Public Health and Health Sciences
Public Health Advisor: Colleen Payton, Program Director of Public Health
Health Sciences Advisors: Dr. James Scifers, Dr. Louise Keegan, Dr. Colin Tomes, and Dr. Danielle Costanzo
Students majoring in public health can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health (BAPH) or a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH).
In both the BAPH and BSPH tracks students will gain skills in 9 core HLTP courses that cover the key elements of the discipline. Additionally, all students majoring in public health will complete a minimum of 2 additional public health (HLTP) units beyond the 9 core public health courses.
The BAPH and BSPH degrees are distinguished by the multidisciplinary electives chosen by students. Students majoring in the BSPH select 5 units from specified courses in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Health Science, Mathematics, and/or Physics. Students majoring in the BAPH focus on 5 specified course units in Accounting, Economics, History, Management, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, and/or Spanish.
The Health Sciences major is intended for students who wish to pursue careers in health professions after completing their undergraduate degree at 91心頭. This program is designed to specifically prepare students for graduate study in the fields of Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology.
Public Health BA and BS Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) | Bachelor of Arts in Public Health (BAPH) |
Public Health Core Courses (9 units)
| Public Health Core Courses (9 units)
|
Public Health Elective Requirements (2 units)
| Public Health Elective Requirements (2 units)
|
Interdisciplinary Electives (5 units): BSPH students will complete five units from the following.
| Interdisciplinary Electives (5 units): BAPH students will complete five units from the following.
|
| TOTAL (16 units) | TOTAL (16 units) |
* Note that the two units for this requirement cannot double dip across the core or interdisciplinary requirements of the applicable public health curriculum.
**Courses should be one of those already approved to meet the BA or BS interdisciplinary requirements, unless approved by the public health program director
***Note that HLTR/HLTP 310 (Health Research Methods) or Biostatistics and Epidemiology need to be completed prior to course enrollment.
Public Health Minor Requirements
Required Public Health Courses of All Public Health Minors (2 units)
- HLTP 110 Introduction to Public Health (M4*)
- HLTP 230 Epidemiology
Elective Public Health Courses for Public Health Minors (choose 3 units)
- HLTP 185 Service in Public Health
- HLTP 189 Biostatistics (F2*)
- HLTP 218 Writing 91心頭 Health
- HLTP 231 Nutrition for Health
- HLTP 240 Essentials of Health Behaviors
- HLTP 289 Social Determinants of Health
- HLTP 311 Professionalism in Public Health
- HLTP 315 Health Policy
- HLTP 321 Global Health (M5*) or HLTH 322 Populations at High Risk for Health Problems (M5)
- HLTP 330 Environmental Health
- HLTP 340 Health Program Planning and Evaluation (WI)
- Other HLTP classes as approved by the public health program director
Health Science Program Requirements
Upon declaring a major in health sciences, students select one of the following tracks, based on their intended career path:
Health Sciences Core: 8 units
- BIOL 106: Human Anatomy & Physiology for Health Science I
- BIOL 107: Human Anatomy & Physiology for Health Science II
- PSYC 120: Introduction to Psychology
- HLTR 185: Introduction to Health Professions
- HLTR 210: Medical Terminology
- HLTR 310: Research Methods in Health Sciences
- HLTR 385: Social Issues in Health Sciences
- MATH 107: Elementary Statistics
OR - HLTP 189: Biostatistics for Health
Pre-Athletic Training Track: 9 units
- BIOL 111: Foundations of Biology
- CHEM 108: Fundamentals of Chemistry
- HLTR 231: Nutrition for Health Sciences
- HLTR 260: Kinesiology
- HLTR 261: Prevention & Management of Athletic Injuries
- HLTR 360: Exercise Physiology
- PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
- Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor
Pre-Occupational Therapy Track: 9 units
- HLTP 110: Introduction to Public Health
- HLTR 260: Kinesiology
- HLTP 321: Global Health
OR - HLTP 289: Social Determinants of Health
- PSYC 207: Lifespan Development
- PSYC 362: Abnormal Psychology
- PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
- SOC 115: Introductory Sociology
OR - SOC / ANTH 113: Cultural Anthropology
- Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor
Pre-Physical Therapy Track: 9 Units
- BIOL 111: Foundations of Biology
- One additional course in BIOL at the 200-level or above, to be selected in consultation with advisor
- CHEM 113: General Chemistry I
- CHEM 114: General Chemistry II
- PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
- PHYS 110: Physics for Life Sciences II
- PSYC 207: Lifespan Development
- Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor
Communication Sciences & Disorders Track: 9 units
- PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
- HLTR 150: Introduction to Communication Sciences & Disorders
- BIOL 108: Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech & Hearing Mechanism
