 3430	DRUGS AND CRIME	3
SC 4400	VIOLENCE AND SOCIETY	3

Students interested in healthcare administration and/or management should consider a minor in program.

Students interested in a healthcare profession should consider a minor in program.

PBHL - Public Health

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