Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Lead Faculty: Dr. Alan C. Henderson

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health Major in Health Promotion features a broad-based foundation in the liberal arts and science and an ecological perspective of public health and the role that health promotion plays in preventing disease while maintaining or increasing quality of life.  Graduates of the program will possess an understanding of the contributions of core public health disciplines to the nation's health.  At the same time, graduates will also learn how to apply knowledge and skills relating to the interactions and interdependencies of health behavior, the physical and social environment, and public policy to affect health at local, state, national, and international levels.

The program is designed to prepare entry-level health promotion professionals to begin careers in a variety of community health agencies: Official health agencies, voluntary health agencies, community based/non-governmental agencies, medical care services, education agencies, and business and industry.  Within these practice settings, entry-level health promotion practitioners address significant health challenges from individual, family, group, organizations, neighborhood, community, and society perspectives. Graduates will apply their competencies to assess needs, plan and implement programs, assess program outcomes, communicate and advocate for public health issues, and participate in the development of health promotion as a profession. Upon graduation, entry-level health promotion practitioners will be eligible to demonstrate their knowledge and skills to become Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

The Major in Health Promotion prepares the graduate to be able to fulfill the following outcomes as an entry-level professional:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the core disciplines of public health and their relationship to the ecology of public health.
• Explain the development and application of health promotion to contemporary health challenges.
• Review the development of professions and their evolving role in society in the context of health promotion.
• Compare and contrast the resources used to determine the health status of local, state, national, and international groups, communities, and populations.
• Differentiate between the behavioral, biological, environmental, and health services contributions to health from a historical perspective.
• Describe behavioral and non-behavioral variables contributing to morbidity and mortality produced by chronic and communicable diseases and injuries.
• Compare and contrast the contributions of distress, nutrition, physical activity, and the misuse and abuse of drugs to morbidity and mortality among specific groups, communities, and societies.
• Assess the need for health promotion programs in response to the characteristics of diverse communities of interest using primary and secondary data.
• Plan health promotion using measurable structural, process, and outcome objectives to address identified needs.
• Employ a variety of behavioral, environmental, and policy strategies and tactics to implement health promotion programs.
• Monitor progress of health promotion program in meeting stated goals and objectives.
• Consider the progress and outcomes of a health promotion program in relation to established standards.
• Categorize communication and advocacy strategies and tactics according to the influence of behavior, environment, and public policy according to a given health need in a given community.
• Endeavor to incorporate ethical and cultural considerations in health promotion programs.
• Commit to a career in health promotion that incorporates lifelong learning and high professional standards.

Background Checks
Agencies used by the School of Health and Human Services may require criminal background and/or drug screening prior to acceptance of a student into an internship or practicum. Students who do not pass the background check and/or drug test may be unable to attend the internship or practicum course, and therefore, may be unable to complete the program of study. Any fee or cost associated with background checks and/or drug testing is the responsibility of the student.

Requirements

Degree Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with a Concentration in Health Promotion, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at National University and 76.5 of which must be transfer credit, additional general education electives may be necessary to satisfy total units for the degree.  Refer to the section on undergraduate admission requirements for specific information regarding admission and evaluation.

General Education Program Requirements
The general education program consists of a minimum of 70.5 quarter units.  Of the 70.5 units, students must complete at least 4.5 units at the upper division level and 4.5 units in diversity enriched course work.  A plus (+) indicated diversity enriched offering.  All undergraduate students working toward any associate or bachelor's degree must meet the University diversity requirement.

National University had general education requirements in the following eight areas:

AREA A:  ENGLISH COMMUNICATION

Category 1:  Writing (10.5 units required)
ENG 100 - Effective College English I (3 quarter units)
  (Prerequisite: Placement Exam)
ENG 101 - Effective College English II (3 quarter units)
  (Prerequisite: ENG 100)
ENG 240 Advanced Composition (Prerequisite: ENG 100/101)

Category 2:  Speech and Communication (4.5 quarter units required)
COM 100 - Introduction to Mass Communication

AREA B:  MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING
(4.5 quarter units required)
NSG 322 - Introduction to Biomedical Statistics

AREA C:  INFORMATION LITERACY (4.5 quarter units required)
ILR 260 - Information Literacy (Prerequisite: ENG 100/101)

AREA D:  ARTS AND HUMANITIES (13.5 quarter units required)
HIS 233 - World Civilization I (Prerequisite: ENG 100/101)
HIS 234 - World Civilization II (Prerequisite: ENG 100/101)

*Choose one additional course from Area D*

AREA E:  SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (13.5 quarter units required)
PSY 100 - Introduction to Psychology
SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (Prerequisite: ENG 100/101)
POL 201 - American Government and Politics

AREA F:  PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (18 quarter units required)
BIO 201 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  (Recommended: Prior completion of SCI 100/100A, SCI 101/101A, or equivalent courses)
BIO 201A - Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I (1.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisite: SCI 201)
BIO 202 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II
  (Recommended: prior completion of BIO 201/201A, 100/100A, and 101/101A, or equivalent courses)
BIO 202A - Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab II (1.5 quarter units)
   (Prerequisites: BIO 202)
BIO 203 - Introductory Microbiology
  (Recommended: prior completion of BIO 201/201A, 202/202A, 100/100A, 101/101A, or equivalent courses)
BIO 203A - Introductory Microbiology Lab (1.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisite: BIO 203)

AREA G:  MODERN LANGUAGE (9 quarter units required)

AREA A-G:  GENERAL EDUCATION (4.5 quarter units required)
Choose one:
PHL 375 - Environmental Ethics (Prerequisite: ENG 100/101)
EES 335 - Environmental Science

Preparation for the Major (3 courses; 13.5 quarter units)
Student must present evidence of a valid CPR and First Aid certification. Certification must be valid at the time of graduation.

COH 100 - Personal Health
COH 310 - Culture and Health
COH 320 - Chronic & Communicable Diseases

Requirements for the Major (17 courses; 76.5 quarter units)

Public Health Core Requirements (5 courses; 22.5 quarter units)
COH 300 - The Ecology of Public Health (Prerequisites: COH 100, 310, 320)
COH 315 - Introduction to Epidemiology
(Prerequisite: NSG 322) COH 321 Health Behavior
COH 400 - Environmental Health
HSC 410 - Informatics for Health Professionals
  (Prerequisites: HSC 310, 400, 330, 300, NSG 322, and GER 310)

Health Promotion Core Requirements (12 courses; 54 quarter units)
COH 380 - HP Planning & Evaluation
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 401 - Health Promotion Concepts
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 412 - Injury Prevention
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 415 - HP & Stress Management
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 416 - PH & Physical Activity
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 417 - Public Health Nutrition
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 418 - Drug Use & Abuse
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 417 - Public Health & Sexuality
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 430 - HP Strategies & Tactics
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 435 - PH Communications & Advocacy
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410)
COH 494A - Internship in Health Promotion
  (Prerequisites: COH 300, 315, 400, HSC 410 and completion of a minimum of 36 quarter units of the Health Promotion Core)
COH 494B - Public Health Capstone Project
  (Prerequisite: COH 494A and evidence of valid CPR and First Aid certification)

Recommended Electives
If needed, students are encouraged to choose from the following:

GER 310 - Healthy Aging
  (Prerequisites: HSC 310, 400, 330, and NSG 322)
COH 420 - Health of Vulnerable Groups
COH 422 - Global Health Promotion

Program Information

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Program Locations

• Los Angeles Campus
• Sacramento Campus