Public Health BS, Population Health Specialization

Public Health Core

The public health profession focuses on preventing disease, addressing inequities and developing policies and programs that help communities achieve optimal health and well-being. Our program aims to educate and empower the emerging generation of public health leaders. The bachelor of science in public health prepares students for graduate work or careers in the field and exposes them to evidence-based research and practice experiences.

Admission Requirements
Students must pass PUBH 230 and PUBH 240 with a grade of C or higher and must meet with and be signed in by a member of the public health faculty to be admitted into the public health program.

Graduation Requirements
Students seeking the bachelor of science in public health must complete all core PUBH courses with a grade of C or higher.

Program Requirements
Public health majors will complete 62 credits of core coursework and select a specialization in either population health (90 credits total) or pre-nursing (106 credits total). All majors are also required to complete a 5-credit capstone experience which includes one of the following applied tracks: research, internship, or academic service learning. All students will also complete a culminating experience course that fulfills the general education and program requirements. PUBH 488 (3 credits) will be taken in the final quarter of a student’s enrollment. Students may take their capstone and PUBH 488 cocurrently.

Special Requirements (other than departmental)
General education’s academic writing I and academic writing II requirements must be satisfied prior to enrollment in PUBH 240.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• demonstrate basic knowledge of public health determinants, theories, and strategies;
• identify a range of public health issues from the community to the global level;
• apply written and verbal communication strategies with the various audiences who need public health-related information;
• employ analytic skills and the use of appropriate evidence to support public health initiatives;
• assess population health status and potential;
• prepare public health program plans, including implementation and evaluation stages for evidence-based interventions designed to improve population health;
• apply programmatic content outside the classroom through practical experiences;
• distinguish key elements of health systems and policies, in the U.S. and around the world; and
• execute skills in ethical decision-making for population health improvement.

Population Health Specialization

Department-Approved Specialization Electives

Students must complete a minimum of 28 credits from the following list of electives:

(Students may also seek advisor approved electives outside of this list)

Additional field experience credits may be used for electives. Students who take more than one field experience/capstone course or more than the required five credits, may apply the additional credits to their electives.

Total Credits: 90

College and Department Information

Online Availability
The program will have a designated online only option as well as an in-person or hybrid option.

Program Codes
Major plan codes: PUHE, PUHEP
Online option codes: PUHEO, PUHEOP
Specialization plan code: POHE
Online option code: POHEO