2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Public Health, BA


Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Health is an interdisciplinary degree designed for students interested in careers of public health education and advocacy. The degree also prepares students to pursue a graduate degree in public health. Graduates of the BA program are eligible to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES ®) exam.

The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences works collaboratively with the College of Liberal Arts to provide coursework in public health foundations, communication and analytical skills, and public policy. In addition, collaborations with local public health agencies and healthcare organizations provide students numerous opportunities to engage with local public health professionals. All students complete a capstone project that demonstrates the culmination of career-focused skills. Qualified capstones can include internships, student cohort service-learning projects, senior seminars, or research projects.

Admission Requirements

Once the student has satisfied the following criteria, the student can be admitted into the Public Health degree program: completed at least 12 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25.

Program Learning Objectives:

Students will learn:

  1. How to communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms, and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences.
  2. How to locate, use, evaluate and synthesize public health information.
  3. How to analyze the range of biological, behavioral, environmental and social factors that influence patterns in population health outcomes.
  4. How to design messages and strategies that influence the behavior of various audience segments, including decision-makers.
  5. How to implement and evaluate population health interventions.
  6. How to influence public health policy.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their program learning experiences, students who complete the program can:

  1. Communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms, and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences.
  2. Locate, use, evaluate and synthesize public health information.
  3. Analyze the range of biological, behavioral, environmental and social factors that influence patterns in population health outcomes.
  4. Design messages and strategies that influence the behavior of various audience segments, including decision-makers.
  5. Implement and evaluate population health interventions.
  6. Influence public health policy.

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Program Requirements


I. Wright State Core: 44 Hours


Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours


Element 2: Mathematics: 4 Hours


Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours


Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours


Element 5: Social Sciences: 7 Hours


Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours


II. Public Health Foundations Requirements: 21 Hours


III. Requirements: 34 Hours


IV. Communication and Analytical Skill Electives: 12 Hours


Students take at least 3 hours from List A (communications) and 3 hours from List B (analytical). Students then choose from either list A or B or with approved department substitution to earn a total of 12 hours.

V. General Electives: 9 Hours


Students are encouraged to work with their advisor to pursue minors or certificates related to their public health interest.

Total: 120 Hours