Public Health (B.S.)

59 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

This program will provide students with the knowledge and practical skills required of a public health generalist. The curriculum provides a broad general education, a strong foundation in human health and disease, addressing the five core areas of public health including health communication, health disparities, legal and ethical issues, management of public health systems, and policy and research.

Graduates will develop the ability to apply core concepts to assess the health needs of diverse populations locally, nationally and internationally, plan and evaluate programs, and communicate and advocate health promotion. Graduates will be prepared to impact the delivery of crucial public health services, thus improving the health, safety, and welfare of local, regional, national, and global communities.

Admission Requirements: 

• completed a minimum of 30 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above as verified on an official transcript 
• completed HSC 315 Intro to Public Health and PUBH 250 Environmental and Social Determinants of Health with grades of “C” or better  
• personal statement indicating reasons for pursuing a degree in public health, aspirations for future employment in the public health field, personal attributes and strengths that will facilitate success in this degree, and statement of areas intended to improve personally and professionally 
• letter of recommendation from an academic, work, or personal reference (not a family member) 

Provisional acceptance will be initially granted to applicants with full approval offered when the following are met: 

• Successful completion of the School of Health Sciences criminal background check  
• Proof of comprehensive personal health insurance 
• Compliance with all Health Affairs immunization policies and deadlines 

Applications to the BS in PH program must be received by June 1st for Fall selection. Program admission begins Fall 2022.

Departmental Requirements (38 hours)

• HSC 280 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology [SGR #6, HSDC] *
• HSC 280L - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab [SGR #6, HSDC] *
• HSC 281 - Human Disease *
• HSC 310 - Health Care Delivery
• HSC 330 - Native People’s Health Care, Promotion and Policy (also can be taken as NATV 330 - Native People’s Health Care, Promotion and Policy )
• PUBH 250 - Social and Environmental Determinants of Health
• PUBH 301 - Introduction to Public Health Biostatistics
• PUBH 315 - Introduction to Public Health
• PUBH 320 - Introduction to Epidemiology
• PUBH 325 - Global Health
• PUBH 335 - Ethics of Public Health & Policy
• PUBH 410 - Public Health Communication
• PUBH 470 - Public Health Collaborative Project

• * Choose HSC 280/280L and HSC 281 sequence OR PHGY 220/220L and PHGY 230/230L sequence to meet the Anatomy & Physiology requirements of the major.

Required Support Courses Outside the Major (12 hours)

• MLS 415 - Communicable Diseases and Public Health
• HLTH 422 - Nutrition (C)
• POLS 421 - The Nonprofit Sector

•  

• Select 1 of the following:

• BADM 220 - Business Statistics (C)
• PSYC 371 - Statistics in Psychological Research (C)
• SOC 309 - Statistical Research Methods
• STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (C) [SGR #5, HSDC]

Major Electives (9 hours)

• HSC 110 - The Interprofessional Health Team
• MLS 228 - Medical Laboratory Parasitology
• MLS 228L - Medical Laboratory Parasitology Lab
• HSC 262 - Health Careers Exploration
• HSC 340 - Interprofessional Approach to Person-Centered Care
• HSC 360 - Technology in Care Delivery
• HSC 365 - Universal Supports in Disabilities Services
• HSC 370 - Computerized Medical Records Regulatory Compliance
• HSC 375 - The United States and Global Healthcare Systems
• HSC 380 - Health Literacy and Culture Care
• HSC 385 - Introduction to and History of Disability
• HSC 400 - Clinical Analytics
• PUBH 415 - Public Health Evaluation and Health Promotion **
• PUBH 420 - Public Health Education Practice **
• HSC 440 - Evidence-Based Decision Making
• PUBH 498 - Research (C) **

Health Education Specialization (optional) 9 hours

**The Health Education Specialization satisfies the 9 credits of required major elective coursework

• PUBH 415 - Public Health Evaluation and Health Promotion
• PUBH 420 - Public Health Education Practice
• PUBH 498 - Research (C) (3 cr hrs required)

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the academic year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan. Please note, some courses in this major are offered online.

• Public Health, B.S. 4-year plan guide
• Public Health, B.S. with Health Education specialization 4-year plan guide

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization