The School of Allied Health Professions offers majors in Public Health (B.S.) and Health Education (B.S.Ed.), minors in Public Health and Health Education, and a baccalaureate degree completion program (B.S.). Students interested in one of the program’s majors or minors should contact the Public Health and Health Education Programs office for advising as early as possible. Failure to do so could result in delayed graduation.
Practical field training is required as part of the public health curriculum and student teaching is a required part of the health education curriculum. Students are advised that they are responsible for their own transportation to and from the training facilities and all costs associated with these activities.
The public health program prepares students for professional positions in health administration and general public health. Depending on their particular interests, graduates will be involved in planning and managing health service programs and facilities, developing and communicating health information to the public, and investigating and evaluating specific community and environmental health problems. Students aspiring to major in public health should contact a program adviser as early as possible, preferably during their freshman year, for a preadmission interview and course counseling session. Failure to do so could result in a delayed graduation.
Practical field training is a required part of the public health curriculum. Students are advised that they are responsible for their own transportation to and from the training facilities and all costs associated with these activities.
B.S. in Public Health Completion Program
The B.S. completion program in public health is designed to award credit to practicing health care professionals for their recent education and previous learning experiences in the fields of dental hygiene, respiratory care, radiologic technology, long-term care administration, health information technology, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapy assistant, speech-language pathology assistant, and surgical technology. With the consent of the departmental adviser, up to 25 semester hours of credit in AHPH 461 may be applied to the area of study in applied professional health sciences. The credit will be held in “escrow” and will be posted to the student’s transcript upon the completion of all designated 400-level course work for the public health major, at which time the student will receive credit in AHPH 496, AHPH 497, variable credit in the appropriate section of AHPH 461 (A-N), as well as credit to be determined by the department based on professional course work of the student.
Emphasis 1. General Public Health
The requirements in the school for the general public health emphasis prepare students to take the Certified Health Education Specialist Exam (C.H.E.S.) given by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
A minor offered by the School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences, or a minor in biological sciences, chemistry, communication studies, communicative disorders, environmental management systems, or psychology.
Aging and Health (15)
Students must complete the minor in gerontology with a minimum of 15 semester hours toward the minor, which may not be applied toward the major.
Applied Professional Health Sciences (10-25)
This area of study is limited to students with an Associate of Applied Science degree with a major in one of the areas designated above under “B.S. in Public Health Completion Program.”
Total Hours for Emphasis 1, General Public Health: 78-91
Emphasis 2. Health Administration
The health administration emphasis prepares students to take the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Examination. For details contact the public health program office.
To be admitted into required courses in the College of Business and arrange proper sequencing of the program of studies, students in this emphasis should consult with an adviser concerning procedures for special course permits. All prerequisites must be met before enrolling in a course. Failure to arrange proper sequencing of courses could delay graduation.
