Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

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Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Health Science Panel members speak at the Below the Belt conference hosted by the school of applied sciences and public health -- speakers discuss a documentary on public health. — Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Dr. Thomas E. Dobbs, and Shannon Cohn speak at a private screening of Below The Belt, a documentary film on endometriosis and women's health.

About this Program

Public health is an exciting field dedicated to protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, eliminating health disparities, and responding to environmental threats.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health offers two unique emphasis areas to choose from:

Health Science. Graduates from the Health Science emphasis work in a range of careers in hospitals, clinics, sports facilities, and other healthcare settings. Students can also leverage their knowledge as the foundation for advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, respiratory therapy, nursing, and public health.

Community Health. Graduates from the Community Health emphasis work in a range of careers in public, private, or nonprofit sectors, educating communities or connecting individuals to crucial services as a patient advocate or health educator.

Public Health majors get hands-on experience designing health programs to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities across the country.

Department of Public Health Degree Sheet

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Program Information

Program Type

Major

Minor

Area of Study

Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology

School

School of Applied Sciences

Duration

4 years

Degree

B.S. in Public Health

Program Location

Oxford

Emphases

Community Health;
Health Science

Required Credit Hours

120

Public Health Coursework

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science of Public Health can choose between a Community Health or a Health Science emphasis. Find the course requirements for the B.S. and related emphases below. For more information, see the course catalog.

B.S. in Public Health

The BS in Public Health requires 33 major credit hours. The following courses are required of all public health majors:

Community Health Emphasis

In addition to the 33-hour Public Health core curriculum, public health majors who select the community health emphasis must complete the following 43-44 hours of coursework:

Health Science Emphasis

In addition to the 33 hours of Public Health core curriculum, public health majors who select the health science emphasis must complete the following 43-44 hours of coursework:

Bisc 162 / 163: Biological Sciences II w/Lab (4 hours)
Bisc 206 / 207: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II OR Bisc 310 Human Anatomy/Bisc 330 Introductory Physiology (8 hours)
Chem 106 / 116: General Chemistry II w/Lab (4 hours)
PHYS 213 / 223: General Physics I w/Lab (4 hours)
PHYS 214 / 224: General Physics II w/Lab (4 hours)
PSY 301: Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 311: Psychopathology (3 hours)
ES 396: Allied Health Terminology (3 hours)
10-11 hours of elective courses

GradSHARK Launch PAAD—Public Health

Undergraduate students interested in graduate study in Public Health can get a head start in earning a graduate degree through the GradSHARK Launch PAAD for Public Health.

Requirements to qualify:

Public Health and Health Sciences Major
3.0 minimum GPA overall
90 completed credit hours as an undergraduate
To participate in the PAAD, students must take PH 505 instead of 305 once admitted; without taking this course, completion of the MPH in one additional year may not be possible
Admitted students must take one 500-level elective in either fall or spring of the 4th year of undergraduate study and should check course availability; without taking the electives, completion of the MPH in one additional year may not be possible

Note, to be formally admitted by the Graduate School upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, PAAD participants will need to complete an application for graduate study in their senior year.

What graduate courses can undergraduate students take as part of Launch PAAD?

Undergraduate students can take the following 500-level graduate courses to earn credit towards their graduate degree:

PH 505: Health Program Planning (Students must take this class instead of PH 305)
PH 528: Public Health Policy
PH 555: Health Equity
Jour/IMC 585: Health Communication

Students must choose one of the following electives:

GEOL 500: Intro to GIS
ES 511: Applied Statistics
PH 515: Motivational Interviewing
PH 620 Emerging Issues in Public Health
ES 515: Stress and the Brain
NHM 522: Nutrition Policy
IMC 541: Consumer Behavior/Target Behavior
IMC 553: Strategic Communication Planning
IMC 562: Crisis Communication
IMC 571: Internet and Mobile Media

Students who fail to reserve 500-level courses for graduate credit at the time they take the course will not receive graduate credit for the course (graduate level work must be completed to earn graduate credit).

Reserving graduate credit with 500-level courses is required to ensure the Graduate School and instructor know the student must complete graduate credit requirements for the course. Students cannot later claim graduate credit for 500-level courses if they did not take the appropriate steps to notify the Graduate School prior to taking the course.

Who do I enroll in the GradnSHARK Launch PAAD for Public Health?

Students must be accepted into the Launch PAAD and complete the requisite GradSHARK Launch PAAD Course Enrollment Form for this degree. The form must be received by the Graduate School (the form requires approval from your Undergraduate Advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator for Public Health).

During each subsequent term, the student must submit a new enrollment form for this program if they wish to take courses that can count towards a graduate degree (students will not officially be registered for graduate courses until this form is complete).

For more information about participation in the GradSHARK Launch PAAD, guidelines, financial aid and available areas of study, please see the GradSHARK Launch PAAD homepage.

Minor in Public Health

Undergraduate students who want to minor in public health must complete 18 hours of public health courses.

Required Courses:

Choose At Least 3 Additional Courses:

Interested in pursuing a minor in Public Health? Make sure to talk to your academic advisor.