Bachelor of Science, Major in Public Health

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Requirements: Students enrolled in the BS in Public Health program must maintain a SHSU GPA of 2.75 or higher. This minimum GPA requirement is mandated by the Council on Education of Public Health, the accrediting organization for public health education programs. The first semester a student earns a GPA below 2.75, he/she must meet with the BS in Public Health Program Coordinator to develop a plan of study to improve their GPA. The second semester a student earns a GPA below 2.75, she/he must declare a new major in the program areas of Health Sciences, Health Care Administration, Bilingual Health Care Studies, or another area that will allow students to enter the degree with a GPA below 2.75.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) 28
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture)3
Component Area V (Creative Arts)3
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 33
Component Area IX (Component Area Option) 44
Degree Specific Requirements
BIOL 2403Human Anatomy & Physiology I 2, 54
BIOL 2404Human Anatomy & Physiology II 54
CHEM 1406Inorganic & Envir Chemistry 24
or CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I
FACS 2362Nutrition 63
KINE 2115Lifetime Health and Wellness 41
MATH 1314Pre Calculus Algebra 13
or MATH 1410 Elementary Functions
or MATH 1420 Calculus I
MATH 1342Elementary Statistics3
or MATH 1370 Intro Biomedical Statistics
or MATH 3379 Statistical Mthods in Practice
PSYC 1301Introduction To Psychology 33
Major: Foundation
HLTH 1360Fund Hlth Promo & Hlth Careers (Freshman)3
HLTH 2383Multicultural Health Issues3
HLTH 2391Human Diseases3
HLTH 3350Principles of Public Health3
HLTH 3355US Health Care Systems3
HLTH 3360Epidemiology3
HLTH 3361Health Planning & Evaluation3
HLTH 3392Health Comm & Literacy3
HLTH 4380Global Health3
HLTH 4387Community Health3
HLTH 4390Environmental Health3
HLTH 4360Research Methods/Statistics3
HLTH 4393Prof Prep Health Careers 73
HLTH 4394Internship Program 73
Major: Prescribed Electives
Select 26 hours of the following (9 hours must be 3000 or 4000 level):26
Environmental Science
Intro Applied Microbiology
Intro to Technical Writing (WE)
Lifestyle and Wellness
Health & Medical Terminology
Drug Use and Abuse
Safety Education
Family Life & Sex Education
Practicum
Research Methods/Statistics
Interventions for Wellness
Health Care Policy
Health Informatics
Economics for Health Managers
Patient Navigation
Health Laws and Ethics
Problems in Health
Internship Program
Special Topics in Health
First Aid & CPR - Am Red Cross
Functional Kinesiology
Physiology of Exercise
Managing Health Promotion in the Workplace
Directing Wellness Programs
Plane Trigonometry
Social Marketing for PR & Adv
General Physics Laboratory I
General Phy-Mechanics & Heat
Pol Ethnic Minorities & Gender
Public Administration
Abnormal Psychology
Physiological Psychology
Development Psychology
Principles Of Sociology
Sociology Of Health & Illness
Sociology Of Disaster
Social Gerontology
Child Abuse And Neglect
Or other courses approved by Department
Minor: Not Required 8,9
Total Hours120
1

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics).

2

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).

3

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

4

Satisfies one hour of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

5

BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 may be used as a transfer course for this requirement; please see SAM Center advisor for more details.

6

FACS 1367 may be used as a transfer course for this requirement; please see SAM Center advisor for more details.

7

Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in HLTH 4393 and HLTH 4394.

8

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours.

9

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Health. 

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.75 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.75 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

Consult current University catalog for questions concerning transfer courses and residency requirements.

ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 are prerequisites for ENGL 3330 and satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).

FACS 3339 requires a prerequisite of FACS 3380.

HLTH 3350, HLTH 3361, HLTH 4387, requires 55 credit hours completed.

HLTH 3360 requires a prerequisite of MATH 1342MATH 1370, MATH 3379 or STAT 3379.

HLTH 3392 requires the prerequisite of HLTH 1360.

HLTH 4360, HLTH 4363, HLTH 4365, HLTH 4380, HLTH 4390KINE 3373 require Junior standing.

HLTH 4375 requires prerequisites of HLTH 1360HLTH 3355, and Senior standing.

HLTH 4393 requires a prerequisite of the completion of 12 hours of HLTH.

HLTH 4394 requires a prerequisite of HLTH 4393 with a C or better.

KINE 3362 requires a prerequisite of BIOL 2401 or BIOL 2403 and 60 credit hours.

MATH 3379 requires 3 hours of completed coursework in College Math.

MCPA 4381 requires MCOM Instructor approval.

PHYS 1301 has a prerequisite of MATH 1410 or MATH 1316 or MATH 1420 with a grade of “C” or higher for the course. MATH 1316 and MATH 1410 satisfy the 3 hours of Math required for the Core Competency Area II.

POLS 3366 requires a prerequisite of POLS 2305.

PSYC 3331 requires 3 hours of completed coursework in Psychology.

PSYC 3333 requires 3 hours of completed coursework in Psychology and 4 hours of completed coursework in Biology or permission of the Instructor.

