Department of Public Health

Chair: Ray G. Newman, PhD, (936) 294-3454

Assistant Chairs:  Amanda Scarbrough, PhD. (936) 294-1168

                                Daphne Fulton, PhD. (936) 294-2668

Website: Department of Public Health

Mission

The mission of the Department of Public Health is to foster student-centered learning for early and advanced health professionals; to conduct applied, evidence-based research in population health; and to improve health and well-being through community engagement at the local, state, and global levels.

Highlights

  • Nationally-recognized degree programs
  • Student health science honorary affiliation-Eta Sigma Gamma
  • Career focused program content, activities, and internships
  • Diverse student population of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds
  • Student-centered faculty and staff
  • Graduates are prepared for successful entry into the workforce

Majors where a Health minor is an option

  • Business
  • Communication
  • Criminal Justice
  • Marketing
  • Education
  • Kinesiology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Note: The Health minor is not an option for any majors in the Department of Public Health

Career Opportunities

  • Public and private hospitals and clinics
  • Public health education and operations
  • Epidemiological research and practice
  • Disaster response and preparedness
  • International health outreach organizations
  • Environmental health field stations and research
  • City, county, and state health departments
  • Corporate health promotion programs
  • Community, medical, and public health navigators
  • Federal, state, and local health agencies
  • School, community college, and university settings
  • Voluntary health agencies and foundations
  • Correctional health care operations
  • Retirement, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities

Student Organizations

Eta Sigma Gamma - National Health Science Honorary Society - requires a 3.0 GPA in Health and an overall 2.5 GPA; focus is research, service, and education; volunteer hours required.

Internships

Students majoring in health are required to conduct a 200 hour (3 academic credits) or 400 hour (6 academic credits) professional internship. The internship is conducted during the final semester of coursework, and the setting is approved by the degree program coordinator. Internships may be conducted in the following areas of population health: public health services; health care administration; health sciences; medical services; environmental, community, or school health settings; behavioral health research; governmental and voluntary health organizations; international health agencies; and epidemiological research settings. ​The instruction and supervision of the internship is facilitated by a professional in the field of Population Health.

Scholarships

College of Health Sciences

Department of Public Health 

HLTH 1360. The Fundamentals of Health Promotion and Health Careers. 3 Hours.

Students explore the determinants of health; theories of health behavior; the nature and history of health education; and the role of the health educator as a professional in the school, work, clinical, and community settings to promote health and prevent disease.

HLTH 1366. Lifestyle and Wellness. 3 Hours. [TCCN: PHED 1304]

Students explore a variety of health issues, which influence the well-being of an individual throughout the life cycle. The student is given an opportunity to develop a personal philosophy of wellness and self-responsibility for health through self-assessment, investigation of factors affecting one's health, and the examination of behavior modification strategies.

HLTH 2330. First Aid and CPR - American Red Cross. 3 Hours. [TCCN: PHED 1306]

A course for those who wish to acquire knowledge of Red Cross emergency and preventive measures. Successful completion leads to CPR, first aid, and responding to emergency certification. Students may also become instructors through additional American Red Cross training. (Also listed as KINE 2330). Course Equivalents: KINE 2330 .

HLTH 2372. Health & Medical Terminology. 3 Hours.

This course provides medically oriented students with the cognitive skills they need to understand the foundations of medical technology for health professionals. The content of this course focuses on the prefixes, suffixes, and roots of medical terms that are associated with multiple disease processes, medical protocols, and the human anatomical system.

HLTH 2381. Consumer Health Education. 3 Hours.

Students study the factors which influence the consumer marketplace for health related products and services. Topics may include fraud and quackery, advertising, health care professional services, alternative medicine, consumer protection agencies, and consumer protection through self-responsibility.

HLTH 2383. Multicultural Health Issues. 3 Hours.

Students address health issues and problems that various ethnic groups face in the United States. Cultural differences in health behaviors, health care access, and promotion and prevention programs are emphasized.

HLTH 2391. Human Diseases. 3 Hours.

