Public Health, Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Pre‑Professional (B.S.)
Public Health offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with a Health Promotion Concentration, a Pre-Professional Concentration, and the Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health and Master of Public Health Accelerated 3 + 2 Dual Degree Accelerated Pathway with a Health Promotion concentration and a Pre-Professional Concentration. Students who complete the Health Promotion concentration, the Pre-Professional Concentration, or the accelerated pathway are prepared to determine the health needs of the community and plan and implement effective programs to improve the health of the populations they serve. Health Promotion Specialists may work in Public Health Departments, Volunteer Organizations, Hospitals, and Family Resource Centers. Students who complete the Pre-Professional Concentration receive training in Public Health along with preparation for professional health related graduate programs such as medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, veterinary medicine, or physician associate. Students in the Pre-Professional Concentration will be assigned to a Public Health advisor and should also consult with a pre-professional health advisor from the College of Science to ensure adequate preparation for professional entrance exams and the professional school application process. Students are responsible for ensuring they have the correct prerequisites for the professional program of their choice.
A student may choose a minor in Public Health. The Bachelor of Science program in Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
Students who transfer from another college or university must earn a minimum of 12 hours at EKU in the major. Students who transfer from another college or university must earn a minimum of six hours at EKU in the minor. Students who are accepted by the EKU Admissions Office and declare their major as Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion or Pre-Professional Concentration must maintain an overall GPA of 2.25 with a grade of “C” or better in all of the required major and supporting courses found in the Public Health Curriculum.
Professional Liability Insurance
Students enrolling in HEA 499 Internship in Public Health in the Department of Health Promotion and Administration are required to register for student Professional Liability Insurance. This fee is listed in each semester’s schedule of classes. Please see the section on Student Liability Insurance for the College of Health Sciences.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 51.2207
Summary Checklist for General Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Element 1 | ||
| A: Written Communication | 3 | |
| B: Written Communication | 3 | |
| C: Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Element 2 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Element 3 | ||
| A: Arts | 3 | |
| B: Humanities | 3 | |
| Element 4 | ||
| Natural Sciences | 6 | |
| Element 5 | ||
| A: Historical Science | 3 | |
| B: Social Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Element 6 | ||
| Diversity of Perspectives Experiences | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Students are expected to complete Elements 1 and 2 within their first 60 hours of college credit.
Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Graduation Requirements | ||
| General Education | 36 | |
| Student Success Seminar | ||
| HSO 100 | Student Success Seminar (waived for transfers with 30+ hrs.) | 1 |
| Upper division courses (42 hrs. distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives categories) | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| HEA 216 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| HEA 290 | Foundations of Health Promotion | 3 |
| HEA 310 | Introduction TO Global Health | 3 |
| HEA 320 | Introduction to Behavior Change | 3 |
| HEA 345 | Drugs, the Individual, and Society | 3 |
| HEA 380 | Mental Health Promotion | 3 |
| HEA 455 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| HEA 485 | Community Org & Policy Dev | 3 |
| HEA 497 | Senior Seminar: Public Health | 3 |
| HEA 499 | Internship in Public Health | 3 |
| HEA 592 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following Concentrations: | ||
Health Promotion | ||
| Pre-Professional | 12 | |
| Supporting Course Requirements | ||
Health Promotion | ||
| Pre-Professional | 40-41 | |
| Free Electives | ||
Health Promotion | ||
| Pre-Professional | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 122-123 | |
Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| HEA 350 | Interpretation of Health Data | 3 |
| HEA 410 | Social Marketing in Public Health | 3 |
| HEA 498 | Community Health Promotion Process | 3 |
| HEA 480W | Health Promotion Program Planning | 3 |
| Supporting Course Requirements | ||
| Cell and Molecular Biology (Element 4 ) G, 1 | ||
| BIO 112 | Ecology and Evolution | 4 |
| BIO 348 | Vertebrate Physiology | 3 |
| BIO 320 | Principles of Microbiology | 3-4 |
| or BIO 331 | Cell Biology | |
| General Chemistry (Element 4) G | ||
| CHE 111L | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHE 112 & 112L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab | 4 |
| CHE 361 & 361L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | 4 |
| CHE 362 & 362L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | 4 |
| CHE 430 | Biochemistry of Macromolecules | 3 |
| NFA 201 | Essentials of Nutrition | 3 |
| PHY 131 | College Physics I | 5 |
| PHY 132 | College Physics II | 5 |
| Introduction to Psychology (Element 5B) G | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Reasoning (Element 2) G | ||
or STA 270 | Applied Statistics | |
| Total Hours | 52-53 | |
- G
Course also satisfies a General Education element. 3 Hours are included within the 36 hr. General Education requirement above.
- 1
3 hours count in Gen Ed, 1 hour counts in Supporting Core