- HLTR 252: Speech & Hearing Science
- HLTR 253: Phonetics & Phonology
- HLTR 354: Clinical Linguistics
- HLTR 355: Audiology
- EDUC 410.3: Speech & Language Development
- Two additional courses, chosen from the list of Health Sciences elective courses and approved by advisor
Health Sciences Electives:
- Any HLTR course not required for major or discipline-specific track
- Any HLTP course not required for major or discipline-specific track
- BIOL 206: Microbiology for Health Sciences
- BIOL 210: Genetics
- BIOL 350: Human Physiology
- CHEM 108: Fundamentals of Chemistry
- CHEM 113: General Chemistry I
- CHEM 114: General Chemistry II
- ECON 211: Economics of Healthcare
- HLTR 285: Clinical Observership
- NEUR 218: Brain Sex
- PHYS 109: Physics for Life Sciences I
- PHYS 110: Physics for Life Sciences II
- PSYC 207: Lifespan Development
- PSYC 260: Sports Psychology
- PSYC 362: Abnormal Psychology
- SOC / ANTH 113: Cultural Anthropology
- SOC 115: Introductory Sociology
Courses in Public Health
HLTP 110. Introduction to Public Health. This course explores the multidimensional aspects of public health in the United States, with a particular emphasis on social and economic factors that affect morbidity and mortality. Current practices and policies designed to improve population health will be discussed. Public health professional practice is diverse due to multiple cultures, environments, and health care delivery systems in the 21st century United States. Students will gain an understanding of the many fields, disciplines and issues that are public health. Prerequisite: none.
HLTP 125. Introduction to Health Humanities. (Also ENGL/HHUM 125)Health humanities is the study of wellness and illness as shared human experiences arising from, and influenced by, culture, politics, art, technology, and the environment. This interdisciplinary course explores the methods of the Health Humanities (close reading, contextualization, intervention) in the arts (literature, theater, film, and visual arts) and humanities (literature, philosophy, religion, history) using texts that explore the themes of health and illness. Prerequisites: None. (M2)
HLTP 185. Service in Public Health. Partnering with the 91心頭 Center for Career and Civic Engagement, students will contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and populations by serving community-based organizations and initiatives. As an integral part of service learning, students will reflect and present on their experiences and share ideas for capacity building and service improvements. Prerequisite: Approval of the public health program director.
HLTP 186. Health Without Borders. This course introduces students to key public health concepts related to immigrant and refugee health. The curriculum focuses on the following global health topics: definitions for immigrant populations, causes of conflict, surveillance of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, mental health, vaccination and food aid programs, cultural humility, health policy and advocacy, and coordination of social services. The course examines important health challenges for immigrants and refugees as well as potential strategies towards improving health outcomes. Prerequisite: none.
HLTP 189 Biostatistics. This course introduces students to the key statistical concepts and methods used in public health and health sciences. The curriculum focuses on the following biostatistical topics: measurement, descriptive and graphical analysis, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, correlation, analysis of variance, regression analysis, and writing and interpreting statistics. A major component of the course includes learning how to manage, analyze, interpret, and communicate quantitative health findings. Another major component of the course includes learning how to utilize SPSS, which is one of the leading statistical software packages for public health. This course prepares students to be a good consumer of health research. Students will apply ethical principles to data collection and recognize the importance of limitations based on study design. Prerequisite: none.
HLTP 218. Writing 91心頭 Health. This workshop-based course introduces students to the practice of writing about complex medical topics with a focus on defining the purpose, identifying the audience and developing the appropriate tone for selected documents. Students will read and discuss representative works and will draft and revise a number of their own health-related documents. Prerequisite: LINC 101 or equivalent.
HLTP 230. Epidemiology. This course introduces students to the key concepts and methods used in epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease within a defined population. The curriculum focuses on the following epidemiological topics: historical and contemporary applications; measures of morbidity and mortality; descriptive epidemiology; study design; interpreting and visualizing data; surveillance and outbreak investigation. This course examines the biological, behavioral, sociocultural and environmental factors associated with the etiology and distribution of health and disease. Prerequisites: none.