Introduction to the relationship between the human body and disease, both communicable and non-communicable. Includes historical aspects of various diseases, etiology, prevention and control, prevalence, symptoms, and treatment. Course Equivalents: HLTH 3391 .

HLTH 3219. Group Exercise Instruction. 2 Hours.

Students are presented a comprehensive and research-based discussion and application of all formats of group exercise instruction. These formats include lifestyle-based, dance-based, equipment-based, and mind-body classes. The students are presented foundational knowledge for group exercise instructors.
Prerequisite: KINE 2119 or concurrent enrollment.

HLTH 3345. Health Statistics. 3 Hours.

Students are presented an overview of statistical measures used in the health sciences. The problems-based course provides students with hands-on applications of statistical software that is oriented to authentic health issues and cases. An emphasis is placed on the application of statistical tools to answer and solve real-world public health related questions and problems.
Prerequisite: MATH/STAT 1370.

HLTH 3350. Principles of Public Health. 3 Hours.

Students are prepared with the knowledge, skills, core values, and professional dispositions that they need to work in one of the diverse areas of public health.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and 55 credit hours completed.

HLTH 3355. United States Health Care Systems. 3 Hours.

Students are provided with a comprehensive survey of the components, organization, and management of the US health care system. Topics of the course may include the historical perspectives, structure, operations, economic indicators, and current/future directions of the U.S. health care delivery system.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and 55 credit hours completed.

HLTH 3360. Epidemiology. 3 Hours.

Students examine the basic epidemiological tenets, research techniques and technologies, findings of association and causation, distribution of diseases, and those factors that explain such distributions. Emphasis is placed on the interactions of biological, social, and economic factors in relation to accessibility of health services and geographical variations in health risks. Must have 60+ hours.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and MATH/STAT 3379 or 1342 or 1370.

HLTH 3361. Health Planning & Evaluation. 3 Hours.

Students engage in a survey of the use of program planning models and health behavior theories in the wellness setting as well as assessment and evaluation processes for wellness management programs.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and 55 credit hours completed.

HLTH 3380. Drug Use and Abuse. 3 Hours.

Students explore the use and misuse of drugs and their effects on the health of individuals. Course Equivalents: HLTH 2380 .

HLTH 3382. Child & Adolescent Health. 3 Hours.

Students focus on the causes of and approaches to physical, social, mental, and emotional health problems among young people. Emphasis is placed on creating an environment in which children and adolescents can learn to make prudent decisions regarding health related behaviors. .

HLTH 3385. Safety Education. 3 Hours.

Students are presented the foundations of accident prevention and injury control. Applications are made to motor vehicle, home, recreational, and occupational safety.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391.

HLTH 3390. Family Life & Sex Education. 3 Hours.

Students focus on the formation of intimate relationships: family, marriage, and friends. Individuals are directed into the study of their personal backgrounds, lives, and dreams in preparation for marriage, including problems of relationships: rape, battering partners, sexually transmitted diseases, and divorce.

HLTH 3392. Health Communication and Literacy. 3 Hours.

Student engage in an exploration of different modalities of communicating health issues and information to audiences in different settings. Emphasis is given to listening, writing and speaking skills. Students learn how to make effective presentations using computer applications to design print and visual aid materials.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391.

HLTH 4117. Practicum. 1 Hour.

Students participate in a guided faculty experience in the area of research, grants, program planning, or other experiential learning activity. This course is designed to enhance the professional skills and dispositions of students entering the field of Public Health.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391 Course Equivalents: KINE 4117 .

HLTH 4317. International Perspective of Environmental Health. 3 Hours.

Students examine international, environmental, and public health concerns through the interaction of the environmental triad: Population, poverty, and pollution. Students examine national policy responses to mitigate and adapt to environmental concerns, and how these policies may differentially impact human health.
Prerequisite: HLTH 3350 or permission of the instructor.

HLTH 4360. Research Methods/Statistics. 3 Hours.

Students are provided an introduction to research methodology, evaluation, and statistical analysis with direct application to health education and health promotion. Students learn how to apply these techniques to writing a grant proposal.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and Junior standing.

HLTH 4363. Interventions for Wellness. 3 Hours.

