Dec 22, 2024

Undergraduate Catalog | 2018-2019

Undergraduate Catalog | 2018-2019 Previous Edition

Public Health, B.S.P.H.

Public health is the science and art of promoting health, preventing disease and injury, and prolonging life through organized efforts of society. Public health activities focus on entire populations rather than on individual patients, and public health professionals monitor and diagnose the health concerns of entire communities and promote healthy practices and behaviors to assure our populations stay healthy.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) prepares students through didactic and practice experiences to apply core principles of public health education within a variety of community settings and to advance the public health profession. The program values professional and academic integrity and ethics, collegiality, engagement with the community, and responsiveness and innovation in its pursuit of attaining the highest possible standards of health and well-being.

The BSPH program is designed to prepare scholar-practitioners with knowledge and skills in the core concepts of public health, including health behavior, research and statistics in health, environmental health, epidemiology, and health administration, as well as in the planning, evaluation, organization, and conduct of community and public health services. The planned course of study adopts an interdisciplinary focus and includes the development of tailored skills through the successful completion of a minor, electives, and experiential learning. The degree will prepare students who are interested in pursuing health-related careers in health promotion, program delivery, health communication, community organization, and behavior change for entry level to mid-level positions in service and research in health departments, public health agencies, community-based organizations, outreach education programs, hospitals, private health organizations, and corporate wellness settings. The program is designed to appeal to students with interests in “population” rather than “clinical” health. Continued study in the Department of Public Health Sciences is also an option for those interested in graduate degrees in Public Health or Health Administration. For details on these programs, see the UNC Charlotte Graduate Catalog.

Admission Requirements

Freshmen

Minimum GPA: 2.5
Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses: Students must apply for admission to the Major in Public Health (BSPH). Applications are accepted from students who will have completed 60 credit hours by the time they begin to take courses in the major, including the following 25 credit hours of courses listed in the PRPH Major (whether or not the student declared the PRPH Major). Students will complete any remaining PRPH requirements following admission to the BSPH.
- HLTH 2101 - Healthy Lifestyles (3)
- HLTH 3101 - Foundations of Public Health (3)
- HLTH 4280 - Global Health Issues (3)
- BIOL 1110 - Principles of Biology I (3) or BIOL 1115 - Principles of Biology II (3)
- General Education Requirement Courses
  - Mathematical and Logical Reasoning courses (6 credit hours)
  - Natural Science courses (7 credit hours) (BIOL 1110 or BIOL 1115 may be used to fulfill part of this requirement)
  - Social Science courses (3 credit hours)
Other: Goal statement and application for admission. Applications for admission are due in February of each year, and include academic transcripts, application, and a statement of future career goals.
Declaration of Major: Change of Major form accepted year-round; advising in CHHS Advising Center required prior to declaration.

Transfers

Minimum GPA: 2.0
Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses: All incoming students begin as Pre-Public Health and apply to upper division once eligible
Transferable Credit Hours: 24

Degree Requirements: Pre-Public Health Major (PRPH)

(Guidelines for Freshman and Sophomore Years)

Applicants who satisfy freshman or transfer requirements for admission to the University and are interested in the BSPH can declare the Pre-Public Health Major (PRPH). It includes a combination of 70-75 credit hours of courses that fulfills the UNC Charlotte General Education requirements, prerequisite core courses, health-related communications courses, and declaration of a minor.

General Education Courses

For details on required courses, refer to the General Education Program . Students majoring in Public Health should plan on taking the following courses that meet general education and major requirements:

MATH 1100 - College Algebra (3)
STAT 1222 - Introduction to Statistics (3)
BIOL 1110 - Principles of Biology I (3) *
or BIOL 1115 - Principles of Biology II (3)

Note:

* BIOL 1110L is not required for the Pre-Major, but may be required if taking BIOL 1110 to fulfill the Natural Sciences with Lab requirement of the General Education Program.

Foundation Courses (18 credit hours)

Prerequisite Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Health-Related Communication Courses (6 credit hours)

Select two of the following:

Minor Courses

Choose any minor on campus except the Minor in Public Health.

Unrestricted Elective Courses

As needed to complete degree requirement of 120 credit hours. Study abroad courses are included.

Degree Requirements: Public Health Major (BSPH)

(Guidelines for Junior and Senior Years)

The Public Health major includes 50 credit hours of courses that are designed to meet the criteria established by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for accreditation of public health degree programs. Students completing the curriculum will be eligible to sit for the nationally-recognized Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

Major Courses (32 credit hours)

Restricted Elective Courses (18 credit hours)

Culture and Health Elective Courses (6 credit hours)

Select two of the following:

AFRS 3261 - Psychology of the Black Experience (3)
ANTH 3122 - Culture, Health, and Disease (3) (W)
or ANTH 3222 - Culture, Health, and Disease (3)
HLTH 3115 - Health and the Aging Process (3)
or GRNT 3115 - Health and the Aging Process (3)
HLTH 4260 - Women: Middle Age and Beyond (3)
or GRNT 4260 - Women: Middle Age and Beyond (3)
or WGST 4260 - Women: Middle Age and Beyond (3)
NURS 4191 - Women’s Health Issues (3)
or WGST 4191 - Women’s Health Issues (3)

Health-Related Elective Courses (12 credit hours)

Select four of the following:

AFRS 4630 - Environmental and Public Health in Africa (3) (O)
COMM 3115 - Health Communication (3)
ECON 3141 - Health Economics (3)
KNES 3260 - Nutrition for the Physically Active (3)
KNES 4130 - Applied Nutrition (3)
POLS 3125 - Healthcare Policy (3)
PHIL 3230 - Healthcare Ethics (3)
SOCY 2169 - Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
SOCY 4168 - Sociology of Mental Health and Illness (3) (W)
Any HLTH 3000-level or 4000-level course, except HLTH 3101 or HLTH 4280 (3)
Any 3000- or 4000-level health-related study abroad course 3 Credit hours

Degree Total = 120-125 Credit Hours

Grade Requirements

To graduate with a BSPH degree, students must have completed 120-125 credit hours (70-75 credit hours from the PRPH major and 50 credit hours from the BSPH major). The cumulative GPA and the GPA in the major requirements courses must be no lower than 2.5.

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