Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Website: https://twu.edu/health-studies/undergraduate-programs/bachelor-of-science-in-public-health-bsph/

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree provides initial training for students interested in the broad and diverse field of public health. The BSPH will have a general public health focus that exposes students to areas such as health promotion, epidemiology, environmental health, and health informatics. Students pursuing this degree will be prepared to pursue entry-level employment in the public and private sector, or to pursue more specialized training in the Master of Public Health (MPH) and similar programs.

Marketable Skills

Marketable skills prepare students for success in a variety of professional settings. Developed through academic coursework, co-curricular engagement, and extracurricular involvement, these skills include communication, critical thinking, teamwork, ethical reasoning, adaptability, and digital literacy. Whether directly related to a student’s major or serving as complementary strengths, marketable skills enhance career readiness and reflect TWU’s commitment to producing graduates who are prepared to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce.

  1. Integrate knowledge and skills from the profession and science of public health to improve regional and global health.
  2. Explain how behavioral, biological, environmental, genetic, and psychological factors affect a population's health.
  3. Apply evidence-based approaches and methods to improve health in Texas.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Policies

The following policies apply to all undergraduate students in the School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology:

  1. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses in the Health Studies, Kinesiology, and Public Health majors.  If a student earns a grade of D or F in a Health Studies, Kinesiology, or Public Health course, the student must retake the course.  A course in which a student earns a grade of less than C (D or F) may be repeated only once.
  2. A student who earns a grade of less than C (D or F) twice in the same Health Studies, Kinesiology, or Public Health course will be dismissed from the School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology.
  3. Students receiving a grade of I, D, or F in a Health Studies, Kinesiology, or Public Health course may not progress to courses for which that course is a prerequisite.
  4. If the cumulative GPA drops below 2.75, the student must raise it to 2.75 within the next three semesters of enrollment, or they will be dismissed from the School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology. 
  5. A student must have completed all coursework in the degree plan prior to enrolling in internship/student teaching. B.S. in Health Studies and B.S. in Public Health students must also complete the Health Studies Exit Exam prior to enrolling in internship.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120

Major: 60 SCH

Program Code: ;     CIP Code: 51.2201.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I (10)3
ENG 1023Composition II (10)3
Mathematics (20)3
Life & Physical Sciences (30)6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture (40)3
Creative Arts (50)3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 (60)3
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present (60)3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government (70)3
POLS 2023Texas Government (70)3
Social & Behavioral Sciences (80)3
CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies (90)3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics (91)3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

HS 1363Introduction to Public Health3
HS 2013Health Communications3
HS 2813Introduction to Global Health3
HS 3053Community Health Assessment3
HS 3303Program Planning and Evaluation3
HS 3383Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Informatics3
HS 3413Epidemiology3
HS 4121Professional Development in Public Health1
HS 4353Grant Writing in Health Education3
HS 4473Professionalism and Ethics in Health Disciplines3
HS 4563Overview of Public Health Surveillance3
HS 4126Internship in Health Education6
PUBH 2303Race, Ethnicity, and Health3
PUBH 4403Fundamentals of Public Health Research3
Total SCHs43

Departmental Requirements

MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I3
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology3
PSY 1603Developmental Psychology3
or PSY 2513 Abnormal Psychology
ZOOL 2013
& ZOOL 2011		Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory		4
ZOOL 2023
& ZOOL 2021		Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory		4
Total SCHs17

Guided Electives

For all Guided Electives, a grade of C or higher is required.

Select 30 SCH30
HS 2373
Health Aspects of Human Sexuality
HS 3033
Medical Terminology
HS 3133
Perspectives on Women's Health
HS 3363
History and Principles of Health Education
HS 3373
Child and Adolescent Health
HS 3433
Current Trends in Population Health and Health Informatics
HS 3443
Health Aspects of Aging
HS 4363
Consumer Health
HS 4483
Psychosocial Aspects of Mental Health
HS 4553
Stress Management Techniques
PUBH 4203
Health Literacy
BACT 1003
& BACT 1001
Microbiology
and Microbiology Laboratory
CHEM 1013
& CHEM 1011
Introductory Chemistry
and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory
or CHEM 1113
& CHEM 1111
 General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
KINS 3553
Exercise and Sport Psychology
NFS 2323
Introduction to Nutrition
Total SCHs30

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology PSYC 23013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: Wellness (Recommended - KINS 1902)2
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
HS 1363Introduction to Public Health 3
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
HS 2013Health Communications 3
HS 2813Introduction to Global Health 3
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
ZOOL 2013
& ZOOL 2011		Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory		 BIOL 2401
& BIOL 2101		4
Guided Elective3
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
HS 3053Community Health Assessment 3
PUBH 2303Race, Ethnicity, and Health 3
ZOOL 2023
& ZOOL 2021		Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory		 BIOL 2402
& BIOL 2102		4
Guided Elective3
Guided Elective3
 SCHs 16
Third Year
FallTCCN
HS 3303Program Planning and Evaluation 3
HS 3383Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Informatics 3
HS 3413Epidemiology 3
Language, Philosophy, Culture3
Guided Elective3
Guided Elective3
 SCHs 18
SpringTCCN
PSY 1603
or 2513		Developmental Psychology
or Abnormal Psychology		 PSYC 2314
or PSYC 2320		3
HS 4563Overview of Public Health Surveillance 3
HS 4473Professionalism and Ethics in Health Disciplines 3
Creative Arts3
Guided Elective3
Guided Elective3
 SCHs 18
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
HS 4121Professional Development in Public Health 1
PUBH 4403Fundamentals of Public Health Research 3
HS 4353Grant Writing in Health Education 3
Guided Elective3
Guided Elective3
Guided Elective3
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
HS 4126Internship in Health Education 6
 SCHs 6
 Total SCHs:  120