Students address the skills and resources needed to implement and facilitate specific interventions within a comprehensive wellness program. The development and delivery of programs including tobacco management, weight control, nutrition, physical activity, workplace safety, disease prevention, and other applicable interventions are addressed.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and Junior Standing.

HLTH 4365. Health Care Policy. 3 Hours.

Students are prepared in the essential health policy and law as well as the policies and legal issues impacting health care and public health systems. The methods used to formulate health policies and laws are included, as well.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and Junior Standing.

HLTH 4366. Health Informatics. 3 Hours.

Students are prepared with innovative and best practice technological applications to support human health by individuals, professionals, care delivery organizations, and communities. Internet-based health resources, smart phone/mHealth applications, telehealth, health-related social networks, and policies to connect people and technologies securely across health care ecosystems are applied.
Prerequisite: HLTH 3350.

HLTH 4367. Economics for Health Managers. 3 Hours.

Students are provided an overview of economic principles and analysis tools as applied to the health care industry. Traditional market-based economic theories are examined along with the significant role that government entities play in health care. Course topics may include health care supply, demand, elasticity, risk, cost, pricing, and insurance costs.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, HLTH 3355, ECON 2302 or ECON 2301, Senior Standing.

HLTH 4370. AIDS: Current Health Problems and Prevention. 3 Hours.

Students examine the intensity and magnitude of health problems due to HIV and AIDS. Students explore the nature of HIV, its transmission and progression, and the management of AIDS. The course focuses on prevention of the spread of AIDS among school-age children and young adults and addresses the economical, sociological, and ethical issues of AIDS.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.

HLTH 4371. Patient Navigation. 3 Hours.

Bilingual Health Care Studies students are prepared with advanced health care concepts, resources, and skills related to patient navigation by applying Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in various health care settings with an emphasis on the integration of patient navigation into, and through, the US health care system. Students evaluate topics related to patient navigation background and history, discuss the National Standards for CLAS in Health Care, and examine the roles and responsibilities of an effective culturally and linguistically competent patient navigator.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, HLTH 3391, and Senior standing.

HLTH 4375. Health Laws and Ethics. 3 Hours.

Students are provided with the fundamentals of health law and ethics. The course explores the multi-faceted aspects of employer-employee relations in the health care setting and the legal ramifications associated with patient relations, patient care, and medical records. In addition, the students explore and analyze the issue of ethics in contemporary health care situations.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, HLTH 3355, Senior standing.

HLTH 4380. Global Health. 3 Hours.

Students are provided with an in-depth approach to the social, economic, environmental, cultural, and intellectual issues that determine the health status of global populations.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

HLTH 4384. Internship Preparation. 3 Hours.

Students are provided with practical experience in wellness programming and leadership skills that are necessary to successfully complete an internship in the wellness management field. Students are provided with job acquisition skills in resume development, interviewing techniques, and the job search process.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing.

HLTH 4387. Community Health. 3 Hours.

Students engage in an overview of the political, social, economic, and cultural variables affecting the health of a community. Topics may include foundations of community health, health resources, health through the life span, governmental and voluntary programs, and international health initiatives.
Prerequisite: 55 credit hours completed.

HLTH 4390. Environmental Health. 3 Hours.

Students investigate community environmental health problems. Topics may include population problems, housing, sanitation, air and water pollution, and other environmental health issues. An emphasis is placed on school-community action programs to conserve the environment.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.

HLTH 4391. Capstone and Grant Writing. 3 Hours.

Students explore the critical elements of grant development which include the acquisition, implementation, budgeting, and evaluation processes associated with successful grant writing. Students integrate program planning methods, needs assessment protocols, surveillance data applications, community organization techniques, and health behavior change strategies into a viable grant proposal related to their field of study.
Prerequisite: Senior standing and HLTH 3350, 3361 and 4387.

HLTH 4392. Problems in Health. 3 Hours.

Students engage in a directed individual study of an approved field problem in health and/or allied fields.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and Departmental approval.

HLTH 4393. Professional Preparation for Health Careers. 3 Hours.

