Public Health, B.S. (R, A, L) - Radford University Carilion Site

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The mission of the B.S. Public Health program is to develop a public health workforce dedicated to improving community health and wellness through education, advocacy, and service. Public health protects and improves the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations, locally and globally. Public health professionals aim to prevent disease and injury from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, advocating for policies, administering services, and conducting research.

The B.S. Public Health Plan of Study was developed to align with competencies proposed by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC).

The CEPH Undergraduate Public Health Competency Domains include: Overview of Public Health, Role and Importance of Data in Public Health, Identifying and Addressing Population Health Challenges, Human Health , Determinants of Health, Project Implementation, Overview of the Health System, Health Policy, Law, Ethics, and Economics, and Health Communications.

NCHEC oversees the areas of responsibility and competencies for Health Education Specialists and specifies coursework for students to be eligible to take the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination. Students will be eligible to take the CHES examination upon graduation. The eight areas of responsibility for Health Education Specialists include: Area I: Assessment of Needs and Capacity, Area II: Planning, Area III: Implementation, Area IV: Evaluation and Research, Area V: Advocacy, Area VI: Communication, Area VII: Leadership and Management, and Area VIII: Ethics and Professionalism.

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the R, A, and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. Students will apply scientific and quantitative reasoning to questions about the natural world and mathematics through studying epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, and healthcare research (R). Students will examine interactions of behaviors, beliefs, cultures, social institutions, and/or environments related to the public health discipline through studying personal to global health issues (A). Students will explore the practice of public health through the application of knowledge, skills, and critical reflection during a course in interprofessional community collaboration, along with either an internship or capstone project in partnership with a public health facility or organization (L). Students need an additional major and/or minor to fulfill the E areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

REAL Foundational Requirements

Foundational Writing (3 credits)

ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE)

Foundational Math (3 credits)

Note(s):

MATH 100 or MATH 125 recommended for Public Health majors due to required course prerequisites. Requirement may be fulfilled through placement testing.

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level. The Public Health major includes 3 credits of writing intensive courses.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Public Health major includes 30-36 of general education credits.

Major Requirements (79 credits)

Required Courses (60 credits)

Approved Electives (6 credits)

Students complete two 300-400 level approved elective courses (6 credit hours) from any the following: Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Exercise Sports and Health Education (ESHE), Healthcare Administration (HADM), Health Sciences (HSCI), Mathematics (MATH), Psychology (PSYC), Public Health (PBHL), Sociology (SOCY), Statistics (STAT), and/or Nursing (NURS) courses.

Required Outside Courses (19 credits)

UNIV 100 - Introduction to Higher Education
PHIL 112 - Introduction: Ethics and Society (GE)
PSYC 121 - Introduction to Psychology (GE)
STAT 200 - Introduction to Statistics (GE)
6 credits of Natural Science Electives (MATH, BIOL and/or CHEM).
3 credits of Psychology Elective (PSYC).

Additional Degree Requirements

Students must complete their Plan of Study with a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. All program-specific courses require a grade minimum of “C” – 73% or higher. Students must complete a minimum of 25% of the Plan of Study at Radford University Carilion.

Open Credit Hours (41 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120

Additional Information

Courses in the B.S. Public Health program are delivered in a synchronous, online format. Students must have a computer with webcam, headset, and microphone for online course participation

Students will partner with an organization in their community to complete an internship and a Capstone project to apply their acquired knowledge and skills. Internships placements may require students to have a background check or drug screening conducted prior to participation.

Student engagement is an integral part of developing a community of learners in the B.S. Public Health program. Each semester students will be required to participate in at least one Radford University Carilion activity, such as the Public Health Series or Day of Service. Students may attend lecture events virtually.