Public Health

Associate Professor Buckenmeyer (Program Director); Assistant Professors Li, Samis-Smith, Spain.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program prepares students in a community of learning, dedicated to excellence and grounded in the Lutheran tradition, to lead and serve in the field of public health to promote health and prevent disease in human populations.

The interprofessional curriculum is designed to prepare entry level public health practitioners with knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the core concepts of public health including health behavior, health services administration, environmental health, epidemiology, and statistics as well as in the ability to identify, assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the needs of populations to promote and protect the health of the community. The BSPH courses provide the strong science background necessary for academic success in the MPH program and in any graduate health-related field, including medicine.

Purpose

The purpose of the BSPH degree is to prepare graduates to pursue entry-level positions within varied public health settings.

Objectives

The B.S. in Public Health graduate will:

Demonstrate proficiency in foundational knowledge and skills required for public health professionals.
Engage in the processes of critical thinking, communication, change, and lifelong learning.
Integrate public health ethics, values, service, and leadership skills.
Evaluate the influences of culture, economics, ethics, law, policy, politics, society, and technology on a population’s health.
Promote the health of populations in dynamic public health environments through experiential learning.

Admission Requirements

Freshman students who have declared public health as their major will be admitted directly into the public health program.

Students in the BSPH program who are eligible for admission to the BSPH/MPH 4+1 option will be invited to enroll in graduate level public health courses in their senior year if they have a 3.000 GPA, have earned grades of a C or better in science courses and courses required for the public health major, and have completed the program of study through the junior year. Students who are admitted into the BSPH/MPH 4+1 during their senior year will be admitted directly into the MPH upon graduation from the BSPH assuming they continue to meet the progression requirements.

Progression

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.500 in all course work. In addition, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.500 in in the required public health and interprofessional education courses in the public health major to remain in the public health program. Students must earn a grade of C (2.000) or better in courses designated with an asterisk (*) as indicated in the above table of graduation requirements.

Dismissal from the public health program occurs when a student earns two infractions. Infractions include: a grade of less than C (2.000) in any required course with a public health or interprofessional education number, BIO 151 , BIO 152 , BIO 210 , or CHEM 111 /CHEM 121 /CHEM 131 ; a cumulative grade point average less than 2.500; or a grade point average of required public health and interprofessional education courses less than 2.500. Requirements for progression into the MPH program include maintenance of a cumulative GPA of at least 3.000, a 3.000 minimum average in all graduate level courses, and no grades of less than a B- in any required graduate course.

Students are required to present evidence of a criminal background check and a negative drug screen during the first semester of admission to the program. Students will also have to repeat a criminal background check, negative drug screen, and any additional requirements as required by the agency a second time during the fall semester of their graduating year, prior to the practicum placement. Drug screening can be requested randomly. Students are responsible for meeting these requirements according to CONHP policies.

Minor

A public health student may declare a minor in another college provided that no more than six credit hours of courses required for the Public Health major are used in fulfilling requirements of the minor. The minor is noted on the student’s academic record.

Course Intensification

A public health student may propose a special project for earning one extra credit in one public health course towards the required 12 elective credits for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree. The following regulations pertain to this option for a student:

Student must have a public health GPA of 2.700 or above
The course must be offered in the College of Nursing and Health Professions for three or more credits.
Student must meet with the academic advisor to determine if course intensification is appropriate. The initiative and responsibility for developing a satisfactory proposal lie with the student.
Student must submit a one-page proposal for the intensification project and the petition online. It will be forwarded to the advisor, the instructor of the course, and the dean for approval.

Note: Students are responsible for transportation to and from all practicum and community agencies and for transportation associated with home visits. The College of Nursing and Health Professions uses a variety of accredited health facilities to provide broad practicum experience for students; consequently, access to a car is necessary in most practicum experiences.