DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Undergraduate Program in Public Health
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES & PUBLIC POLICY
Website: https://coss.fsu.edu/publichealth
Director: Alan Rowan Undergraduate Program Director: Annette Schwabe Graduate Program Director: Helen Mahoney Faculty: Deanna Barath, Amy Burdette, Ben Dowd-Arrow, Daniel Grischy, Patricia Homan, Tory Peek, Ladanya Ramirez-Surmeier, Alan Rowan, Annette Schwabe Affiliate Faculty: Coutts, Lee, McFarland, Roach, Sherron, Taylor (J.), Uejio.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) is designed to educate and prepare students in the methods, policy, and practice of public health. The program of study includes training in each of the following fundamental areas of public health: epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences, and biostatistics.
In addition to the core curriculum composed of 21 hours, students will select 12 additional credit hours of public health electives from at least two different academic departments. These courses will complement the training provided by core courses by focusing on specific aspects of population health and public health practice. The BSPH provides the training required for entry-level public health careers found in non-profit organizations, government agencies, health corporations, and health care facilities and provides students with strong foundational skills to facilitate success in post-graduate training in public health.
Digital Literacy Requirement
All undergraduates at Florida State University must demonstrate digital literacy prior to graduation. The Digital Literacy requirement will be satisfied by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in a course(s) that has been approved by the CoreFSU Coordinating and Policy Committee as satisfying Digital Literacy in the major. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:
Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information
Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications
Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology
Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications
Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively
Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically
CoreFSU Digital Literacy courses prepare students to critically understand and use digital resources and technologies in personal, professional, and societal contexts. Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement. Undergraduate majors in Public Health satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in any course at FSU that meets the CoreFSU Curriculum Digital Literacy designation though of the courses approved to meet the Digital Literacy requirement, we recommend strongly that students take CGS 2060 (3) or CGS 2100 (3)..
State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites
The state of Florida has not identified common program prerequisites for this University degree program; however, the faculty in this program strongly recommends that students pursuing a major in Public Health take a 2000-level Statistics (STA) course as part of their lower-division or general education coursework prior to becoming a BSPH major
At the time this document was published, some common program prerequisites were being reviewed by the state of Florida and may have been revised. Please visit https://dlss.flvc.org/admin-tools/common-prerequisites-manuals for a current list of state-approved prerequisites.
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Major
To be accepted into the BSPH major, students must have successfully completed Florida State University’s math and English requirements for CoreFSU Curriculum with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher and meet FSU’s major mapping requirements. See https://undergrad1.its.fsu.edu/academic_guide/map-display.php?program=public-health.
BSPH majors are encouraged to complete all CoreFSU Curriculum requirements before admission to the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Major Requirements
Students must complete 33 semester hours in the major beyond General Education requirements or the articulated AA degree. Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in each major course. At least 21 credit hours in the major must be above the 2999-level and at least 18 hours of major coursework must be completed through FSU. An audit of articulated AA requirements completed through the Office of Academic Affairs may be used to certify AA coursework beyond the statewide General Education requirement of 36 hours for use in the major.
Public Health majors are required to have a minor or second major and to meet the requirements stipulated by that department or program.
Public Health Core Requirements
All Public Health majors must complete 21 hours of core coursework including 18 hours of specific PHC coursework listed below and at least 3 hours of approved methods coursework. A grade of “C” or better must be earned in all Core coursework.
PHC Core Coursework
PHC 3101 Introduction to Public Health (3)
PHC 4030 Introduction to Epidemiology (3)
PHC 4069 Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
PHC 4157 Health Policy and Society (3)
PHC 4320 Environmental Health Science (3)
PHC 4470 Health Behavior and Health Promotion (3)
Required Methods Core Coursework
At least three credit hours in an approved methods course for the major must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students may enroll in additional methods courses but only one of the courses listed below will be credited towards hours in the major.