HLTP 231. Nutrition for Health. (Also HLTR/NURS 231) Is an introduction to the science of nutrition with emphasis on applications for the allied health professions. As such, focus will be on the nutrient needs of the body, the processes by which nutrients are obtained and processed, and the foods that meet these needs in selected social, environmental, cultural, and performance contexts. The course is designed for students entering professional fields such as nursing, physical or occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, athletic training, and public health which require a functional understanding of the relationship between nutrition and health or performance. Students will be introduced to tools and techniques of the field by completing an individual dietary assessment and consulting robust scientific literature to answer discipline-specific questions. (U1)
HLTP 240. Essentials of Health Behavior. This course is an introduction to the philosophies, settings, theories, and models of health promotion and behavior. The course explores how behaviors are influenced by individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, policy, and societal factors. Health promotion integrates theories and models from diverse disciplines to improve our understanding of health behaviors and conditions. Applicable health promotion theories and models are applied to predict, explain, and transform health behavior, and examples of health behavior/promotion projects and initiatives will be reviewed and analyzed.
HLTP 252. Literature and Health: Perspectives of Illness and Healing. (Also HHUM 252, ENGL 252) Lucille Clifton states, I dont write because I have a mission to heal the world. My mission is to heal Lucille if I can, as much as I can. Writing offers Clifton a medium through which she can enact a form of healing and self-preservation. Similarly, illness narratives communicate the embodied and disembodied experiences of people living with sickness, disease, and illness in an effort to make sense of their changing bodies, lives, and identities. This reading intensive course explores health, wellness, and illness narratives through a sustained engagement with non-fiction and imaginary literature. Prerequisite: LinC 101 or equivalent plus junior or senior class standing. (U1)
HLTP 253. Storytelling in Health and Medicine. Graphic narrative, fotonovela, podcasts and digital storytelling are ways that students, health professionals, patients, and the community can develop an understanding of complex health and social issues. Graphic medicine, a form of graphic narrative, is an emerging strategy in medical education that enables students to reflect upon the challenges faced in encountering patients and colleagues during difficult situations. This strategy can also be used in other professions tackling challenging personal, interpersonal, and social issues. Fotonovelas and digital storytelling are strategies that have been used to communicate health messages as well as stories of social injustice. Podcasts have become a standard medium to convey information and raise awareness about issues of interest to their listeners. Through this course students will develop skills in using these media to not only communicate complex health messages, but also to examine social issues in a very complex world. Prerequisites: None
HLTP 260. Moral Injury. (also REL/NURS 260) Moral Injury has been defined as the inevitable outcome of moral engagement with the reality of war and killing, (Antal and Winings: 2015) and as the result of participation in the moral distortion of the world created by war (Denton-Borhaug: 2021). In this course participants will explore and analyze moral injury through multidisciplinary methods including public whole health, spiritual, philosophical and theological frameworks, the arts and humanities, as well as through diverse social and physical scientific paradigms/methods. Our aim will be to illuminate increased understanding of the individual experience of moral injury; analyze the relationship between moral injury and U.S. War-culture; and engage in reflective moral deliberation regarding what the phenomenon of moral injury requires of us as individuals, citizens, people with religious (or no-religious) identities, and members of diverse moral communities. (U2)
HLTP 289. Social Determinants of Health. This course reviews the association between social factors and health from an individual, community, and systems perspectives. Key social determinants of health covered during the course include income, wealth, education, food insecurity, housing, empowerment, and social exclusion. Social and economic conditions are the best predictors of health outcomes. Students will learn why a persons zip code is a better predictor of health than genetic code. Students are introduced to emerging research on the social determinants of health. Prerequisite: none.
HLTP 311. Professionalism in Public Health. Becoming a health professional requires building a base of knowledge, skills, and experiences. During the course, students reflect on and develop their knowledge, skills, and experience related to public health professionalism. Based on reflection, fitting internship, graduate school, and/or career opportunities are identified. Professional skills, such as elevator pitches, job talks, research presentations, understanding public health associations/societies and credentialing, public speaking, community engagement/organizing, advocacy, resume writing, and interviewing, are practiced, evaluated, and improved. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 and 218.
