Public Health Major
The goal of the Public Health Major is to prepare health practitioners in the public health disciplines of wellness, health promotion, and holistic disease prevention as well as in community health services through cooperative, multi-disciplinary experiences. Coursework focuses on examining the social, behavioral, and environmental determinants associated with pressing health problems to plan, implement, and evaluate appropriate health promotion programs and preventive services to improve population health.
Requirements for the Public Health Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Required Courses | (31-34 credits) | |
| HC-201 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| HC-202 | Introduction to Global Health (DAC) | 3 |
| HC-203 | Introduction to Epidemiology (GP, NSP, QAC, ICW) | 3 |
| HC-228 | Health Ethics | 3 |
| or PH-131 | Medical Ethics | |
| HC-245 | Introduction to Public Health Research | 3 |
| HE-390 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| HC-415 | Community Health Planning and Promotion | 3 |
| HC-425 | Research Seminar (CAP/WAC) | 3 |
| HC-430 | Health Promotion Program Implementation & Evaluation | 3 |
| HC-445 | Pre-Practicum Seminar | 1 |
| HC-450 | Practicum: Community Health (CAP/WAC) | 3-6 |
| Electives | (31-38 credits) | |
| Majors Electives (Group 1) 1 | ||
| Select one or two courses from the following: | 3-6 | |
| Health and Nutrition | ||
| Health Policy | ||
| Multiculturalism and Health | ||
| Group Process | ||
| Community Health Education (GP, ICW, DAC) | ||
| Department Workshop:Community Health | ||
| Independent Study in Health | ||
| Interdisciplinary Electives (Group 2) 1 | ||
| See Health Sciences Department for list of approved courses. | 9-13 | |
| Required Ancillary Courses | ||
| BI-161 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BI-162 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II (NSP Lab) | 4 |
| CH-112 | Survey of Chemistry | 4 |
| EN-252 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| PS-275 | Psychological Statistics (QR/QAC or MA/QR) | 4 |
| or MA-150 | Statistics I | |
| or SO-275 | Social and Behavioral Statistics | |
| Total Credits | 62-72 | |
- 1
Students must take at least one course from Group 1 with a maximum of two. Eligible courses for Group 1 are HE-120 and any 200-level course offered by the Health Sciences Department. Students must take the remaining major elective courses (3 to 4 courses) from Group 2. Eligible courses for Group 2 are any 200-level course outside of the Health Sciences Department. For Group 2, each elective must come from a different department.
Department of Health Sciences: Public Health Sample Timeline for Completion of Degree
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Credits | |
| LASC | First-Year Seminar (FYS) | 3 |
| EN-101 | College Writing I (WR) | 3 |
| MA 1XX | Any Math Course (MA/QR) | 3 |
| HC-201 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| LASC | LASC Elective (ICW) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| EN-102 | College Writing II (WR) | 3 |
| PS-101 | General Psychology (HBS) | 3 |
| HC-202 | Introduction to Global Health (DAC) | 3 |
| CH-112 | Survey of Chemistry (NSP #1) | 4 |
| BI-161 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Semester Three | ||
| LASC | Distribution Elective (CON) | 3 |
| HC-203 | Introduction to Epidemiology (GS, NSP, QAC, ICW) | 3 |
| BI-162 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II (NSP #2) | 4 |
| LASC | Distribution Elective (CA) | 3 |
| EN-252 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| LASC | Distribution Elective (GP) | 3 |
| HC-228 or PH-131 | Health Ethics or Medical Ethics | 3 |
| HC-245 | Introduction to Public Health Research | 3 |
| Elective | Major/Interdisciplinary Elective #1 | 3 |
| PS-275 or MA-150 | Psychological Statistics (QR #2/QAC) or Statistics I | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Semester Five | ||
| LASC | Distribution Elective (TLC) | 3 |
| Elective | Major/Interdisciplinary Elective #2 | 3 |
| Elective | Distribution Elective #3 | 3 |
| HE-390 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| LASC | Distribution Elective (USW) | 3 |
| HC-425 | Research Seminar | 3 |
| Elective | Major/Interdisciplinary Elective #3 | 3 |
| Elective | Distribution Elective | 3 |
| Elective | Distribution Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Semester Seven | ||
| HC-415 | Community Health Planning and Promotion | 3 |
| HC-445 | Pre-Practicum Seminar | 1 |
| HC-430 | Health Promotion Program Implementation & Evaluation | 3 |
| Elective | Distribution Elective | 3 |
| Elective | Distribution Elective | 3 |
| Elective:Major/Interdisciplinary Elective #4 | ||
| Elective | Major/Interdisciplinary Elective #5 | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| HC-450 | Practicum: Community Health | 3 |
| Elective | Distribution Elective | 3 |
| Elective | Distribution Elective | 3 |
| Elective | Free Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 122 | |
Note: LASC Distribution Electives, do not have to follow this order.
Please see LASC section of this catalog for information on the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC) and for policies governing the use of major courses toward LASC requirements.
Students are required to meet with their academic advisor to review their courses for the upcoming semester. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation. First-year and transfer students with 45 or fewer credits at the time of admission shall complete two academic programs (a major/major or major/minor) to qualify for graduation. For more information, please view the MajorPlus section of this catalog.
