Public Health professionals with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health-Internship Track (BSPH-PHI) are prepared to:

• understand the context and impact of public health history and ethics on the nation’s health.
• determine the scope and influential factors for public health challenges and how they impact individuals and communities.
• assess community and public health needs and develop strategies to positively impact quality of health.
• communicate to individuals, communities, and other stakeholders about public health challenges and opportunities with cultural competence.
• function in a variety of government and private health agencies, clinical settings, nonprofit organizations, volunteer agencies, and other community organizations as a public health advocate.

The BSPH program is based on a philosophy of health promotion and disease prevention, to improve the quality of life of individuals, families and communities through education and program intervention. The BSPH discipline focuses on four areas:

1. the multiple determinants of health, including biological, environmental, sociocultural, health service, and economic factors;
2. identification of scientific data, tools of informatics, and other information for identifying factors that both foster and hinder the health and well-being of individuals and communities;
3. addressing major local, state, national, and global health challenges; and
4. designing public health approaches and interventions that improve health outcomes, population health, and well-being.

The BS Public Health-Internship Track is unique in that it offers a wide range of approved electives permitting the student to develop a program according to the student’s needs and interests. A student can complement or enrich a pre-health professions degree plan for students intending further education in nursing, occupational therapy, and some additional health professions.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health-Internship Track degree is more than a means to produce ready public health practitioners. The curriculum for the BSPH-PHI exposes a student to pre-professional training through a non-paid, full semester internship during the final semester. This experience provides the student with on-the-job training and employment opportunities. This internship track places students in a setting which best fits their professional goals.

The Internship Track is not available for students wanting to pursue a BSPH 3+2 program.

The coursework for this program will qualify students to be able to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

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Cannot use both ENGL 103 and ENGL 104.

²

Chosen in consultation with BSPH academic advisor.

³

Must make a grade of C or better.

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A list of approved courses that fulfill the directed elective hours is available below. Courses that constitute the major are those offered by the School of Public Health and those approved for public health studies electives. Additional courses may be available. Students must check with their academic advisor.

Directed Electives 

Public Health (PHLT) directed electives are courses that are specifically approved for the curriculum. A student must select 3 semester credit hours from the following list of approved courses in consultation with their academic advisor. Directed Electives must have a letter grade of C or better.

Approval of degree plan does not guarantee access to courses. Students must satisfy prerequisites, and some course (writing intensive classes included) are available to majors only. It is the responsibility of the student to ascertain whether there are any restrictions or prerequisites for courses in their degree plan.