PHC 4721 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
GIS 4043/GIS 4043L Geographic Information Systems and Lab (4)
GIS 4330 Florida GIS Applications (3)
GIS 4421 GIS and Health (3)
Elective Course Requirements
Twelve hours of coursework from at least two separate departments as listed below must be selected from the approved course list. Elective courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Approved elective courses may be subject to additional enrollment caps or requirements set by their respective academic departments and are not guaranteed availability. Supplemental or term available lists may be accessed through the undergraduate program page at https://coss.fsu.edu/publichealth/ or by speaking with an academic advisor from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
Anthropology
ANT 2301 Evolution of Human Sexuality
ANT 3451 Race: Biology and Culture
ANT 4465 Foodways Archaeology
ANT 4468 Bones, Bodies, and Disease
Biology
BSC 2010 Biological Science I
BSC 2011 Biological Science II
IDS 2132 Busting Common Biology Myths
IDS 2134 Evolution, Medicine, and Evidence
IDS 2135 Genetics in Society
Classics
CLT 2049 Medical Terminology
Communication
COM 3120 Communication for Organizing
MMC 4300 Diffusion of Innovations
SPC 4710 Interracial/Intercultural Communication
Communication Science and Disorders
ASL 2510 Deaf Culture
Criminology
CCJ 3651 Drugs and Crime
CCJ 3678 Policing Diversity
CCJ 4667 Crime Victimization and Victim Services
Economics
ECP 3302 Economics of Natural Resources, Energy, & the Environment
ECP 4530 Economics of Health
Educational Leadership
LDR 2162 Leadership in Groups and Communities
LDR 2218 Leadership and Well-Being
LDR 2231 Global Leadership
LDR 2241 Black Male Leadership
LDR 2242 Gender and Leadership
LDR 2290 Leadership and Sustainability in Action
LDR 3215 Leadership and Change
Educational Psychology and Learning Systems
APK 4401 Introduction to Exercise Psychology
EDF 4210 Educational Psychology: Developing Learners
IDH 3702 Becoming & Being Leaders
Geography
GEO 4330 Environmental Perception
GEO 4340 Living in a Hazardous Environment
GEO 4450 Medical Geography
IDS 2227 Sustainable Society
History
AMH 4930 ST: Environmental Policy
HIS 3464 History of Science
HIS 3491 Medicine and Society
IDS 2419 Cultures of Medicine
HIS 2496, Pandemics and People
Human Development and Family Science
CHD 2220 Child Growth and Development
CHD 3243 Contexts of Adolescent Development
FAD 2230 Family Relationships
FAD 3220 Individual & Family Life Span Development.
FAD 3343 Contexts of Adult Development & Aging
FAD 4451 Human Sexuality Education
Information
IDS 3493 Empower Health Consumers E-Health Era
LIS 4785 Introduction to Health Informatics
Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences
BMS 4401 Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology
IHS 4123 Narrative Medicine: Patient-Centered Care
IHS 4210 Future Healthcare Challenges
Management
MAN 3240 Organizational Behavior
Nursing
NSP 3185 Multicultural Factors and Health
NUR 3076 Communication in Healthcare
Nutrition and Integrative Physiology
HSC 4711 Wellness/Health Risk Reduction
HUN 1201 The Science of Nutrition
HUN 2125 Food and Society
Philosophy
PHI 2630 Ethical Issues and Life Choices
PHI 2635 Bioethics
PHI 3400 History and Philosophy of Science
PHM 2121 Philosophy of Race, Class, and Gender
PHM 2300 Introduction to Political Philosophy
PHM 3020 Philosophy of Sex
PHM 3123 Philosophy of Feminism
PHM 3331 Modern Political Thought
PHM 3400 Philosophy of Law
PHM 4340 Contemporary Political Thought
Psychology
CLP 3314 Health Psychology
CLP 4134 Abnormal Child Psychology
CLP 4143 Abnormal Psychology
DEP 3103 Child Psychology
DEP 3305 Psychology of Adolescent Behavior
DEP 4404 Psychology of Adult Development and Aging
EAB 3703 Applied Behavior Analysis
SOP 3742 Psychology of Women
SOP 3782 Psychology of African Americans
Public Administration
PAD 3003 Public Administration in American Society
PAD 4372 Leadership & Communication in Emergency Management
PAD 4833 International Comparative Disaster Management
PAD 4844 Public Health & Emergency Management
Public Health
PHC 4918 Honors
PHC 4935 Special Topics (topics vary)
PHC 4944 Public Health Internship
PHC **** other Public Health department PHC courses
Religion
REL 3142 Self and Society
REL 3160 Religion and Science
REL 3180 Religion and Bioethics
Sociology