SOCI 3365 requires a prerequisite of SOCI 1301 or SOCI 2319 which satisfies 3 hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

SOCI 4338 requires a prerequisite of  SOCI 1301 or SOCI 2319 which satisfies 3 hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
BIOL 24031, 24Component Area IV3
CHEM 1406 or 141114ENGL 130233
ENGL 130133HIST 130163
KINE 211541MATH 1342, 1370, or 33793
MATH 1314, 1410, or 142053 
 15 12
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
BIOL 240424Component Area IX3
HIST 130263FACS 236293
HLTH 13603HLTH 23833
HLTH 23913POLS 230673
POLS 230573Prescribed Electives103
PSYC 130183 
 19 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area V3HLTH 33613
HLTH 33503HLTH 43803
HLTH 33553HLTH 43873
HLTH 33603HLTH 43903
HLTH 33923HLTH 4393113
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HLTH 43603HLTH 4394113
Prescribed Electives1012Prescribed Electives1011
 15 14
Total Hours: 120
1

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).

2

BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 may be used as a transfer course for this requirement; please see SAM Center advisor for more details.

3

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).

4

Satisfies one hour of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

5

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics).

6

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI U.S. History).

7

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).

8

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

9

FACS 1367 may be used as a transfer course for this requirement; please see SAM Center advisor for more details.

10

See, Prescribed Electives course listing below.

11

Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in HLTH 4393 and HLTH 4394.

Prescribed Electives 10
BIOL 1401Environmental Science4
BIOL 2420Intro Applied Microbiology4
ENGL 3330Intro to Technical Writing3
HLTH 1366Lifestyle and Wellness3
HLTH 2372Health & Medical Terminology3
HLTH 3380Drug Use and Abuse3
HLTH 3385Safety Education3
HLTH 3390Family Life & Sex Education3
HLTH 4117Practicum1
HLTH 4360Research Methods/Statistics3
HLTH 4363Interventions for Wellness3
HLTH 4365Health Care Policy3
HLTH 4366Health Informatics3
HLTH 4367Economics for Health Managers3
HLTH 4371Patient Navigation3
HLTH 4375Health Laws and Ethics3
HLTH 4392Problems in Health3
HLTH 4394Internship Program3
HLTH 4395Special Topics in Health3
KINE 2330First Aid & CPR - Am Red Cross3
KINE 3362Functional Kinesiology3
KINE 3373Physiology of Exercise3
KINE 4361Managing Health Promotion in the Workplace3
KINE 4365Directing Wellness Programs3
MATH 1316Plane Trigonometry3
MCPA 4381Social Marketing for PR & Adv3
PHYS 1101General Physics Laboratory I1
PHYS 1301General Phy-Mechanics & Heat3
POLS 3335Pol Ethnic Minorities & Gender3
POLS 3366Public Administration3
PSYC 3331Abnormal Psychology3
PSYC 3333Physiological Psychology3
PSYC 3374Development Psychology3
SOCI 1301Principles Of Sociology3
SOCI 3365Sociology Of Health & Illness3
SOCI 4334Sociology Of Disaster3
SOCI 4338Social Gerontology3
VCST 4338Child Abuse And Neglect3

 Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.75 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.75 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

Consult current University catalog for questions concerning transfer courses and residency requirements.

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Health. 

ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 are prerequisites for ENGL 3330 and satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).

FACS 3339 requires a prerequisite of FACS 3380

HLTH 3350, HLTH 3361, HLTH 4387 require 55 credit hours completed.

HLTH 3360 requires a prerequisite of MATH 1342, MATH 1370,MATH 3379, or STAT 3379

HLTH 3392 requires the prerequisite of HLTH 1360

HLTH 4360, HLTH 4363, HLTH 4380, HLTH 4390, and KINE 3373 require Junior standing.

HLTH 4375 requires a prerequisite of HLTH 1360, HLTH 3355, and Senior standing.

 HLTH 4393 requires a prerequisite of the completion of 12 hours of HLTH.

HLTH 4394 requires a prerequisite of HLTH 4393 with a C or better.

 KINE 3362 requires a prerequisite of BIOL 2401 or BIOL 2403 and 60 credit hours.

MATH 3379 requires 3 hours of completed course work in College Math.

MCPA 4381 requires MCOM Instructor approval.

PHYS 1301 has a prerequisite of MATH 1410 or MATH 1316 or MATH 1420 with a grade of “C” or higher for the course. MATH 1316 and MATH 1410 satisfy the 3 hours of Math required for the Core Competency Area II.

POLS 3366 requires a prerequisite of POLS 2305

PSYC 3331 requires 3 hours of completed coursework in Psychology.

PSYC 3333 requires 3 hours of completed coursework in Psychology and 4 hours of completed coursework in Biology or permission of the Instructor.

SOCI 3365 requires a prerequisite of SOCI 1301 or SOCI 2319 which satisfies 3 hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

SOCI 4338 requires a prerequisite of  SOCI 1301 or SOCI 2319 which satisfies 3 hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BS in Public Health is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  •    Participate in a proactive manner the day-to-day tasks of public health organizations.
  •    Conduct data collection and analysis to investigate public health issues.
  •    Participate in public health fieldwork requiring cultural competency skills.
  •    Develop public health program plans to meet the needs of at-risk populations.
  •    Act as a resource specialist for public health outreach.
  •    Demonstrate effective public health communications to diverse populations.

These competencies are outlined in the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals.