BS Public Health

Program Codes: BSPH
Bachelor of Science

Introduction
The Public Health Department offers a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and a minor in public health. The Public Health program at Mercyhurst was developed to meet the growing demand for public health studies among college students nationwide and in response to the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation to the US Department of Education that all college campuses offer public health coursework to undergraduate students.

In 2009, the Los Angeles Times reported that the US is facing a “public health workforce shortage” and noted that by 2020 America will  be  short  more  than 250,000 public health workers. Students majoring in public health can pursue a wide range of public health careers including: public health practice, health education, infection control, environmental health, epidemiology, biostatistics, health services research or administration, health policy, and international health.

Public health also provides a strong platform for students interested  in  a wide variety of careers in related fields including medicine, health care, biotechnology and the life sciences. There are also a wide variety of graduate school options for students pursuing a public health major. There are currently more than 50 graduate schools of public health in the US in some of the nation’s best universities offering both master and doctoral degrees.

A Bachelor of Arts degree is recommended for those interested in graduate school for any of the following programs: Master’s in Public Health, Health Care Administration, Public Health Policy, Maternal and Childhood Health, Global Health, Social Work, MBA, etc. A Bachelor of Science degree is recommended for those interested in graduate school for any of the following programs: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Chronic and Infectious Disease, Medical, Dental, Nursing and Physician Assistant programs. Working with advisors, students in the Bachelor of Arts track may choose an area of focus: Community Health or Global Health. Students in the Bachelor of Science track may choose an area of focus: Pre-Health Professions, Epidemiology, or Environmental Health.

Mission Statement

Consistent with the mission of Mercyhurst University, the Public Health Department at Mercyhurst seeks to educate students to be globally responsible citizens who take intelligent actions to improve the lives and conditions  of people around the world. The Department strives to:

  • Instill a passion for public health knowledge and action in undergraduate students
  • Train the next generation of public health workers who “think globally, act locally”
  • Become a community resource and repository for public health knowledge
  • Serve as an exemplar for undergraduate public health studies for colleges and universities around the country
  • Develop public health curricula, case studies and learning tools that can be adopted by other public health programs
  • Design and implement public health continuing education training opportunities for existing members of the public health workforce
  • Conduct cutting edge public health research designed to improve the health and well-being of populations of people
  • Disseminate public health knowledge through peer-reviewed publications, public reports and national, regional and local presentations
  • Increase awareness about the health and conditions of populations around the world

Program Student Learning Outcomes
The faculty members of the Public Health Department have identified five major Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for Majors in the Public Health Program. These SLOs are based on the 14 Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH) specific learning outcomes, which have been combined into 5 broader learning outcomes.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the history and philosophy of Public Health, the healthcare system and the relevant dimensions of health policy, law, ethics and economics related to public
  • Identify the role and importance of using data in Public Health for identifying and addressing population health challenges
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the science of human health and disease and the principles of health promotion and health
  • Describe the role socioeconomic, behavioral, biological and environmental factors on human health and their contribution to health
  • Usemassmedia, technical writing and technology to effectively communicate health-related information and to disseminate public health messages to a wide range of audiences.

Unique Focus

The public health program has a unique focus that provides students with skills that are:

  • Cutting edge
  • Distinct
  • Marketable

In addition to core public health methods they will learn new and evolving methods that are likely to shape the field over the next decade including crowd sourcing, social network analysis, and agent-based modeling. Students will graduate with a distinct set of skills that are marketable to employers or that will make them strong candidates for further studies.

These skills include strong data analysis, statistical programming, and database development skills. In addition, from the outset, they will be taught “soft skills” related to professionalism, teamwork and advancement that will put them on a path to exceed in their careers.

Unique Experiential Approach
The public health program has a unique approach that defines the program and sets it apart from most other undergraduate programs in public health. Three defining principles provide maximum benefit for career development:

  • Competency focused
  • Team based
  • Applied

Knowledge acquisition is only one aspect of learning. The public health program focuses on teaching the students skills that are critical for a successful career in public health. This approach focuses not only on what students know when they graduate but also on what they can do and is consistent with professional expectations for public health graduates entering the work force or graduate studies. The curriculum is team based and harnesses that power to improve student outcomes and learning through case studies projects, exercises and simulations.

Public Health Minor

A minor in public health is useful to any student considering a career in medicine, health care or the health sciences. Seven total courses are required for the public health minor including the five required core courses listed below along with 2 additional elective PUBH courses.

PUBH 101 Foundations of Public Health - 3 credits

PUBH 201 Environmental Health - 3 credits

PUBH 211 Global Health - 3 credits

PUBH 260 Principles of Epidemiology I - 3 credits

STAT 137 Biostatistics - 3 credits

Bachelor of Science - Public Health Major Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) majors must maintain a 2.5 GPA 10 core courses and a practicum requirement before graduation (Public Health Field Experience or Public Health Internship or Public Health Senior Research Practicum). BS prepares students for various graduate programs. BS is recommended for those pursing prehealth professions. There are 10 required core courses in the public health curriculum:

Practicum Requirement

All students in the BSPH track must also complete a field experience, internship, or research practicum prior to graduation.

OR

OR

Courses that meet the University’s Core requirements as well as the major core are: PUBH 101 Foundations of Public Health and STAT 137 Biostatistics.

Elective Course Requirements

Students in the BSPH program are also required to take a total of 7 electives (21 credits). Five of those electives (15 credits) should be in math and science (biology, chemistry, physics, sociology, psychology) from a list of pre-approved multidisciplinary courses. The other two courses should be PUBH electives (six credits). Students work with their public health faculty advisor to choose among the preapproved elective courses below.

Public Health Minor

A minor in public health is useful to any student considering a career in medicine, health care or the health sciences. Seven total courses are required for the public health minor including the five required core courses listed below along with 2 additional elective PUBH courses.

PUBH 101 Foundations of Public Health (3 credits)
PUBH 201 Environmental Health (3 credits) 
PUBH 211 Global Health (3 credits)
PUBH 260 Principles of Epidemiology I (3 credits) 
STAT 137 Biostatistics (3 credits)

Degrees & Certificates
Course Descriptions