IDS 2322 Sexual Health in the Modern World
SYA 3741 Sociology of Death & Dying
SYA 4940 Maternal and Child Health
SYD 3020 Population and Society
SYG 3245 Sociology of Food
SYO 4402 Medical Sociology
SYP 3730 Aging and the Life Course
SYP 4062 Sexual and Reproductive Health
SYP 4550 Alcohol and Drug Problems
Urban & Regional Planning
URP 4408 Food Systems Planning
URP 4423 Environmental Planning
URP 4715 Bike and Pedestrian Planning
Study Abroad
Students majoring in Public Health are encouraged to take advantage of study abroad opportunities which further their understanding of global and regional health issues. FSU International Programs (https://international.fsu.edu) offers programs through the London Study Center which include coursework that will satisfy major Core requirements. Students should consult with their academic advisor about any study abroad programs they wish to pursue. Coursework taken abroad must be approved in advance for credit toward the major.
Internship
Although not a major requirement, the Public Health program encourages students to identify and engage in internships at the local, state, national, or international level related to public health issues and careers in tandem with the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Internship course, PHC4944. Information and application materials are available through the Public Health website. Applications to enroll in PHC4944 must be approved by the BSPH internship coordinator prior to the start of the term in which the internship takes place. Students who complete PHC 4944, with a grade of C or higher will earn three elective hours toward the major and meet the Liberal Studies Formative Experiences graduation requirement. Students may earn an additional three elective hours toward the major by successfully completing PHC4944 while participating in an approved internship experience in a subsequent semester. If the additional internship experience is unique from the initial internship for which they received credit. For further information, contact the BSPH Program Director and Internship Coordinator, Dr. Annette Schwabe, by emailing aschwabe@fsu.edu.
Honors in the Major
The Public Health program offers Honors in the Major, PHC 4918, to encourage students to undertake independent research with close supervision by members of the Public Health faculty. Up to six hours of Honors in the Major coursework may be used to satisfy elective hours in the major. Please refer to the Honors in the Major website to learn more about the program https://honors.fsu.edu/honors-major-0
Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Public Health (BS/MPH) Pathway
For the Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Public Health (BS/MPH) Pathway, Florida State University undergraduate students may apply up to 12 credits of MPH courses taken while enrolled as undergraduates toward the MPH if they enroll in the Public Health degree program. The combined bachelor's/master's pathway allows academically talented students the opportunity to acquire their MPH degree in a shorter time. Undergraduate students may take up to 12 hours of graduate-level work while completing their bachelor's degree. These hours will count towards both the 120 credit hours needed for the bachelor's and the overall 43 credits hours needed for the MPH degree.
This pathway is designed to allow FSU undergraduate students to take graduate level coursework, however, admission into the Combined Pathway does not grant admission into the MPH program. Students must still apply to the MPH program by the appropriate deadlines. In addition, admission into the Combined Pathway forgoes any opportunity to apply or enroll in the Joint Pathway between Urban Regional Planning and Public Health. Any courses taken under the Combined Pathway are subject to approval for transfer to a program outside of the FSU MPH program. Any course with a grade lower than a “B” will be ineligible to transfer for MPH credit.
Eligibility Requirements
Major: Any undergraduate major is eligible
Minimum Criteria:
3.0 minimum FSU GPA (3.5 FSU GPA or higher preferred)
90 credit hours of completed coursework (60 credit hours if the student is an honors student)
Minimum two terms and 24 credit hours completed at FSU
You can find the course equivalencies and the application for the pathway at https://coss.fsu.edu/publichealth/combined-bs-mph.