Public Health

Description

Public Health is a discipline in which professionals deliver health information and programs within the community setting. Graduates of this program have a broad based background in the field of health that prepares them for entry level positions in health education, health promotion, health data management or for further graduate study in a health-related field.

Upon completion of this program our students are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist examination, which is a national credentialing examination for people who wish to practice health education in a community (non-public school) setting. Today, the Certified Health Education Specialist credential is often preferred or even required for many community health education positions. Graduates who complete our Public Health program successfully pass the Certified Health Education Specialist examination at a rate well above the national average.

Recent graduates have entered positions in state and local health departments, community based wellness programs, voluntary health organizations such as the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society, and federal government health programs, and health insurance companies. Graduates also enter graduate programs in physical or occupational therapy, physicians assistant, nutrition, and public health.

Students are encouraged to take additional coursework or minors in complementary areas of study such as gerontology, Spanish, psychology or business. The program culminates in a 12-credit internship, which provides hands-on experiences and further insight into career opportunities in public health. Students may select their own internship site or may choose from a database of previously used sites. It is through this internship experience that students actually identify the branch of public health in which they would like to practice. Students are required to select a major project for their internship experience that demonstrates mastery of entry-level professional skills. Frequently interns remain at the sites as employees following their internships.

Public Health faculty members have on-going research projects in which advanced level students can become involved. Students help professors analyze data and prepare professional conference presentations, which the student actually presents under the mentorship of the faculty member. Other student activities include the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Collegiate Chapter and the peer health education program run by the SRU student health service.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

• MATH 152 - Elementary Statistics I Credits: 3
• BIOL 216 - Anatomy and Physiology/Lab Credits: 3
• BIOL 217 - Anatomy and Physiology/Lab Credits: 3
• CHEM 104 - Introduction Chemistry I Credits: 3

• or CHEM107, General Chemistry I Credits / Units: 3

Requirements for the Major

Major Requirements

• BIOL 210 - Medical Microbiology/Lab Credits: 3
• HLTH 103 - Health and Behavior Change Credits: 3
• HLTH 210 - Introduction to Public Health Credits: 3
• HLTH 301 - Introduction to Health Education Credits: 3
• HLTH 309 - Introduction to the Study of Disease Credits: 3
• HLTH 310 - Environmental Health Credits: 3
• HLTH 311 - International Health Credits: 3
• HLTH 312 - Data Management for Health Science Credits: 3
• HLTH 313 - Biostatistics Credits: 3
• HLTH 314 - Nutrition and Health Credits: 3
• HLTH 406 - Program Planning and Evaluation Credits: 3
• HLTH 410 - Epidemiology Credits: 3
• HLTH 440 - Public Health Seminar Credits: 3
• HLTH 450 - Internship Credits: Up to 12

Internship Required:

Cumulative GPA of 2.500 and program GPA of 2.500 required for internship assignments, which are during the summer.
Internship requirements are available from the Department of Public Health and Social Work.

Choose 3 Courses from the following:

• COMM 307 - Social Media Credits: 3
• HLTH 211 - Women's Health Issues Credits: 3
• HLTH 316 - Human Sexuality Credits: 3
• GERO 414 - Death and Dying Credits: 3
• HLTH 424 - Nutrition and Exercise Credits: 3
• HCAM 230 - The US Healthcare System Credits: 3
• HCAM 335 - Current Topics in Health Care Credits: 3
• PSYC 276 - Introduction to Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
• PSYC 344 - Developmental Psychology Credits: 3

Students in the Public Health program are subject to the University retention criteria.

Requirements

Slippery Rock University has a strong commitment to student success, and we thoroughly research the academic background of the students who tend to succeed at SRU. We use this information to establish admission guidelines for first year students (new freshmen). We are seeking students who have attained at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of admission, have demonstrated proficiency in college preparatory coursework, and who have average to above average scores on the SAT or ACT. We will accept either test and use the best scores available. Offers of admission for new freshmen from high school may be made as soon as August following their junior year in high school. High school admitted students are required to submit proof of high school graduation in the form of Official Transcripts upon high school graduation.

In order to apply for admission, the following credentials are required:

• Official High School Transcripts, including a 12th Grade class schedule if applicable

• SAT or ACT Scores

• $30.00 application fee

WAIT LIST: Applicants who do not meet the admission guidelines are still encouraged to apply for admission if they are close to our admission guidelines. Such applicants may be placed on a wait list for admission consideration. Students who are placed on a wait list need to understand it is not the same as being denied admission. Wait list status simply means that an applicant's credentials may require a closer review beyond just the quantitative numbers. Offers of admission will be made to wait listed applicants on regular intervals.

Wait listed applicants should strive to improve their grades and/or test scores and re-submit them to the Office of Admissions as soon as is practical after the next marking period or re-test. Periodic review of the wait list will likely begin in November and offers of admission made on a rolling basis. Our goal is to have most of the wait list offers of admission made in March or April. A final round of wait list offers may be made in mid-May on a space available basis. We encourage students to submit additional information if it improves the academic record.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Slippery Rock University.