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College of Health, Department of Health & Exercise Science
Anderson Athletic Recreation Center (AARC) 206, (651) 962-5982
Mellick (Chair), Arogbokun, Bruininks, Hedman-Robertson, Korak, Mead, Roy, Sage, Scibora

Public health is an exciting and growing field of study. The course of study in the major reflects a broad exploration of public health issues, methods, and strategies. The field challenges its professionals to confront complex health issues, such as improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury

Public health is a field that offers an abundance of job opportunities to suit a variety of interests and skills. Whether you are more interested in crunching numbers, conducting research, or working with people, there is a place for you in the field of public health. Those interested in working for a non-profit organization can find jobs in health advocacy, policy, or research for organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Red Cross, or a local non-profit that focuses on specific health issues. Careers are also available at local, county, state and federal health agencies, as well as health care providers.

Major Core (44 credits):

• PUBH 200 Emerging Disease and Global Health (4 credits)
• PUBH 220 Introduction to Public Heath and Social Justice (4 credits)
• PUBH 225 Global Health (4 credits)
• PUBH 240 US Health Care (4 credits)
• PUBH 300 Epidemiology (4 credits)
• PUBH 330 Health Policy (4 credits)
• PUBH 340 Health Education: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (4 credits)
• PUBH 350 Environment, Health & Justice (4 credits)
• PUBH 360 Public Health Communications (4 credits)
• PUBH 465 Public Health Research Methods (4 credits) 
• PUBH 485 Senior Seminar: Public Health (4 credits)

Required PUBH Electives (4 credits from the following):

• Any PUBH or HLTH course (2-4 credits)
• EXSC 213 Human Anatomy with Lab (4 credits)
• EXSC 214 Human Physiology with Lab (4 credits)
• EXSC 240 Medical Terminology (2 credits)
• NUTR 245 Introduction to Nutrition (4 credits)

Enhanced Curriculum (20 credits):

• DASC 120 Introduction to Computational Statistics (4 credits)
• BIOL 105 Human Biology or BIOL 106 Women, Medicine, and Biology or BIOL 207 Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution 
• PSYC 111 General Psychology or SOCI 100 Introduction to Sociology or SOCI 110 Social Problems, or SOCI 251 Race and Ethnicity (4 credits) 
• COMM 100 Public Speaking or COMM 105 Communication in the Workplace or COMM 220 Intercultural Communication (4 credits)
• BIOL 209 Biology of Sustainability or ENVR 151 Environmental Challenges or GEOG 350 Geography of Global Health or JPST 250 Introduction to Justice and Peace Studies (4 credits)

Overview

Undergraduate students will indicate their major in Public Health B.S. during their first or second year.  

Students pursuing a bachelor of science in Public Health who are interested in the Combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Public Health Program (BS-MPH) can apply to the accelerated program during their third year (junior). Up to 10 successful applicants who meet the BS-MPH admission requirements will be able to enroll in the program (Feb. 1 deadline). Students accepted into the program will be able to enroll in 12 credits of graduate courses (4 courses) during their fourth year (senior). These 12 credits count toward the 129 credits required for the Public Health B.S. degree and also fulfill 12 credits toward the 42 credits required for the Master of Arts in Public Health degree.     

Faculty within the Public Health program will review, consider and vote on students’ applications. Successful applicants to the program will generally have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, at least two strong letters of recommendation, advisor-approved plan of study, and an excellent writing sample. Eligible students will have room in their senior schedule to accommodate the 12 graduate credits (see plan of study) and will submit an advisor-approved plan of study for their B.S. program. Selected students will be formally admitted to the Master of Arts in Public Health program upon finishing the requirements for their undergraduate degree. The four graduate courses the student completes during their fourth (senior) year will count toward the 42 credits required for the Master of Arts in Public Health degree.  

If any student accepted into the BS-MPH program decides not to continue with the Master of Arts in Public Health degree program; they will receive a Public Health B.S. degree once all undergraduate requirements have been met.  

About the Masters in Public Health (MPH)

The MPH program provides a comprehensive understanding of public health principles, including epidemiology, biostatistics, program planning, health policy, environmental health, social and behavioral sciences, and health communications. The MPH program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze health data, design and implement effective health interventions, promote health equity, and lead public health initiatives in diverse settings.

