Community and Public Health (B.S.)

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Program Coordinator/Contact

September Kirby, MS, RN, Program Coordinator
Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences
Wagner Hall 403, Box 2275A
605-688-5387

Program Information

The Community and Public Health Education program is designed to prepare students in planning, implementing, delivering and evaluating health programs that will improve the quality of life of individuals, groups and communities.

Majoring in Community and Public Health is an excellent foundation for students to apply to various graduate and professional programs, which may include: medical school, physician’s assistant school, chiropractor school, physical therapy school, occupational therapy school, and health administration and counseling.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Community and Public Health major, students will:

Analyze factors that influence health and illness of individuals, groups or communities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
Demonstrate the ability to communicate health information, in both oral and written forms, and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge)
Demonstrate knowledge of contributions made by individuals from diverse and/or underrepresented groups to one’s local, national and global communities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
Assess and reflect personal values in relation to current issues and ethical dilemmas within the health profession. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
Demonstrate the ability to locate, use, evaluate and synthesize health information. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
Students will consider perspectives of diverse groups when planning, implementing and evaluating health programs. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
Productively participate in a group activity. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)

Academic Requirements

A minimum final grade of “C” is required in all Major Requirements courses.

Course Delivery Format

Instruction for the Community and Public Health major occurs through face to face and online course delivery methods.

Requirements for Community and Public Health Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3 and ENGL 201 - Composition II (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity: PSYC 101 - General Psychology (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3 and HDFS 210 - Lifespan Development (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity: MCOM 151 - Introduction to Mass Communication (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3 and SGR #4 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #5 Mathematics: MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 3 Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences: CHEM 106-106L - Chemistry Survey and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1 and CHEM 108-108L - Organic and Biochemistry and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4,1 OR CHEM 112-112L - General Chemistry I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1 and CHEM 114-114L - General Chemistry II and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1

College of Education and Human Sciences Requirements

EHS 119 - EHS Seminar Credits: 2
EHS 319 - Life, Love, and Money Credits: 2

Health and Nutritional Sciences Department Requirements

HLTH 220 - Social Determinants of Health Credits: 3

Major Requirements

BIOL 221-221L - Human Anatomy and Lab (COM) Credits: 4
BIOL 325-325L - Physiology and Lab (COM) Credits: 4
CHRD 475 - Motivational Interviewing and Wellness Counseling Credits: 3
ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) Credits: 3
EXS 350 - Exercise Physiology (COM) Credits: 2-3
HDFS 247 - Human Development III: Adulthood Credits: 3
HLTH 100-100L - Wellness for Life and Lab (COM) Credits: 2
HLTH 200 - Integrative Holistic Healthcare Credits: 3
HLTH 320 - Community Health (COM) Credits: 3
HLTH 350 - Health Education Professional Development Credits: 3
HLTH 443 - Public Health Science Credits: 3
HLTH 445 - Epidemiology Credits: 3
HLTH / BLAW 451-551 - Public Health Law Credits: 3
HLTH 475 - Principles of Community Health Education Credits: 3
HLTH 479-479L - Health Promotion Programming and Evaluation and Lab Credits: 2
NURS 201 - Medical Terminology Credits: 1
NUTR 111 - Food, People and the Environment Credits: 3
NUTR 315 - Human Nutrition (COM) Credits: 3
PSYC 358 - Behavior Modification Credits: 3
PSYC 417 - Health Psychology (COM) Credits: 3
SPCM 440-540 - Health Communication (COM) Credits: 3

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences
System General Education Requirements	32-33 Credit Hours
College of Education and Human Sciences Requirements	4 Credit Hours
Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences Requirements	3 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	61 Credit Hours
Electives**	19-20 Credit Hours

**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.