Public Health Major
The B.S. in public health program is designed for individuals seeking experiential academic training in health education, health promotion, health communication, and policy and social change. The program equips students with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary for careers in these areas.
Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for graduate studies or leadership roles in a variety of public health professions. Careers may include health education and promotion, public policy, advocacy, research, nonprofit work, global health initiatives, environmental health, occupational health, community and family health, maternal and child health, adolescent health, health care services and administration, behavioral change to reduce various health consequences, (i.e., unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, drunk driving, substance abuse), epidemiology, health communication, emergency preparedness, public health nutrition, biostatistics, disease prevention (i.e., cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes), minority health and community development.
Potential employers include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Association of Education Development, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Partners in Health, Department of Health and Human Services, universities, hospitals, community health centers, nonprofit organizations, public and private corporations, institutes and foundations, workplaces, schools, health promotion and social marketing firms, etc.
Curriculum Description
The public health major is inherently multidisciplinary. Core quantitative disciplines such as epidemiology and biostatistics are fundamental to analyzing the broad impact of health problems, allowing us to look beyond individuals to entire populations. In addition, disease prevention is at the heart of public health; therefore, the program includes content in social sciences to better understand health-related behaviors and their societal influences. Also, the manner in which health information is generated and disseminated greatly influences individuals, public officials, organizations, communities and entire populations. Marketing and communication skills enable students to identify contexts, channels, messages and reasons that motivate individuals to listen, understand and use health information. Further, successful public health efforts must be led by those who can mobilize, coordinate and direct collaborative actions within complex systems. Students receive intense coursework in quality management and leadership.
The curriculum emphasizes health promotion, education, communication, public and social policy, and collaborative leadership. A solid foundation in behavioral sciences principles and theories is provided, along with advanced skills in program planning, execution and evaluation. While the curriculum consists of a number of required courses, students are also provided the flexibility of selecting among three concentration areas: wellness, behavioral health, and public policy and social change. The program consists of: (1) the core public health major curriculum, (2) one concentration requirement, and (3) a minimum of 12 academic credits of internship field-placement experience. The internship is designed to provide students with an opportunity, under supervision, to apply the knowledge and skills from the classroom to real-world public health practice.
Course content leads to the following competencies:
- Quantitative and qualitative skills needed for problem solving.
- Multidisciplinary, collaborative and ecologically based strategies for solving health-related problems.
- Communication skills from working with diverse populations.
- Understanding of the social and behavioral determinants of health.
- Ability to design, execute and evaluate interventions and policies leading to the improvement of population health.
- Management and leadership skills in advocacy and public health service.
General Curriculum Distribution
The General Curriculum Distribution requirements are contained in the Baccalaureate Experience section of the UT Academic Experience chapter of this catalog. Students pursuing a B.S. with a major in public health must complete all General Curriculum Distribution requirements, with the following stipulations:
- As part of the natural science component, each public health student must have credit in BIO 183 or BIO 204 and CHE 150 or CHE 152.
Degree Requirements
Required courses for the public health major:
| HSC 100 | Health Science | 2 |
| HSC 130 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HSC 236 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| HSC 350 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| HSC 360 | Principles of Epidemiology in Exercise and Public Health | 3 |
| HSC 375 | Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| HSC 440 | Health Policy and Social Change | 3 |
| HSC 445 | Health Promotion Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| HSC 450 | Public Health Management and Leadership | 3 |
| HSC 490 | Internship in Public Health | 6-12 |
| SOC 310 | Applied Sociology | 4 |
One of the following:
One of the following:
| ESC 372 | Principles of Exercise Leadership | 2 |
| HSC 420 | Nutritional Supplements | 2 |
| ESC 380 | Exercise Testing and Prescription | 3 |