Public Health, BAS

90 CREDITS

Admission Date: Fall

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health degree prepares students for careers in public health in such areas as epidemiology, biostatistics, public health research, public policy, and community health and education. Courses in this program are focused with an interdisciplinary approach. Course content builds on lower division coursework, encouraging group and independent research, advanced writing, reading, and comprehension skills. Students will bridge theory into application and develop work-ready, practitioner skills. Additionally, program students will use computers, case studies, active learning, group work, laboratory exercises, and capstone projects to apply their knowledge to curriculum requirements. These activities will mirror real-world scenarios to ready the student for employment. Graduates may find employment in non-profit agencies, research institutions, governmental agencies, and private or public businesses.

Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health graduates will:

• Apply the fundamental principles of public health to individual, community, and population health issues to study disease incidence and prevalence
• Explain the etiology and prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases and how it relates to prevention, management, and treatment strategies
• Explain the impact of health disparities as related to health behavior and outcomes, intervention strategies, public health policy, and healthcare access and quality
• Investigate concepts in public health ethics and healthcare leadership and management, including the right to health care, public health research/bioethics, social justice, economic impacts, conflict between autonomy and health promotion strategies, and public health theory and practice
• Consider cultural and behavioral factors that influence health status in individuals and populations
• Investigate the role that the environment and chemical exposure has on health
• Apply statistical and other quantitative analysis tools and techniques to issues in public health
• Develop culturally-tailored health programs and interventions through community assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Demonstrate effective communication and critical-thinking skills required for success within the field of public health
• Evaluate and analyze data as it relates to health outcomes and prevention, management, and treatment strategies

It is the student’s responsibility to discuss sequencing and work out their individual schedule with a counselor or adviser. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.