Public Health Program Requirements

Faculty

• John Contreras
• Han Kim
• Colette McAfee (Director)
• Rachel Myrer

Public Health Courses

Program Goals

• Apply critical thinking skills to recognize the public health problems of vulnerable populations on a social and community scale.
• Describe multidisciplinary and ecological public health issues and concerns.
• Describe the biological basis of health and disease from a population viewpoint.
• Understand the role of health promotion and health prevention in public health.
• Recognize the role of quantitative methods in addressing public health issues.
• Utilize health policy and health administration to positively influence public health.
• Understand the role of the environment on health.
• Apply cultural competencies and ethical considerations to public health problems.
• Utilize knowledge in global health issues and global consciousness to address health issues worldwide.

Objectives

The Public Health program at Westminster University prepares those interested in a career in public health or health sciences with the proper tools necessary to promote health and prevent illness in Utah, the Intermountain West, the United States, and the world. The program is grounded in the belief that effective public health practitioners are properly trained in the core competencies of public health: critical analysis and assessment, policy development and program planning, communication, cultural and global competency, community dimensions of practice, basic public health science, and leadership and systems thinking. We accomplish this while embracing the core values of Westminster University: impassioned teaching and active learning, respect for diverse people and perspectives, collaboration and teamwork, personal and social responsibility, university-wide excellence and high ethical standards.

This educational endeavor allows us to prepare public health and health science workers who are truly ready to meet the health challenges of the 21st century and to meet the diverse needs of public health locally, nationally and globally.

Program Requirements

The undergraduate degree in public health can be completed in four years. Requirements include coursework in the humanities, life sciences, behavioral and physical sciences, world languages, and public health. Many of the courses are structured such that they are sequential.

The academic minor requires 22 credits to complete. Requirements include 14 credits of public health coursework and 8 credits of approved electives.

Additional information about university policies is provided in the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies and Procedures sections of the catalog.

Students must meet the university-wide graduation requirements in addition to the Public Health major:

• 124 total hours
• 30 upper division hours
• WCore or Honors College requirements

Public Health Major

* A total of 30 upper-division credits (300 or above) are required for graduation.

Suggested Elective Coursework

Electives must be approved by the student’s advisor. Because of the broad nature of public health, electives can be from a diverse number of departments and schools. Courses used as part of the major requirements cannot be used again as electives. The following are suggestions based on the student’s specific area of interest. Please note these courses may have prerequisites that will also need to be fulfilled:

Recommended Plan of Study for Public Health

Public Health Minor