Approved by: Undergraduate Course and Curriculum Committee
Implementation Date: Spring 2016
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
Department of
Public Health Sciences
publichealth.uncc.edu
The Department of Public Health Sciences was originally founded as the Department of Health Behavior and Administration on July 1, 2002, as part of the transformed College of Health and Human Services. The new Department was conceived in response to recommendations derived from UNC Charlotte's Health Commission Report (2000) as well as a variety of initiatives placing emphasis on population health and health behavior research. In May 2007, the Department was renamed to Public Health Sciences to better reflect the unit’s larger-scale set of current and planned research programs, degree offerings, and service activities. Faculty research programs focus on individual and population health including: the prevention and management of disease across the lifespan; the health status of diverse, urban communities; and population health and health care analytics. The Department’s goals include creating North Carolina’s second accredited School of Public Health.
VISION
The Department is a premier academic unit providing collaborative and integrated approaches to improving health and healthcare. An interdisciplinary, research-focused faculty provide educational experiences for researchers and practitioners that are relevant to contemporary public health and health care administration. The Department supports an environment that enhances the preparation of competent leaders in community health behavior, healthcare administration and policy, and health services research at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels; for local, national, and international partnerships that enhance students' knowledge of health care issues; and for its focus on vulnerable populations.
MISSION
The Department engages in research, teaching, and service to prepare future researchers and practitioners in public health, health care administration, and health services research at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral level that meets the needs of an increasingly diverse student body and workforce. An interdisciplinary faculty makes available local, national, and international educational opportunities through nationally accredited programs that support collaborative learning and integrated experiences to develop knowledge and understanding of public health and health care issues. Faculty research programs focus on individual and population health including: the prevention and management of disease across the lifespan; the health status of diverse, urban communities; and population health and health care analytics.
The Department of Public Health Sciences is committed to academic excellence. The Department received the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2012 and the Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program has been recognized by the Association of American Colleges and Universities as a model program. Our Public Health baccalaureate and master's degree programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The department is a member of the Association of Accredited Public Health Programs, Association of University Programs in Health Administration; and the College of Health and Human Services is an affiliate member of AcademyHealth. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an official testing site for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.
The Department supports the University’s core values encouraging diversity and equal educational and employment opportunities throughout the University community. These values are evident in the University’s non-discrimination policies, the Council on University Community, and the Multicultural Resource Center.
PROGRAM DEGREES and MINOR PROGRAMS
The department offers the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) and a Minor in Public Health (HLTH). Undergraduate interdisciplinary experiences provide students better flexibility in working across disciplines as well as within their own specialty as they grow their careers. The department also provides opportunities for students to work closely with individual members of the faculty through either Independent Study or Undergraduate Research experiences.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH (BSPH)
Public health is the science and art of promoting health, preventing disease and injury, and prolonging life through organized efforts of society. Public health activities focus on entire populations rather than on individual patients, and public health professionals monitor and diagnose the health concerns of entire communities and promote healthy practices and behaviors to assure our populations stay healthy.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) prepares students through didactic and practice experiences to apply core principles of public health education within a variety of community settings and to advance the public health profession. The program values professional and academic integrity and ethics, collegiality, engagement with the community, and responsiveness and innovation in its pursuit of attaining the highest possible standards of health and well-being.
The BSPH program is designed to prepare scholar-practitioners with knowledge and skills in the core concepts of public health, including health behavior, research and statistics in health, environmental health, epidemiology, and health administration, as well as in the planning, evaluation, organization, and conduct of community and public health services. The planned course of study adopts an interdisciplinary focus and includes the development of tailored skills through the successful completion of a minor, electives, and experiential learning. The degree will prepare students who are interested in pursuing health-related careers in health promotion, program delivery, health communication, community organization, and behavior change for entry level to mid-level positions in service and research in health departments, public health agencies, community-based organizations, outreach education programs, hospitals, private health organizations, and corporate wellness settings. The program is designed to appeal to students with interests in “population” rather than “clinical” health. Continued study in the Department of Public Health Sciences is also an option for those interested in graduate degrees in Public Health or Health Administration. For details on these programs, see the UNC Charlotte Graduate Catalog.
