Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Bachelor of Science in Public Health Mission and Values Statement
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program seeks to fulfill the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health’s vision “Healthy communities partnered with responsive population health systems.” To support the department’s mission, “Advancing health equity and well-being in an urbanizing world,” the BSPH program develops leaders in evidence-based practice who advance the public’s health. The program values professional and academic integrity and ethics, collegiality, engagement with the community, and responsiveness and innovation in its pursuit of attaining the highest possible standards of health and well-being.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program is designed to prepare scholar-practitioners with knowledge and skills in the core concepts of public health including health behavior, research and statistics in health, environmental health, epidemiology, and health administration, as well as in the planning, evaluation, organization, and conduct of community and public health services. The planned course of study adopts an interdisciplinary focus and includes the development of tailored skills through the successful completion of a minor and experiential learning.
The degree will prepare students who are interested in pursuing health-related careers in health promotion, program delivery; health communication, community organization, and behavior change for entry-level to mid-level positions in service and research in health departments, public health agencies, community-based organizations, outreach education programs, hospitals, private health organizations, and corporate wellness settings. The BSPH program is designed to appeal to students with interests in “population” rather than “individual” health.
Overview
The Department of Epidemiology and Community Health in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) at UNC Charlotte offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH). The UNC Charlotte BSPH Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
What is Public Health?
Public health is the science and art of promoting health, preventing disease and injury, and prolonging life through organized efforts of society.
What can you do with a BSPH degree?
The BSPH coursework will provide students with a solid foundation in the core disciplines of public health (health behavior, epidemiology, administration, environmental health, and biostatistics), and the internship and capstone experiences will allow students to integrate and demonstrate their knowledge and analytical skills in research and practice settings.
The BSPH prepares students for work in entry-level to mid-level positions in a variety of settings including health-related agencies, hospitals, local and state public health departments, academic research centers and institutes, corporate disease management and wellness programs, non-profit agencies, and healthcare businesses and industries. Continued study in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health is also an option for those interested in graduate degrees in Public Health. Students interested in a graduate degree in Health Administration may pursue continued study in the Department of Health Management and Policy.
Students completing the BSPH program will meet the requirements needed to sit for the nationally recognized Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. For more information about CHES certification, visit NCHEC.
Degree Requirements: Pre-Public Health Major (PRPH)
Applicants who satisfy freshman or transfer requirements for admission to the University and are interested in the BSPH can declare the Pre-Public Health Major (PRPH). It includes a combination of 60 hours of courses that fulfills the UNC Charlotte General Education requirements; and serves as preparatory coursework for the Public Health major (BSPH).
General Education Courses
For details on required courses, refer to the General Education program. Students pursuing the Pre-Public Health major should plan on taking the specific courses listed below that meet general education and major requirements:
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Pre-Public Health General Education Courses |
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Note: * BIOL 1110L is not required for the Pre-Major, but may be required if taking BIOL 1110 to fulfill the Natural Sciences with Lab requirement of the General Education Program. |
Foundation Courses (21 credit hours)
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Pre-Public Health General Education Courses |
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Select two of the following:
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Unrestricted Elective Courses
As needed for the above courses to add up to 60 credit hours total. Study abroad courses are included.
Suggested Pre Public Health Curriculum
| Yr1 | Fall | Spring |
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| Yr2 | Fall | Spring |
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The Pre-Public Health Advising Checklist can be used as a reference to develop schedules each semester.
Contact information for Pre-Public Health & BSPH major
CHHS Advising Center
CHHS 103
Email: chhsadvisingcenter@charlotte.edu
Phone: 704‑687‑7922
Admission Requirements for Public Health Major
You must apply for admission into the Public Health (BSPH) Major. To be eligible, you must have completed 60 hours including HLTH 2101, HLTH 2102, HLTH 2103, Quantitative courses (6 hrs), and Science courses (7 hrs), by the time you begin the BSPH Major. You can apply for the BSPH Major, whether or not you ever declared the PRPH Major.
*NOTE: Students will complete any remaining Pre-Public Health courses when admitted to the Public Health Major.
Application Deadlines
Applications for admission are due by 5:00 PM on January 31st of each year. Admissions only occur for fall semesters so applications should be submitted the spring semester prior to eligibility to begin the Public Health Major in the fall semester. Admission into the BSPH Major is competitive and based on a minimum GPA of 2.5 and application for admission. The number of students admitted each fall is limited.
Please follow this Link for Application Information
Degree Requirements:
Public Health Major (BSPH)
(Guidelines for Junior and Senior Years)
A minimum of 120 total earned credit hours is required for the degree. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health requires 21 credit hours of coursework in the Pre-Public Health major, 33 credit hours of coursework in the BSPH major, plus completion of a minor or second major, and other requirements as listed below. The core courses are designed to meet the criteria established by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for accreditation of public health degree programs. Students completing the curriculum will be eligible to sit for the nationally-recognized Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.
Major Courses
| Major Courses (33 credit hours) |
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Upper Division Course Sequence
| Yr3 | Fall (9 hours) | Spring (9 hours) |
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| Yr4 | Fall (9 hours) | Spring (9 hours) |
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| * The BSPH Upper Division courses must be taken in the semester indicated & cannot be completed in less than 2 years. * Students will complement the coursework above with any additional courses required for the selected option for additional coursework, and/or coursework to reach the 120 credit hours required to satisfy degree requirements. | ||
Minor Courses (Additional Coursework)
Students pursuing the BSPH degree are expected to complete coursework complementary to Public Health. Students may select from one of the following options below in consultation with the BSPH Program Director.
| Option 1: Minor or Second Major | Option 2: Health Related Elective Coursework |
| Choose any minor on campus except the Minor in Public Health, or choose a second major. The choice of minor or second major should be considered in terms of individual educational and professional aspirations. | Complete 15 credit hours of health-related elective courses selected from any unrestricted HLTH 3000- or 4000-level course not fulfilling a PRPH or BSPH requirement. Other courses may be approved by the BSPH Program Director. |
| Option 3: Pre-Health/Clinical Coursework |
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Basic Science Courses (6 credit hours)
Advanced Science Courses (9 credit hours)
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Unrestricted Elective Courses
As needed to complete the credit hours required for graduation. Study abroad courses are included.
DEGREE TOTAL = 120 CREDIT HOURS
Students should use the following suggested course sequence to plan their class schedules once they are accepted into the Public Health (BSPH) Program. Students will supplement the HLTH courses below with coursework related to their minor or second major, or unrestricted electives as needed to complete degree requirements.