Students in the MPH program will develop expertise in data analysis, program evaluation, health communications, and policy. Graduates are prepared to take on leadership roles in a variety of settings including public health organizations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academia.

Required Coursework for the Combined Bachelor of Science and Masters in Public Health Degree (159 Credits)

• Undergraduate Core Requirements, as indicated in the catalog (62 credits)
• BS Public Health Major Core (32 credits)
• PUBH 200 Emerging Disease and Global Health (4 cr
• PUBH 220 Intro. to Public Health and Social Justice (4 cr)
• PUBH 225 Global Health (4 cr)
• PUBH 240 US Health Care (4 cr)
• PUBH 300 Epidemiology (4 cr)
• PUBH 350 Environment, Health, and Justice (4 cr)
• PUBH 465 Public Health Research Methods (4 cr)
• PUBH 485 Senior Seminar: Public Health (4 cr)

Enhanced Curriculum (20 Credits)

• DASC 120 Intro to Computational Stats(4 cr)
• BIOL 105 Human Biology (4 cr), or BIOL 106 Women, Medicine, and Biology (4 cr),or BIOL 207 Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution (4 cr)
• PSYC 111 General Psychology (4 cr), or SOCI 100 Introduction to Sociology (4 cr), or SOCI 110 Social Problems (4 cr), or SOCI 251 Race and Ethnicity(4 cr)
• COMM 100 Public Speaking (4 cr), or COMM 105 Communication in the Workplace (4 cr), or COMM 220 Intercultural Communication(4 cr)
• BIOL 209 Biology of Sustainability (4 cr), or ENVR 151 Environmental Challenges ( 4cr), or GEOG 350 Geography of Global Health (4 cr), or JPST 250 Introduction to Justice and Peace Studies(4 cr)

Graduate Courses for 4+1, Year 4 (12 cr)

• PUBH 500 Public Health Foundations & Ethics (3 cr) for PUBH Elective for BS degree
• PUBH 570 Program Planning & Evaluation (3 cr) for PUBH 340 Health Education: Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (4 cr)
• PUBH 530 Healthcare Systems & Health Policy (3 cr) for PUBH 330 Health Policy (4 cr)
• PUBH 560 Health Literacy & Health Comm. (3 cr) for PUBH 360 Public Health Communication (4 cr)

Graduate Courses for 4+1, Year 5 (30 cr)

• PUBH 540 Biostatistics for Public Health (3 cr)
• PUBH 590 Leadership and Program Management/Administration (3 cr)
• PUBH 580 Epidemiology for Public Health (3 cr)
• PUBH 600 Social & Behavioral Health (3 cr)
• PUBH 610 Environmental & Occupational Health (3 cr)
• PUBH 650 Computational Analysis Methods for Public Health Data (3 cr)
• PUBH 670 Research Methods for Public Health (3 cr)
• PUBH 680 Capstone Integrative Experience in Public Health (3 cr)
• PUBH Electives (6 cr)

Graduate Elective Options:

• PUBH 505 Global Health (3 credits)
• PUBH 515 Introduction to Maternal & Child Health (3 credits)
• PUBH 525 Injury Prevention and Control in Public Health (3 credits)
• PUBH 555 Healthy Aging and Public Health (3 credits)
• PUBH 615 Be Ready! Emergency Preparedness & Response (3 credits)
• PUBH 635 Infectious Disease Control (3 credits)
• PUBH 645 Chronic Disease Prevention (3 credits)
• PUBH 685 Internship in Public Health (2-3 credits)
• PUBH 695 Research Independent Study (2-3 credits)

Required:

• PUBH 220: Intro to Public Health and Social Justice (4 credits)
• PUBH 225: Global Health and Development
• PUBH 300: Intro to Epidemiology (4 credits)
• DASC 120: Intro to Computational Statistics (4 credits)

Plus one from:

• PUBH 200: Emerging Infectious Disease and Global Health (4 credits)
• PUBH 210: One Health: Humans, Animals and the Environment (4 credits)
• PUBH 330: Heath Policy (4 credits)
• PUBH 340: Human Education Program Planning and Evaluation (4 credits)
• PUBH 350: Environment, Health and Justice (4 credits)