PRE-PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR (PRPH)
(Guidelines for Freshman and Sophomore Years)
Applicants who satisfy freshman or transfer requirements for admission to the University and are interested in the BSPH can declare the Pre-Public Health Major (PRPH). It includes a combination of 70-75 hours of courses that fulfills the UNC Charlotte General Education requirements; declaration of a minor; and serves as preparatory coursework for the Public Health major (BSPH).
Required Courses (70-75 credits)
English or UWRT (3 or 6 credits)
ENGL or UWRT 1101 and ENGL or UWRT 1102 OR
ENGL or UWRT 1103
Quantitative Courses (6 credits)
MATH 1100 and STAT 1222 (or equivalents)
Sciences (7 credits)
Choose from list in the Undergraduate Catalog
Social Sciences (3 credits)
Choose from list in the Undergraduate Catalog
Liberal Studies (12 credits)
Choose from list in the Undergraduate Catalog
Prerequisite Core Courses (9 credits)
COMM 1101 Public Speaking
HLTH 2101 Healthy Lifestyles
HLTH 3101 Foundations of Public Health
HLTH 4280 Global Health Issues
Health-Related Communication (choose 6 credits from the following)
COMM 1101 Public Speaking
COMM 2100 Introduction to Communication Theory
COMM 2105 Small Group Communication
COMM 2107 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 3115 Health Communication
COMM 3130 Communication and Public Advocacy
COMM 3135 Leadership, Communication, and Group Dynamics
COMM 3141 Organizational Communication
Declare a Minor (15-26 credits)
Choose any minor on campus except Interdisciplinary Health Studies (IDHS) or Public Health (HLTH)
Electives (as many needed for 70-75 credits total)
Includes study abroad courses
APPLYING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR (BSPH)
Students must apply for admission to the Major in Public Health (BSPH). Applications are accepted from students who will have completed 60 credit hours by the time they begin to take courses in the major, including the following 25 hours of courses listed in the PRPH Major (whether or not the student declared the PRPH Major): COMM 1101, HLTH 2101, HLTH 3101, HLTH 4280, Quantitative courses (6 hours), Science courses (7 hours), and Social Science courses (3 hours). (NOTE: Students will complete any remaining PRPH requirements following admission to the BSPH.)
Admissions only occur for Fall semesters and the number of students admitted each Fall is limited. BSPH admission is competitive and based on the following:
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for 60 credit hours
- GPA for completed courses including
COMM 1101,HLTH 2101, HLTH 3101, HLTH4280, Quantitative courses (6 hours), Science courses (7 hours), and Social Science courses (3 hours) - Goal statement and application for admission
Applications for admission should be submitted the spring semester prior to eligibility to begin the BSPH Major in the Fall semester. Applications for admission are due in February of each year, and include academic transcripts, application, and a statement of future career goals.
PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR (BSPH)
(Guidelines for Junior and Senior Years)
The Public Health major includes 50 hours of courses that are designed to meet the criteria established by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for accreditation of public health degree programs. Students completing the curriculum will be eligible to sit for the nationally-recognized Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.
Courses for the BSPH Major (total hours = 50)
Core Courses (32 hours)*
Year 3 Fall
HLTH 3102 Comparative Healthcare Systems
HLTH 3103 Behavior Change Theories and Practice
HLTH 3105 Public Health Education and Promotion
The remaining 9 hours of course load should be filled with General Education course requirements, Pre-Public Health Major course requirements, required Minor courses, required Culture and Health electives, and required Health-Related electives.
Year 3 Spring
HLTH 3102 Comparative Healthcare Systems
HLTH 3103 Behavior Change Theories and Practice
HLTH 3104 Research and Statistics in Health
HLTH 3104L Research and Statistics in Health Lab
The remaining 8 hours of course load should be filled with General Education course requirements, Pre-Public Health Major course requirements, required Minor courses, required Culture and Health electives, and required Health-Related electives.
Year 3 Summer or Year 4 Fall
HLTH 4400 Public Health Internship
Year 4 Fall
HLTH 4600 Capstone
HLTH 4102 Healthcare Administration
HLTH 4103 Environmental Health
The remaining 9 hours of course load should be filled with required Minor courses, required Culture and Health electives, and required Health-Related electives.