Students are prepared for their professional internship. Course content focuses on the contemporary areas of assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating health programs; communicating health needs; serving as a resource person; and coordinating health needs in a community.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and 12 hours of Health.

HLTH 4394. Internship Program. 3 Hours.

Students are provided with opportunities to demonstrate assessment, organization, group process and program planning skills in a health community setting.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391, and HLTH 4393 with a C or better.

HLTH 4395. Special Topics in Health. 3 Hours.

Students prepare an investigative summary that examines the social, physical, mental, economic, and political variables which impact an area of Public Health within their specific degree area. The investigative summary will be presented in a virtual or face-to-face format to health program faculty.
Prerequisite: HLTH 1360, HLTH 2391.

Director/Chair: Ray Gene Newman

Adannaa Oparanozie Alexander, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, MPH, Emory University; AB, Washington University

Stephen L Brown, PHD, Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Univ of Maryland-College Park; MS, Arizona State University; BS, Brigham Young University

Christine Georgia Cardinal, JD, Associate Professor of Public Health; Interim Assistant Dean, COHS, Department of Public Health, JD, Texas Wesleyan University; MPH, Univ of North TX Hlth Sci Cntr; BA, Texas Christian University

Daphne K Fulton, DPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, DPH, Texas A&M University; MPH, Texas A&M University; BS, Sam Houston State University

Magen Leigh Jordan, MPH, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, MPH, Sam Houston State University; BS, Sam Houston State University

Praphul Joshi, PHD, Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Univ of S Carolina-Columbia; MPH, Univ of S Carolina-Columbia; BDS, Bangalore University

Rosanne S Keathley, PHD, Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Texas A&M University; MA, Sam Houston State University; BAT, Sam Houston State University

Khalid Mahmood Khan, DPH, Associate Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, DPH, Columbia University; MSC, University of Dhaka; BSC, University of Dhaka

Yu Liu, PHD, Assistant Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Emory University; MPH, Yale University; BBA, Nankai University

Sarita Shree Mantravadi, PHD, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Univ of Texas HSC-Houston; MS, California St Un-Los Angeles; MPH, California St Un-Long Beach; BA, California St Un-Dominguez Hil

James Arnold Mobley, MD, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, MD, Univ of Texas HSC-San Antonio; MPH, Texas A&M University; BS, Texas A&M University

Ray Gene Newman, PHD, Professor of Public Health and Chair of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, New York University; MPHIL, New York University; MBA, California St Un-Long Beach; BS, East Central University

Lauren Irma Rabe, DPA, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, DPA, California Baptist University; MPA, Univ of Texas-Pan American; BS, Texas A&M-Kingsville

George Kevin Randall, PHD, Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Iowa State University; MS, Iowa State University; BSED, Illinois State University

Robert Ellis Roush, EDD, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, EDD, Univ of Houston-Main; MPH, Univ of Texas HSC-Houston; MED, Sam Houston State University; BS, Sam Houston State University

Jack Dennis Runyan, PHD, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Univ of New Mexico; MA, Univ of Houston-Clear Lake; BS, Univ of Texas Medical Branch

Kiran Sapkota, PHD, Assistant Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, University of Iowa; PHD, University of Iowa; MS, University of Iowa; MPH, New Mexico State University; MS, New Mexico State University; MS, Tribhuvan University; BS, Tribhuvan University

Amanda Walters Scarbrough, PHD, Associate Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Univ of Texas Medical Branch; MHSA, George Washington University; BA, De Pauw University

Susan Eileen Stone, MA, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, MA, Sam Houston State University; BSED, Stephen F Austin University; BSED, Stephen F Austin University

Mst Rasheda Sultana, PHD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Grad Sch & Univ Center; MPHIL, Grad Sch & Univ Center; MSC, University of Dhaka; BSC, University of Dhaka

Courtney Nicole Wallace, MA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, MA, Sam Houston State University; BS, Sam Houston State University

Yue Xie, PHD, Associate Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, PHD, Univ of Tx Health Science Cntr; ME, Massachusetts Inst of Tech; MHA, Tulane University; BBA, Univ of Miami