Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Bachelor of Science in Public Health Mission and Values Statement

graduation

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.

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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:

Pre-Public Health General Education Courses

  • STAT 1222: Introduction to Statistics (3)
  • BIOL 1110: Principles of Biology I (3) *
  • or BIOL 1115: Principles of Biology II (3) *

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)

Pre-Public Health General Education Courses

  • HLTH 2101: Healthy Lifestyles (3)
  • HLTH 2102: Foundations of Public Health (3)
  • HLTH 2103: Foundations of Global Health (3)
  • STAT 1222: Introduction to Statistics (3)
  • BIOL 1110: Principles of Biology I (3)*
  • or BIOL 1115: Principles of Biology II (3)
  • Health-Related Communication Courses (6 credit hours)

Select two of the following:

  • COMM 1101: Public Speaking (3) (O)
  • COMM 2100: Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
  • COMM 2105: Small Group Communication (3)
  • COMM 2107: Interpersonal Communication (3)
  • COMM 3115: Health Communication (3)
  • COMM 3130: Communication and Public Advocacy (3)
  • COMM 3135: Leadership, Comm. & Group Dynamics (3)
  • COMM 3141: Organizational Communication (3)

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

Yr1FallSpring
 
  • HAHS 1101
  • MATH XXXX (General Education Requirement)
  • BIOL 1110
  • Themes Course
  • HLTH 2101
  • STAT 1222
  • Science with Lab (General Education Requirement)
  • UWRT XXXX (General Education Requirement)
  • Themes Course
Yr2FallSpring
 
  • HLTH 2102
  • HLTH 2103
  • Themes Course
  • Health-Related Communication Course
  • CTCM 2530
  • Themes Course
  • Health-Related Communication Course
  • General Education Requirements or other course requirements towards minor, second major, or electives to reach 60 credit hours

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)
  • HLTH 3102: Comparative Healthcare Systems (3)
  • HLTH 3103: Behavior Change Theories and Practice (3)
  • HLTH 3104: Research and Statistics in Health (3)
  • HLTH 3105: Public Health Education and Promotion (3)
  • HLTH 3106: Determinants of Health (3)
  • HLTH 3400: Public Health Internship Preparation (3)
  • HLTH 4102: Healthcare Administration (3)
  • HLTH 4104: Epidemiology (3)
  • HLTH 4105: Program Planning and Evaluation (3)
  • HLTH 4400: Internship (3)
  • HLTH 4600: Capstone (3)

Upper Division Course Sequence

Yr3Fall (9 hours)Spring (9 hours)
 
  • HLTH 3102 Comparative Healthcare Systems (3)
  • HLTH 3103 Behavior Change Theories & Practice (3)
  • HLTH 3106 Determinants of Health (3)
  • HLTH 3104 Research & Statistics in Health (3)
  • HLTH 3105 Public Health Education & Promotion (3)
  • HLTH 3400 Public Health Internship Preparation (3)
Yr4Fall (9 hours)Spring (9 hours)
 
  • HLTH 4102 Healthcare Administration (3)
  • HLTH 4105 Program Planning & Evaluation (3)
  • HLTH 4400 Public Health Internship (3)
  • HLTH 4600 Capstone Project (3)
  • *HLTH 4104 Epidemiology may be taken any semester
 * 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 MajorOption 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
  • This option is limited to students electing NOT to complete a minor/second major.
  • Labs are not required in this option; however, they may be required for the programs in which students intend to apply.

Basic Science Courses (6 credit hours)

  • CHEM 1251 General Chemistry I (3)
  • CHEM 1252 General Chemistry II (3)
  • PHYS 1101 Introductory Physics I (3)
  • PHYS 1102 Introductory Physics II (3)
  • PSYC 1101 General Psychology (3)

Advanced Science Courses (9 credit hours)

  • BIOL 3111 Cell Biology (3)
  • CHEM 2131 Organic Chemistry I (3)
  • CHEM 2132 Organic Chemistry II (3)
  • CHEM 4165 Principles of Biochemistry I (3)
  • PHYS 2101 Physics for Science and Engineering I (3)
  • PHYS 2102 Physics for Science and Engineering II (3)

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.

Please see the University Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.