Public Health Studies, B.S.

http://www.uncw.edu/hahs

Dr. Cottrell (program coordinator), Dr. Catalano, Dr. Chen-Edinboro, Dr. Figueroa, Dr. Whipple.

The Public Health Studies Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is one of the first four programs in the United States to be accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health. Students graduating from the program work with communities and individuals to protect, maintain and enhance, health and quality of life. Students complete the public-health core courses that provide a strong foundation in the Public Health Domains, the U.S. Public Health System, global-health issues, factors impacting human health and disease, epidemiology, population-based and individual approaches to health enhancement, public-health data sources, health policy, health law, health communication and much more. Then, students must select one of three concentrations: (1) Community Health Education – prepares students to assess, plan, implement and evaluate programs that are designed to enhance individual and community health and wellbeing; (2) Pre-Clinical Health – prepares students with a strong science background for continuing study in medicine, dentistry, physical assistant, nutrition, nursing, etc.; and (3) Global Health – prepares students for careers working in developing low- and middle-income countries to improve health and quality of life. Public Health Education specialists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, non-profit organizations, government agencies, doctors’ offices, business & industry, and colleges/universities. Upon graduation, those with concentrations in Community Health Education and Global Health are eligible to take a national exam to become Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES). Those in the global concentration may also opt to obtain a Pre-Peace Corps Prep Certificate.

Oral Communication Requirement:

To satisfy the oral communication requirement for the B.S. degree in Public Health Studies a student must successfully complete PBH 496 .

Applied Learning Requirement:

To satisfy the applied learning requirement for the B.S. degree in Public Health Studies a student must successfully complete PBH 497 .

Requirements for a Major in Public Health Studies for the B.S. Degree:

To declare the major, a student must have a 2.25 overall grade point average. All students in the program must complete all core courses and at least one concentration. A grade of C or above must be achieved in all Public Health core and concentration courses. A 2.5 GPA is required to register for internship and graduate from the program.

Public Health Studies Core courses: (38 semester hours minimum)

All students in Public Health Studies must complete all core courses and then select at least one concentration.

Community Health Education Concentration: (27 semester hours)

This concentration prepares students to become health education specialists. Students completing this concentration are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. To complete a concentration in community health education, students must complete the core courses for the public health major and the concentration courses listed below, inclusive of PBH 497 (12 credit hours) in an approved community health education setting.

Concentration Courses

Total Degree Requirement: 65 hours

Global Health Concentration: (30-36 semester hours)

This concentration prepares students for international work in developing countries. Students completing the requirements for this concentration will also meet the requirements of the Peace Corp Preparation Certificate Program. To complete a concentration in global health, students must complete the core courses for the public health major, the Foreign Language requirement, the Area Studies/International Studies courses, and Sector Specific courses, inclusive of PBH 497 (9 credit hours) in an approved global health education setting.

Foreign Language (0-6 hours)

Two semester courses are required for the concentration, and the University language requirement will fulfill the concentration requirement. The Peace Corps recommends 4 semesters of foreign language, thus students have the option of completing an additional 6 credits. Spanish and French are the recommended languages.

Area Studies/International Studies (9 hours)

A minimum of three, 3-credit courses that support an international development education. Courses may be selected from the following:

Sector (major) Specific Classes (21 hours)

PBH 234 - Introduction to Health Promotion and Education
PBH 305 - Program Planning
PBH 315 - Health Program Implementation
PBH 355 - Evaluation Methods
PBH 497 - Internship in Public Health This experience must be completed in either a U.S. internship site that works with underserved populations or in a foreign country working with underserved populations.

Total: 68-74 hours

Pre-Clinical Concentration: (36 semester hours)

This concentration prepares students for graduate study in a clinical health area such as medicine, physician assistant, dentistry, physical therapy, etc., while also providing a strong background in public health. To complete a pre-clinical concentration, students must complete the core courses for the public health major, the courses listed below [inclusive of PBH 497 (3 credit hours) in an approved pre-clinical setting], and 11 credits from the Science Electives listed below. Additionally, students in this concentration must select BIO 240 and BIO 241 in the core public health major requirements to meet the anatomy and physiology requirement.