Public Health B.A.
Public Health Major
The B.A. Public Health major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours.
Public Health specialists seek to improve the health of the general public through education, behavior change and improvement of the environment. Students in the program develop the skills to plan, implement and evaluate programs in a variety of settings, which may include health departments, corporate wellness sites, hospitals/clinics, fitness facilities, nonprofit organizations, international relief organizations, care facilities, colleges/universities, and private industry.
The curriculum is tailored to meet national competencies in public health. Students will take classes in planning, implementing, and evaluating public health programs in addition to environmental health science, epidemiology (how diseases are spread), and how to address factors that impact community health and wellbeing (such as tobacco/alcohol/substance abuse, lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, injuries, and high levels of stress).
All students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor to discuss their career goals and aspirations and possible certificate options to gain expertise in specific public health areas.
| Required Core: 33 credits | ||
| PH 1101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| PH 2100 | Behavior Change for Health Promotion | 3 |
| PH 2130 | Epidemiology of Human Diseases | 3 |
| PH 3140/5140 | Planning and Evaluating Public Health Programs | 3 |
| PH 3150/5150 | Implementing Public Health Programs | 3 |
| PH 3170 | Public Health Career Readiness Seminar | 3 |
| or HRCS 4000 | Professional Readiness Seminar | |
| PH 3310/5310 | Health Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| PH 3710 | Environmental Health Science | 3 |
| PH 4170 | Internship Portfolio | 3 |
| PH 4180 | Internship | 6 |
| Electives: Choose 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing Practice | ||
| Research and Evidence-Based Practice | ||
| Health Assessment and Health Promotion Across the Lifespan | ||
| Public Health Practicum | ||
| Basic Nutrition | ||
| Nutrition for Health Promotion * | ||
| Maternal and Infant Health | ||
| Introduction to Women's Health | ||
| Selected Topics in Women's Health | ||
| Stress and Coping | ||
| Aging and Health | ||
| Global Service Mission | ||
| Health of Vulnerable Populations | ||
| International Health | ||
| Worksite Health Promotion | ||
| Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Health | ||
| Health Care and the Consumer | ||
| Toxins and Health | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Four-Year Plan
Public Health, B.A.
This is a sample plan of study with a suggested sequencing of classes for the major. University electives may be applied to earn additional academic majors, minors, or certificates. Students should regularly meet with their academic advisor to plan their specific semester schedule to include UNIFI/General Education program and/or university elective hours required.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hour | |
| PH 1101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Public Health Major Elective | 3 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| PH 2130 | Epidemiology of Human Diseases | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PH 2100 | Behavior Change for Health Promotion | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 15 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PH 3710 | Environmental Health Science | 3 |
| PH 3310/5310 | Health Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PH 3140/5140 | Planning and Evaluating Public Health Programs | 3 |
| Public Health Major Electives | 6 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PH 3170 | Public Health Career Readiness Seminar | 3 |
| PH 3150/5150 | Implementing Public Health Programs | 3 |
| Public Health Major Elective | 3 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PH 4170 | Internship Portfolio | 3 |
| PH 4180 | Internship | 6 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
Public Health, B.A.
- Communication: Demonstrate the ability to identify, prioritize, and deliver evidence-based public health messages through written and oral formats for both public and professional audiences.
- Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the ability to engage in critical thinking via systems thinking in a community and/or environmental context.
- Program Specific Application: Demonstrate and apply health knowledge/skills and professional demeanor and behavior in settings consistent with career goals.
- Population Specific Application: Apply understanding of public health to develop community and environmental health programming for a variety of populations.