Offered by Health Science Programs

Public Health Minor

The purpose of the interdisciplinary Public Health Minor is to allow students majoring in areas which directly or indirectly impact the health of populations to gain insight, knowledge and experience in the diverse field of public health. The objectives of this minor are: (a) to acquaint the student with the core values of public health including assessment, policy development and assurance; (b) to increase the students understanding and awareness of the importance of biological, chemical and other natural processes to disease and health; (c) to provide the skills students need to become leaders in promoting health; (d) to critique the value of existing programs, laws, and healthcare structure at local to global levels; (e) to provide specific business knowledge relating to health care economics and marketing; (f) to provide the skills students need to contribute to the changing field of public health through research, awareness and leadership.

Minimum hours required for minor = 24

1. Required Courses (minimum 9 hours required):
   • Take all of the following:
     • HSCI 140GS, Introduction to Public Health - 3 hours
     • HSCI 320, Global Health - 3 hours
     • BIOL 110, Introduction to Epidemiology - 3 hours
2. Electives (minimum 15 hours required):
   • The elective courses selected should be based on the need to provide a broader education for each student. Students interested in this degree MUST consult with a public health minor advisor to identify specific courses required to focus specific public health interests.
   • Take at least one course from each of the following groups for a minimum of 15 credit hours.
     • Group 1: Natural Science
       • BIOL 211GS, Human Microbiology - 4 hours
       • BIOL 215GS, Human Physiology - 4 hours
       • BIOL 225, Anatomy and Physiology - 4 hours (Prereq: CHEM 145GS OR CHEM 150GS OR CHEM 160GS and CHEM 160LGS OR departmental permission)
       • BIOL 440, Infectious Diseases - 4 hours (Prereq: BIOL 211GS or permission)
       • CHEM 145GS, Introductory Chemistry - 4 hours
       • CHEM 150GS, Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry - 4 hours
       • CHEM 160GS, General Chemistry - 3 hours (Prereq: MATH 102GS OR Math ACT score of 20 or better OR permission of instructor)
       • AND CHEM 160LGS, General Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour
       • CHEM 300, Environmental Chemistry - 3 hours (Prereq: C grade in CHEM 161)
     • Group 2: Business and Management
       • ECON 410, Health Care Economics - 3 hours
       • MGT 380, Human Resource Management - 3 hours
       • MGT 440, Health Care Management I - Managing People Effectively - 3 hours
       • MGT 441, Health Care Management II - Managing Processes Effectively - 3 hours
       • MKT 336, Services Marketing - 3 hours
     • Group 3: Nutrition and Wellness
       • FSID 110GS, Introduction to Nutrition - 3 hours
       • PE 150, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise - 3 hours
       • PE 229, Wellness Interventions - 3 hours
       • SFED 335, General Safety Education - 3 hours
     • Group 4: Cultural, Psychological, Social and other
       • BIOL 325, Medical Terminology - 1 hour
       • FSID 150, Lifespan Development and the Family - 3 hours
       • FSID 351GS, Marriage and Family Relationships - 3 hours
       • FSID 481, Cross-Cultural Family Patterns - 3 hours
       • PSY 192, Death and Dying - 1-3 hours
       • PSY 231GS, Abnormal Behavior and Society - 3 hours
       • PSY 462, Adult Development and Aging - 3 hours (Prereq: PSY 203GS or PSY 230GS)
       • SOC 275, Social Psychology - 3 hours
       • SOC 462, Sociology of Health and Illness - 3 hours (Prereq: SOC 100GS or SOC 250GS or permission)
       • SOWK 170GS, Introduction to Social Welfare - 3 hours
       • SPAN 103, Spanish for Special Purposes (Medical) - 1 hour