Year 4 Spring
HLTH 4102 Healthcare Administration
HLTH 4105 Program Planning and Evaluation
HLTH 4105L Program Planning and Evaluation Lab
HLTH 4600 Capstone
The remaining 5 hours of course load should be filled with required Minor courses, required Culture and Health electives, and required Health-Related electives.
*Students will complete the core courses during the designated semesters and will complete HLTH 4104 (Epidemiology) as well as the remaining courses from among the following electives as their schedules permit:
Culture and Health Courses (choose 6 hours)
AFRS 3261 Psychology of the Black Experience
ANTH 3122/3222 Culture, Health, and Disease
HLTH/GRNT 3115 Health and the Aging Process
HLTH/GRNT/WGST 4260 Women: Middle Age and Beyond
NURS/WMST 4191 Women’s Health Issues
Health-Related Electives (choose 12 hours)
AFRS 4630 Environmental and Public Health in Africa
COMM 3115 Health Communication
ECON 3141 Health Economics
EXER 3260 Nutrition and Health Fitness
EXER 4130 Applied Nutrition for Today’s Consumer
POLS 3125 Health Care Policy
PHIL 3230 Healthcare Ethics
SOCY 4130 Sociology of Health and Illness
SOCY 4168 Sociology of Mental Health and Illness
Any HLTH 3000-level or 4000-level course, except HLTH 3101, HLTH 4280
Any 3000- or 4000-level health-related study abroad course
To graduate with a BSPH degree, students must have completed 120-125 hours (70-75 hours from the PRPH major and 50 hours from the BSPH major).
MINOR IN PUBLIC HEALTH
The Minor in Public Health supports students interested in health-related careers or those seeking a health dimension within other career choices. Students in the minor come from biological, social, and behavioral sciences, as well as from health-related academic majors. The minor extends students’ working knowledge of health applications that prepares them to be competitive in the job market and to make advanced degree choices.
Students seeking entry-level positions in health services or non-clinical health agencies and organizations after graduation will find this minor helpful in broadening their understanding of contemporary public health issues. Students in the minor are well positioned for graduate work in specific disciplines like psychology, sociology, social work, public health, health communication, or adult development and aging. The program also provides applied health content and added value to academic degrees of students seeking admission to dental, nursing, medical, pharmacy, physical therapy and other professional schools.
The Minor in Public Health fosters an interdisciplinary perspective of individual and population health. National health priorities in the first decade of the 21st century emphasize interdisciplinary training. As students develop specific healthcare competencies, undergraduate interdisciplinary experiences provide students better flexibility in working across disciplines as well as within their own major.
The Minor in Public Health is awarded only to students completing an undergraduate major at UNC Charlotte. The minor consists of 22 semester hours: 13 hours must come from a set of required courses and nine hours must come from the set of unrestricted electives. Students must have completed the “Required Science and Lab” course in order to declare the Minor in Public Health. To qualify for the Minor in Public Health upon graduation, students must have a grade point average of 2.0 in courses applied to the minor. Students are encouraged to take electives outside their major department and college to gain a broader health perspective. Because additions and deletions of courses may be made to correspond to current University offerings, students are encouraged to consult with the Program Coordinator as they plan their schedules.
