Program: Community and Public Health (B.S.) - South Dakota State University

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 07, 2025

Students practicing a presentation.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Emily Kranz, Program Coordinator
School of Health and Human Sciences
Wagner Hall 403, Box 2275A
605-688-5387

Program Information

The Community and Public Health 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 in various areas, which may include: occupational therapy, accelerated nursing, physician’s assistant, chiropractor, physical therapy school, health administration and counseling.

Course Delivery Format

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

Academic Requirements

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

Requirements for Community and Public Health Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

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

College of Education and Human Sciences Requirements

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

Major Requirements

BIOL 221 - Human Anatomy (COM) Credits: 4
BIOL 221L - Human Anatomy Lab (COM) Credits: 0
BIOL 325 - Physiology (COM) Credits: 4
BIOL 325L - Physiology Lab (COM) Credits: 0
CHRD 353 - Ethics and the Helping Professions Credits: 3
CHRD 475 - Motivational Interviewing and Wellness Counseling Credits: 3
CMST 440 - Health Communication (COM) Credits: 3
ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) Credits: 3
HDFS 247 - Human Development III: Adulthood Credits: 3
HLTH 100 - Wellness for Life (COM) Credits: 1
HLTH 100L - Wellness for Life Lab (COM) Credits: 1
HLTH 220 - Social Determinants of Health Credits: 3
HLTH 320 - Community Health (COM) Credits: 3
HLTH 350 - Health Education Professional Development Credits: 3
HLTH 405 - Health Coaching Concepts and Skills Credits: 3
HLTH / BLAW 451 - Public Health Law Credits: 3
HLTH 475 - Principles of Community Health Education Credits: 3
HLTH 479 - Health Promotion Programming and Evaluation Credits: 2
HSC 443 - Public Health Science Credits: 3
HSC 445 - Epidemiology Credits: 3
or STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
NURS 201 - Medical Terminology Credits: 1
NUTR 111 - Food, People and the Environment Credits: 3
PSYC 417 - Health Psychology (COM) Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select 9 credits from the following. Credits: 9

CA 230 - Consumer Behavior Credits: 3
CS 381 - Professional Behavior at Work Credits: 3
EXS 350 - Exercise Physiology (COM) Credits: 2-3
or PE 300 - Applied Sport and Exercise Science (COM) Credits: 3
HLTH 250 - Pre-Professional First Aid and CPR (COM) Credits: 2
HLTH 250L - Pre-Professional First Aid and CPR Lab Credits: 0
HLTH 495 - Practicum (COM) Credits: 1-3 (3 credits required)
LDR 210 - Foundations of Leadership Credits: 3
LDR 435 - Organizational Leadership and Team Development Credits: 3
LMNO 201 - Introduction to Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations Credits: 3
NUTR 221 - Survey of Nutrition Credits: 3
or NUTR 225 - Nutrition for Exercise and Sport Credits: 3
or NUTR 315 - Human Nutrition (COM) Credits: 3

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements*	32-33 Credit Hours
College of Education and Human Sciences Requirements	4 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	67 Credit Hours
Electives**	16-17 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**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.

Community and Public Health (B.S.)

Community and Public Health (B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main CampusClose