Apr 18, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Public Health BS, Pre-Nursing Specialization


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The pre-nursing specialization allows future professionals to enter nursing school with a solid background in public health theory and practice. CWU does not offer a degree program in nursing, but offers prerequisite courses suited for admission to professional nursing programs available across Washington.

IMPORTANT: Students MUST take responsibility for understanding current requirements of their chosen nursing program before applying to it. It is recommended and expected that students considering nursing careers will contact advisors at nursing programs of interest and ensure their own readiness for admission. Students choosing the pre-nursing specialization should take CHEM 111 and CHEM 111LAB at their earliest opportunity; additionally, students choosing the pre-nursing specialization are advised to choose PSY 101 as a general education fulfillment, given that it is a prerequisite for PSY 313.

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.

Pre-Nursing Specialization


Total Required Specialization Credits: 44


Total Credits: 106


College and Department Information


Health Sciences Department  
College of Education and Professional Studies  

Program Codes
Major plan codes: PUHE, PUHEP
Specialization plan code: PNPH, PNPHP

Online Availability
The program does not have a designated online only option.

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