HC-201 Introduction to Public Health
This course is an overview and will focus on populations, prevention, and the evidence-based practice of public health.
Every year. 3 Credits
HC-202 Introduction to Global Health
LASC Categories: GP, ICW, DIV, DAC
The course introduces students to the main concepts of public health and the critical links between public health and social and economic development. Students get an overview of the determinants of health, how health status is measured, and the influences of various factors, including cultural, historic, geographic, social, economic, and political issues on the health of individuals and communities. The course also introduces students to key concerns regarding nutrition, reproductive health, infectious disease, and chronic diseases. The course will be global in coverage but with an important focus on the developing world and on the health of the poor.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
HC-203 Introduction to Epidemiology
LASC Categories: ICW, NSP, QAC, GP
Prerequisites: any Math course and HC-201.
Basic epidemiologic concepts are covered and application of concepts to everyday problems; e.g., hazards in food supplies and risks associated with lifestyle.
Every year. 3 Credits
HC-220 Health Policy
Prerequisites: HE-100
Examination of the process and factors that influence formulation, implementation and modification of health policy in the United States.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
HC-228 Health Ethics
Prerequisites: HE-100 or HC-201
Ethical issues in health including genetic research, euthanasia, medical intervention and reproductive technologies as well as professional ethics.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
HC-234 Multiculturalism and Health
Examination of diverse ethnic/racial and cultural beliefs beliefs and practices affecting health and illness
Spring only and every year. 3 Credits
HC-245 Introduction to Public Health Research
Prerequisites: EN-252
This course introduces students to health sciences research. Students will develop critical skills including effectively navigating and interpreting information, distinguishing between high quality and low quality sources of evidence. Students will gain an understanding of the importance of staying actively informed of current events relevant to public health and how informed public health professionals can seek out high quality news on public health as well as discern effective from misleading news relevant to public health policy. Students also will spend extensive time exploring the difference between information found on internet searches and social media versus reliable health agency information.
Spring only and every year. 3 Credits
HC-338 Peer Education Training
Prerequisites: HE-100
Emphasis on student development of practical skills to implement programming centered on peer education programs and focused on preventative health.
Other or on demand. 3 Credits
HC-340 Global Perspective in Public Health
LASC Categories: GP, ICW
Seminar course for students accepted into a global service learning trip during the academic year. It is designed to prepare students through curriculum-based learning, the components of service learning; ethical partnering with vulnerable communities, and the cultural/historical/political and economic factors that impact health and healthcare policies within the population where immersion takes places. There will be self-reflection and integration of learning through journal writing, critical thinking and exercises formal preparation for service in the host country and final paper at the end of the semester.
Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits
HC-345 Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System
Prerequisites: HC-201
This course is an overview of the U.S. health care system (USHCS) and its components. Subjects to be reviewed include how social determinants of health influence access to health care and the role of healthcare providers and their effect in the health care system. The history of USHCS, the financing of services, types of services offered as well as access and quality of these services. Understanding these topics will help formulate an understanding of how the USHCS functions and the factors involved in the delivery of healthcare services.
Fall only and every year. 3 Credits
HC-350 Group Process
Prerequisites: HE-100
A didactic and experiential examination of various theories of group dynamics and their application to the facilitation of health-related groups. Research paper.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
HC-403 Department Workshop:Community Health
The subject matter of this course will be reflective of the changing issues within the field of community health.
Other or on demand. 3 Credits
HC-408 Directed Study: Public Health
Directed study offers students who because of unusual circumstances may be unable to register for a course when offered, the opportunity to complete an existing course with an established syllabus under the direction and with agreement from a faculty member.
3 Credits
HC-415 Community Health Planning and Promotion
Prerequisites: 4 courses in the major at 200 level or above.
Emphasis on community analysis; defining and verifying community health problems and establishing goals and objectives. Research paper.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
HC-425 Research Seminar
LASC Categories: CAP, WAC
Prerequisites: HC-228 or PH-131, HC 203 and one of the following MA-150, PS-275 or SO-275.
Students will be required to produce a proposal for a research study based on a community public health issue.
Every year. 3 Credits
HC-430 Health Promotion Program Implementation & Evaluation
Prerequisites: HC-245 and HC-415
The success of a well-planned health promotion program depends on effective implementation and evaluation procedures. This course will review the process of program planning and explore implementation and evaluation strategies. This course will equip students to collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate evidence of a program's effectiveness to relevant stakeholders. The course will culminate with a written evaluation plan and mock poster presentation delivered to an audience of peers.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
HC-445 Pre-Practicum Seminar
Prerequisites or Corequisite: HC-415
Discussion of career opportunities in the public health field, professional development, and graduate coursework in the health sciences field. This mandatory class should be taken the semester before registering for the practicum.
Fall and Spring and every year. 1 Credit
HC-450 Practicum: Community Health
LASC Categories: CAP, WAC
Prerequisites: 24 credits in HE/HC courses and EN-102
Field experience in which students will select a community health speciality area and spend a semester pursuing their goal through participation. See HE 440 Practicum in Health.
Every year. 3-6 Credits