Bachelor of Science in Public Health

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This degree is designed to provide a professionally focused understanding of public health issues in America and abroad, to include the science, psychology, and sociology associated with public health issues. Students will study public law, policy, and administration associated with the effective and efficient administration of public health. They will learn of the health system, its management, finances, and structure. Students also have the opportunity to specialize their area of study in emergency and disaster management or homeland security. Students in this program are typically interested in (or already employed in) some aspect of the health system, concerned of the public health situation in the United States and/or abroad, or are generally interested scholars who seek a public-minded degree.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of public health, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

  • Apply organizational design principles to the unique healthcare organization construct.
  • Perform macro- and microeconomic analyses of healthcare production and costs.
  • Critically analyze the healthcare system in the United States.
  • Create a plan for efficient healthcare system management.
  • Develop an ethical system to analyze moral issues in public health services delivery.
  • Discuss epidemiological issues in society.
  • Appraise the U.S. medical care system, its problems, and potential for reform.
  • Analyze international and comparative public health concepts, approaches, and systems. 


Degree Program Requirements

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (30 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POL 210 - American Government I
SS131 / INR 210 - International Relations


Core Courses (35 semester hours)
GM270 / HCM 112 - Health Services Organization
GM432 / HCM 315 - Health Economics and Finance
GM465 / FSC 413 - Special Operations in Emergency Medical Services
PH306 / HCM 361 - Moral Issues in Health Care
SS460 / POL 410 - Public Policy
RQ300 / COL 300 - Research, Analysis, and Writing
SC404 / HCM 427 - Epidemiology
SS340 / HCM 211 - Public Health in America
SS440 / HCM 426 - Quarantine
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology & SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry & SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   

Major Courses (12 semester hours)
Select 4 courses from the following:
CJ395 / EDM 220 - Emergency Planning
GM260 / HLS 212 - Chemical, Biological & Radiological Hazards
GM261 / HLS 213 - WMD Incident Command
GM330 / HCM 111 - Health Care Administration
GM432 / HCM 315 - Health Economics and Finance
GM433 / HCM 401 - Health Care Delivery Systems
MM325 / EDM 340 - Consequence Management
MC444 / EDM 420 - Risk Communications
MC477 / EDM 230 - Emergency and Disaster Incident Command
PY324 / PY325 / PSY 324 - Addictions and Addictive Behavior / Psychology of Addiction and Substance Abuse
PY406/ PSY 406 - Psychopathology
PY431 / PSY 431 - Psychology of Disaster
PY444 / PY446 / PSY 440 - Biological Psychology / Physiological Psychology
SS437 / HCM 411 - Comparative Public Health Systems

Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
SS499 / HCM 498  - Senior Seminar in Public Health
Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.

Electives (39 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester hours


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