Required courses (9 hours)
HLTH 3101 Foundations of Public Health (3)
HLTH 4104 Epidemiology (3)
HLTH 4280 Global Health Issues (3)
Required Science and Lab course (choose one; 4 hours)
*Prerequisite for declaring the Minor in Public Health
ANTH 2141 Principles of Biological Anthropology and Lab (4)
BIOL 2259 and 2259L Fundamentals of Microbiology (3) and Lab (1)
BIOL 2273 and 2273L Human Anatomy and Physiology (3) and Lab (1)
BIOL 3273 and 3273L Animal Physiology (3) and Lab (1)
PSYC 1101 and 1101L General Psychology (3) and Lab (1)
Choose from list in the Undergraduate Catalog
Unrestricted Electives (choose three; 9 hours)
AFRS 3261 Psychology of the Black Experience (3)
AFRS 4630 Environmental and Public Health in Africa (3)
ANTH 3122/3222 Culture, Health, and Disease (3)
ANTH 4131 Culture, Pregnancy and Birth (3)
COMM 3115 Health Communication (3)
ECON 3141 Health Economics (3)
ETIN 3243 Occupational Health Technology (3)
EXER 2150 Introduction to Kinesiology (3)
FINN 3271 Principles of Risk Management and Insurance (3)
GRNT 2100 Aging and the Life Course (3)
GRNT/PSYC 2124 Psychology of Adult Development and Aging (3)
HIST 2140 Disease and Medicine in History (3)
HLTH/GRNT 3115 Health and the Aging Process (3)
NURS/WGST 4191 Women’s Health Issues (3)
PHIL 3230 Healthcare Ethics (3)
POLS 3125 Health Care Policy (3)
PSYC 2160 Introduction to Health Psychology (3)
PSYC 3151 Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSYC 3155 Community Psychology (3)
SOCY 4130 Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
SOCY 4168 Sociology of Mental Health and Illness (3)
Any unrestricted HLTH 2000- , 3000- , or 4000-level course
INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH STUDIES (IDHS) MINOR
The Interdisciplinary Health Studies (IDHS) minor was discontinued in Fall 2010; at this same time, the Public Health (HLTH) minor was implemented. Students with an IDHS minor already noted in Banner Self-Service prior to Fall 2010 may complete the IDHS requirements or change to the HLTH minor. All other students are required to complete the Public Health (HLTH) minor requirements.
PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES (HLTH)
HLTH 2101. Healthy Lifestyles. (3) Prerequisite: PRPH majors or instructor permission. Overview of issues related to personal health, including healthy behaviors, lifestyles, and outcomes.
HLTH 3000. Topics in Public Health. (1-3) Prerequisite: Permission of InstructorInstructor permission. Additional prerequisites and credit hours vary with topics. Special topics for intermediate level undergraduates. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (On demand)
HLTH 3101. Foundations of Public Health. (3) Prerequisite: PRPH majors, HLTH minors or Instructor permission of the instructor. Introduction to the field of public health, including its history, content areas, scope, and paradigms of professional practice.
HLTH 3102. Comparative Healthcare Systems. (3) Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. Examination of organizations, structures, and relationships in national and international healthcare systems and the associated financial, legal, and policy issues.
HLTH 3103. Behavior Change Theories and Practice. (3) Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. Overview of theoretical approaches to health behavior adherence and compliance, including increasing health enhancing behaviors and sustaining healthy behaviors over time.
HLTH 3104. Research and Statistics in Health. (3) Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. Corequisite: HLTH 3104L. Examination of the use of research methods and statistics in public health, including issues related to research design, measurement, sampling, and the application and interpretation of statistical methods.
HLTH 3104L. Research and Statistics in Health LAB. (1). Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. Corequisite: HLTH 3104. Activities designed to complement HLTH 3104. Meets once a week for 1.5 hours.
HLTH 3105. Public Health Education and Promotion. (3) Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. Overview of principles and strategies for health education in public health practice settings.
HLTH 3115. Health and the Aging Process. (3) Cross-listed as GRNT 3115 and NURS 3115. Examination of the physiologic processes of aging as a normal life experience. Study of psychological, nutritional and general health issues designed to facilitate high-level awareness.
