Public Health (B.S.)

Major Requirements

The public health program prepares students for professional positions in general public health, health administration, environment and health, and health promotion. Depending on their particular interests, graduates will be involved in developing and communicating health information to the public, planning and managing health service programs and facilities, and investigating and evaluating specific environmental and community health problems. Degree completion in public health is available to practicing health care professionals. See below for details. Students aspiring to major in public health should contact a program adviser as early as possible, preferably during their freshman year, for an academic advising. Failure to do so could result in a delayed graduation.

One of the following emphases: General Public Health, Health Administration, Environment and Health, or Health Promotion

Emphasis 1. General Public Health

The general public health emphasis allows students to complete a broad educational foundation in public health while choosing a minor outside the school, or qualifying for the public health degree completion program.

B.S. in Public Health Degree Completion Program

The B.S. in public health degree completion program in the general public health and health administration emphases are 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, surgical technology, or other appropriate health care area. With the consent of the program adviser, up to 25 semester hours of credit in PHHE 481 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 PHHE 487, PHHE 489, variable credit in PHHE 481, as well as credit to be determined by the department based on professional course work of the student. Students in this program are exempt from the 30 semester hour university residence requirement. Students interested in the B.S. in public health degree completion program should contact a program adviser for a pre-admission interview and course counseling session.

Emphasis 2. Health Administration

The health administration emphasis teaches students administrative, supportive, planning, and assessment skills that prepares students for careers in managed-care settings; long-term care; hospitals; federal, state, and community health agencies, and other health-related organizations. With appropriate electives, students qualify to take the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Examination. For details, contact the public health program office.

Emphasis 3. Environment and Health

The requirements in the school for the environment and health emphasis prepare students to work in a variety of environmental settings that focus on eliminating health disparities of the public.

Emphasis 4. Health Promotion

The requirements for the health promotion emphasis prepare students to become health educators in health care or social assistance settings. They educate individuals and communities about behaviors that can prevent diseases, injuries, and other health issues. In addition, the health promotion emphasis prepares students to take the Certified Health Education Specialist Exam (CHES) given by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.