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School of Public Health

Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)

Decorative image: Students and a professor

 

About the Program

Are passionate about improving health and have a strong interest in public health, enjoy data analysis, and/or want to work in healthcare or public health.  By 2032, half of all new jobs will be in the healthcare and social assistance sector. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) prepares you to engage in this expanding field and build a rewarding career. The program provides a comprehensive education in population health, health policy, public health practice, epidemiology, environmental health, and social and behavioral health principles and practices. It is coupled with practical fieldwork experience in local and regional health organizations, undergraduate research opportunities, and professional development to prepare graduate for careers.

Program Flyer - PDF Request Information Informational Session

 

BSPH as a Path to Pre-Health Professional Pathways

The program complements a pre-health degree plan for students intending to pursue professional education in medicine, nursing, allied health, or other health professions completing most of the pre-health courses as part of the General Education and elective courses for the BSPH degree. The program is very flexible and can be tailored to prepare you to pursue graduate degrees in many health and medical fields. It also allows for additional electives and/or up to two minors to develop interdisciplinary skills and enhance career opportunities. 

 

Academic and Career Advising

As a Public Health major, you will have a dedicated one-on-one academic advisor to guide you through your learning experience. The Office of Experiential Learning and Career Readiness will work with you to develop a career plan. 

 

Student Outcomes

BSPH graduates are prepared to enter the workforce as health educator, preventive specialist, program coordinator, research assistant/associate, health outreach specialist, population health coordinator, health policy analyst, epidemiologist, and health services manager in federal and state agencies, healthcare sector, non-profit organizations, research and academic, and consulting. 

 

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Master's (ABM) Degree

ABM students will get advanced knowledge and skills in public health, epidemiology, behavioral science and biostatistics. This program is suitable for students who seek to advance their education and career and transition to MPH degree. 

 

How to Apply

To be eligible for the public health major, you should have a GPA of 2.50 or higher and be in good academic standing. There are no prerequisites to declare a major in Public Health. Students are advised to declare their intentions for Public Health major no later than the end of their last semester of sophomore year to ensure completion of the major by their anticipated graduation date. 

 

Connect with our Admissions Team

Briana McNeil, M.Ed. 
Coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions
sphadmissions@memphis.edu
Phone: (901) 678-3740

 

Degree Requirements

The program requires 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 as follows: 

General Education (13 courses - 41 credit hours)

Public Health Core (12 required courses - 36 credit hours) 

  • PUBH 3104: Developing Public Health Messages & Strategies
  • PUBH 3105: Health Behavior Theory and Practice
  • PUBH 3120: Climate and Environmental Health
  • PUBH 3130: Social Determinants and Health Disparities
  • PUBH 3150: Health Data Analytics and Informatics
  • PUBH 3160: Public Health in Action
  • PUBH 3170: Health Crises & Milestones in Global Public Health
  • PUBH 3180: Population Health Program Design and Intervention
  • PUBH 4011: Population Health Program Evaluation
  • PUBH 4012: Public Health Management and Policy
  • PUBH 4013: Biological and Behavioral Basis of Disease
  • PUBH 4151: Public Health Research Methods

Field Experience and Capstone (2 required course - 4 credit hours) 

  • PUBH 4010: Fieldwork (2) - Required
  • PUBH 4985: Capstone Experience (2) - Required

Guided Electives (13 courses - 39 credit hours)

Students may choose pre-health courses, interdisciplinary courses, or a combination of both with the help of an advisor. A few of our department's public health electives are: 

  • PUBH 3101: Environmental Health in the Media
  • PUBH 3102: Epidemics and Pandemics
  • PUBH 4014: Ethical Considerations in Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management
  • PUBH 4015: Health Disparities in Chronic Disease
  • PUBH 4131: Public Health & Social Justice
  • PUBH 4868: Global Refugee Crises as a Public Health Concern

Other departments with guided electives included in the BSPH degree: Anthropology, Communications, Healthcare Leadership, Health Sciences, Social Work, Sociology and many more.

 

Learning Outcomes and Skills

The students will be able to address:

  • The concepts and applications of basic statistics 
  • The foundations of biological and life sciences 
  • The history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society 
  • The basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice 
  • The concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations 
  • The history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society
  • The basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice
  • The concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations
  • The underlying science of human health and disease, including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course 
  • The socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities
  • The fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation
  • The fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as the differences between systems in other countries
  • The basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy and the roles, influences, and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government 
  • The basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology 

Students will be able to:

  • Communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences 
  • Locate, use, evaluate and synthesize public health information