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 Pathway: From Pre-Public Health to BSPH Upper Division

Find out what it takes to move from the Pre-Public Health major to the Public Health Major (BSPH) Upper Division. Review the degree and admission requirements to advance your public health education.