The Public Health major offers the Bachelor of Science in Applied Science (B.S.A.S.) degree. The program can be completed in eight semesters if students average 16 hours per semester. The program also offers a minor in public health and a minor in community health. The program contributes to the University’s General Education Requirements by offering HSC 1568 Healthy Lifestyles, which meets General Education Requirement 9: Personal and Social Responsibility. To be admitted to the public health program a student must have a minimum GPA of 2.0. To continue enrollment in the major students must maintain a 2.0. If a student falls below a 2.0 GPA, the student can only re-apply to either major after a minimum GPA of 2.0 has been achieved.

There are five standard areas in public health training that enable students to perform the essentials services of public health. These are epidemiology, biostatistics, health services administration, environmental health and behavioral science/health education. The curriculum for the YSU bachelor’s degree in public health addresses each of the five core areas through multiple courses. This curriculum enables mastery at the bachelor’s level of the nationally recognized Public Health Core Competencies, and requires an internship tailored to the area of public health interests of each student. This contemporary major also includes two 3 semester hour courses in bioterrorism, mass causality and crisis management in public health. Most of the professional courses for the degree can be completed through a combination of interactive videoconferencing and online distance learning options.

The B.S.A.S. in public health can also prepare the student to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). CHES assess individual and community health needs; plan and implement effective health education and health promotion programs; coordinate and manage the provision of health education and promotion services; effectively communicate health and health education needs, concerns and resources; and conduct program evaluation.

The public health program integrates classroom and experiential learning in many of its courses. Public health graduates are employed in public health agencies, non-profit health organizations, hospitals and other health and care settings, and governmental agencies.

B.S.A.S. DEGREE PROGRAM; General Education Requirements, including HSC 1568, BIOL 1545 and Lab, FNTR 1551, and SOCIO 1500. Core requirements of the major: HSC 3701L, 3702, 3757, 3791, 4826, 4827, 4828, 4891, 4899. 5893W, 5893M, AHLTH 3708, ALHTH 3740, 4808, 4810, 5807, MATEC 1501,GEOG 2610 and 5810; 12 semester hours of additional approved public health coursework, a 3 semester hour approved philosophy course, an approved quantitative course, and 3 semester hour social/cultural issues course. 124 semester hours are required for the B.S.A.S. in public health degree. No minor is required for this professional BSAS degree.

For more information about this program contact:
        Kathy Akpom, PhD, MPH
        Professor and Director
        Public Health Program
        kakpom@ysu.edu
        330-941-1901