HLTH 3200. History of Public Health. (3) An overview of health and illness from a population perspective, emphasizing the social and historical contexts in which key public health events have occurred. The content provides an historical interpretation of the development of public health – including the battle against infectious disease – across time and in today’s world. (Fall)
HLTH 3201. Community Engagement. (3) Prerequisite: PRPH majors, BSPH majors, HLTH minor, or Instructor Permission. This course is designed to emphasize the nuances of working with diverse communities toward a positive public health outcome. It will include an analysis of communities and partnering with community agencies to impact public health outcomes. (On Demand)
HLTH 3202. Peer Health Education. (3) Prerequisite: BSPH major or Instructor Permission. This course is designed for students interested in a variety of health topics as they relate to peer education. In class, students will have the opportunity to become Certified Peer Educators through The BACCHUS Network. Along with this, public speaking and program planning skills will be discussed. For the final project, students will be asked to design and host an awareness table on a health topic of their choice. Health topics that will be discussed in class include alcohol awareness, tobacco awareness, sexual assault awareness, stress management, body image, LGBTQ education and sexual health. (On Demand)
HLTH 4000. Special Topics in Public Health. (1-3) Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Additional prerequisites and credit hours vary with topics. Special topics for advanced undergraduates. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (On demand)
HLTH 4090. International Comparative Health Systems: Western Europe. . (3) Cross-listed as NURS 4090. A two-week study tour to explore the cultures cultural, social, and health care systems in Western Europe and to compare them with systems in outside the United States. Participants will visit a variety of health care sites and attend presentations by practitioners and educators. They will have opportunities to interact with people from the host countries and visit a variety of cultural and historic sites. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (On Demand)
HLTH 4102. Healthcare Administration. (3) Prerequisite: HLTH 3102 and BSPH majors only. Overview of basic concepts and issues within the administration, financing, and policy of healthcare systems.
HLTH 4103. Environmental Health: A Global Perspective. (3) Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. Introduction to environmental and occupational health issues and their implications for individual and population health.
HLTH 4104. Epidemiology. (3) Prerequisite: HLTH 3101 or Junior or Senior status and BSPH majors, HLTH minors, or instructor permission. IDHS or HLTH minor, or permission of the instuctorLTH 3101 or Junior or Senior status and . Introduction to basic principles and methods used in epidemiology to detect and control disease in populations.
HLTH 4105. Program Planning and Evaluation. (3) Prerequisite: HLTH 3105 3103 and BSPH majors only. Corequisite: HLTH 4105L. Use of program planning and behavior change models to design and evaluate theory-based public health promotion and education initiatives.
HLTH 4105L. Program Planning and Evaluation LAB. (1) Prerequisite: HLTH 3105 3103 and BSPH majors only. Corequisite: HLTH 4105. Activities designed to complement HLTH 4105. Meets once a week for 1.5 hours.
HLTH 4210. Health Promotion and Risk Reduction. (3) Overview of health promotion and risk reduction techniques, including theories, strategies, and statistics. (On demand)
HLTH 4220 Mental and Emotional Well-being. (3) Examination of mental and emotional health from a wellness perspective. (On demand)
HLTH 4230. Drugs and Society. (3) Examination of use, misuses, and abuse of natural and synthetic chemicals in today's society, including prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies. (On demand)
HLTH 4240 Injury Prevention through the Life Span. (3) Introduction to intentional and unintentional injuries, including prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies. (On demand)
HLTH 4250. Adolescent Health and Sexuality. (3) Examination of adolescent health sexuality issues in today’s society. (On demand)
HLTH 4260. Women: Middle Age and Beyond. (3) Cross-listed as GRNT 4260 and WGST 4260. Position of older women in society and the particular problems of and issues for women as they age with special attention to health issues. (On demand)
HLTH 4270. Health Consumerism. (3) Examination of individual health consumer issues in the health marketplace. (On demand)
HLTH 4280. Global Health Issues. (3) Prerequisite: PRPH majors, BSPH majors, HLTH minors. Introduction to current issues in global health including disparities, root causes, and strategies for resolution.
HLTH 4290. Health Management Information Systems. (3) Overview of the technical, organizational, and management issues confronted by healthcare professionals in the selection, implementation, and management of healthcare information systems. (On demand)
HLTH 4400. Internship. (3) (W) Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. Practical experience in a public health setting that complements students’ academic and professional goals. Arranged with Coordinator.
HLTH 4600. Capstone. (3) (W) Prerequisite: BSPH majors only. A culminating project or experience encompassing the five areas of public health: health behavior, environmental health, biostatistics, epidemiology, and health administration, that complements students’ academic and professional goals. Arranged with Coordinator.
HLTH 4800. Independent Study. (1-6) Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Directed individual study that may take the form of initiating, designing, and/or conducting an original community-based or research project, or critique and synthesis of existing community or research issues. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)
HLTH 4900. Undergraduate Research. (1-4) Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Opportunity for advanced undergraduate students to work on community or research projects conducted by faculty in their field of interest. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)