Program Description
The Department of Public Health Sciences prepares students for careers in the health field, one of the largest industries in the United States. It includes hospitals and other medical service providers, public health organizations, health insurance companies, health/medical related sales, health fitness organizations, and community and nonprofit health agencies.
Plans of study can be arranged in health promotion and education, health services administration, leadership for cardiovascular technology, and preprofessional health studies. Students in the Health Promotion and Education Concentration have the skills to assess, plan, communicate, implement, manage, and evaluate public health promotion programs. Students in the Preprofessional Health Studies Concentration obtain the coursework and experience necessary for acceptance into various graduate programs in clinical health professions. The Cardiovascular Imaging Leadership Concentration provides a core of health science classes, training in diagnostic cardiovascular sonography, and a leadership certificate. The Health Services Administration Concentration allows students to develop skills and competencies in health administration/management for entry-level careers or graduate study in this area. A minor in Business Administration is integral to the concentration. The department, in cooperation with the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, also offers a joint Bachelor of Science degree in Language and International Health, BS .
Entrance Requirements
To facilitate admission of students who can achieve at an appropriate level in the program, admission is selective. Applicants are reviewed by the Office of Admissions and consideration is given to performance in secondary school and on the College Board Examination (SAT). Those seeking admission are advised to apply to the University early in the fall of their senior year of high school.
Transfer admission is competitive. Students are encouraged to apply early to the Office of Admissions. The University admits ten new transfer students to the Health Science major during the fall semester only. Potential students should have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and completion of 30 semester hours of transferable courses. Placement in the Health Science curriculum is determined after credit evaluation is complete.
Students may apply to change majors into Health Science with decisions based on available space and approval by the department advisory committee. Applications are accepted in the fall semester beginning on the first day of class with a deadline of the last day of classes. Accepted change-of-major students must be signed into the program by the academic advisor. Applicants must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.25 with 49 or fewer earned credits or a 2.5 with 50 or more earned credits. Students with 50 or more earned credits must also have taken and passed the math requirement, statistics requirements and science requirement per the University’s General Education requirements. Students are allowed to apply only twice. Detailed information is available in the Academic Advising Center located in 309 Edwards Hall.