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Full Description

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree in Public Health prepares students to enter the workforce as public health professionals or pursue advanced study. Students explore the five core disciplines of public health – biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and management and the social and behavioral sciences – and are well equipped to meet the increasing demand for a highly trained public health workforce.

The Public Health major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Allied Health concentration seeks to augment the career portfolio of the allied health professional or aspiring student. Students who are interested in a professional degree (e.g., accelerated nursing) or technical allied health degree (e.g., respiratory care, radiologic technology, occupational/physical therapy assisting, etc.) are encouraged to pursue this path. Students who currently hold or are actively pursuing a state licensure in an allied health field may be eligible to receive a maximum 12 credit hours of upper-division credit for their prior experience and demonstrated competency in select areas. Students without a state licensure may still pursue this concentration but will complete 12 hours of coursework in allied health-specific areas.
• The Clinical Trials Research concentration prepares students for the epidemiology principles and applied methods essential to conducting high-quality clinical research. The curriculum provides a strong foundation in research study management; the scientific literature surrounding drugs, medical devices and emerging therapies; and federal regulations and ethical standards governing clinical trials. Students gain the skills needed to design research questions, develop study protocols, collect and manage data and effectively communicate findings to both scientific and general audiences. An optional internship offers hands-on experience within clinical research environments. Graduates are well positioned for roles in hospitals, contract research organizations, medical schools, pharmaceutical companies and other settings where they support or manage clinical trials and related research activities.
• The Health Services Administration concentration provides students with a strong foundation in health policy and management while preparing them to understand and navigate today’s complex health care system. Students study national and local public health infrastructure, evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of health care delivery and examine the legal and ethical issues that shape health care administration. They also build practical skills in leadership, communication and data-informed decision making that are essential for careers across the health sector. Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles such as policy analyst; compliance specialist; patient navigator; insurance coordinator; or health care manager in hospitals, public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and private health systems. Students may enhance their preparation by pairing this concentration with a minor or pursuing any of the combined B.S.P.H./M.P.H. programs, which offers a streamlined pathway to advanced study and leadership opportunities.
• The Pre-Medicine, Dental, Osteopathy concentration provides foundational coursework for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT) and admission entry into other professional schools, including pharmacy, podiatric medicine, occupational or physical therapy and physician assistant studies. Students tailor their coursework to meet the prerequisites of their intended professional fields, choosing from a wide range of science courses such as advanced biology, chemistry and physiology that strengthen their academic preparation. The curriculum emphasizes the biological, social and economic determinants of health; disease prevention and control; epidemiology and biostatistics; and public health research, making this program highly competitive for professional school admission. Its distinctive features offer students expanded opportunities and a strong advantage when pursuing careers in clinical medicine.

Students may apply early to the following master's degree programs and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the in the University Catalog for more information:

Students must consult with their undergraduate and faculty advisors each semester to create a plan substituting selected master's courses for selected undergraduate courses based on approved courses. Following graduation, students' applications to the M.P.H. or M.S. degree may be activated for admission.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì students who have not attended another institution since ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Overview of Public Health: Address the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts and functions across the globe and in society.
2. Role and Importance of Data in Public Health: Address the basic concepts, methods and tools of public health data collection, use and analysis, and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice.
3. Identifying and Addressing Population Health Challenges: Address the concepts of population health and basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
4. Human Health: Address the underlying science of human health and disease, including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.
5. Determinants of Health: Address the socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
6. Project Implementation: Address the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment and evaluation.
7. Overview of the Health System: Address the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as the differences in systems in other countries.
8. Health Policy, Law, Ethics and Economics: Address the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy; and the roles, influences and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government.
9. Health Communications: Address the basic concepts of public health-specific communication (including technical and professional writing) and the use of mass media and electronic technology.

Roadmaps

Public Health Major (No Concentration)

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Allied Health Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Clinical Trials Research Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Health Services Administration Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Pre Medicine, Dental, Osteopathy Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • Fully online (Allied Health, Clinical Trials Research, Health Services Administration concentrations only)
  • Mostly online
  • In person (all concentrations)
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

The B.S.P.H. degree in Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).