HLTP 315. Health Policy. This course explores health policy from the perspectives of health care delivery and public health. It provides students with an overview of policy making and law, the United States healthcare system, and the role of law in optimizing health. Individual rights, paternalism, health economics, health care reform, health quality, and social justice issues will be discussed. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or Instructor's permission.
HLTP 321. Global Health. (also NURS 321) This course introduces students to key global health concepts and the critical links between health, disease, and socio-economic development. The curriculum focuses on the following global health topics: goals, measurements, and health disparities; maternal and child health; communicable and noncommunicable diseases; refugee health; environmental health; complex humanitarian emergencies; political and cultural influences on health; and careers in global health. The course examines important global health challenges and potential strategies towards improving health outcomes. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or Instructor's permission.
HLTP 330. Environmental Health. (also Environmental Studies 330) This course addresses key areas of environmental health. Environmental epidemiology, environmental toxicology, and environmental policy and regulation are discussed as tools necessary to understand and promote environmental health. Specific agents of environmental diseases are analyzed. Applications of environmental health are explored, including water and air quality, food safety, waste disposal, occupational health, and unintentional injuries and death. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or ENVR 110 or 112.
HLTP 340. Health Program Planning and Evaluation. (also Nursing 340) This course introduces students to the theory and application of public health program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The curriculum focuses on community needs assessment, partnership building, designing clear objectives, developing a strategic plan, implementing culturally competent interventions, formative and summative evaluation, and sustainability of programs. Students will design their own public health program and evaluation plan using a logic model and public health planning models. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or Nursing 115.
HLTP 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
HLTP 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
HLTP 384. Independent Research.
HLTP 386/387. Internship in Public Health. During the course, students apply their public health skills by completing an internship. This seminar consists of weekly discussions and assignments developed for students to think about their internship, career goals, and professional development. Fitting internship, graduate school, and/or career opportunities are identified. Elevator pitch, public speaking, community engagement, resume writing, and interview skills are developed and evaluated. Prerequisites: HLTP 110, 218, 230, 240, or instructors approval.
HLTP 400-401. Honors.
Courses in Health Science
HLTR 150. Introduction to Communication Disorders. The course is designed to introduce students to the field communication sciences and disorders (CSD). It will provide learners with an overview of disorders of speech, language, and hearing as seen in children and adults. Additionally, special topics such as overviewing typical speech and language development across the lifespan and multicultural issues and CSD will be discussed.
HLTR 185. Introduction to Health Professions. Students are introduced to various health professions and the knowledge base, skills, and abilities necessary for success in healthcare. This course examines healthcare from multiple perspectives including healthcare ethics, cultural competence, and social disparities in healthcare access. Students are asked to reflect on their roles as future healthcare providers in addressing current issues facing national healthcare. The course reflects key introductory themes in health professions education which will be developed in more depth in subsequent courses within the Health Sciences program. This course is intended to foster a deeper understanding of the following: 1) Health professions education as a field of study and practice 2) Current challenges to the healthcare system and implications for health professions education 3) Current trends and priorities in health professions education 4) Interprofessional practice the healthcare environment.
HLTR 210. Medical Topics and Terminology. Students are introduced to the study and application of medical terminology, interprofessional communication, and documentation through the system-by-system exploration of general medical topics. This course meets pre-professional learning objectives by providing a foundational understanding of medical word parts and origins, word building, abbreviations, medical record conventions, and unique medical terminology through dissection and analysis of realistic case studies and the construction of medical documents. Prerequisite: health science majors only or permission of the school dean/associate dean.
HLTR 231. Nutrition for Health. (Also HLTP/NURS 231) Is an introduction to the science of nutrition with emphasis on applications for the allied health professions. As such, focus will be on the nutrient needs of the body, the processes by which nutrients are obtained and processed, and the foods that meet these needs in selected social, environmental, cultural, and performance contexts. The course is designed for students entering professional fields such as nursing, physical or occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, athletic training, and public health which require a functional understanding of the relationship between nutrition and health or performance. Students will be introduced to tools and techniques of the field by completing an individual dietary assessment and consulting robust scientific literature to answer discipline-specific questions. (U1)
HLTR 252. Speech & Hearing Sciences. The communication process is a physical and biological science. This course is designed to give students an introduction to speech and hearing science theories, instrumentation, and measurement, emphasizing normal speech perception and production to establish a reference for pathological deviations.
HLTR 253. Phonetics & Phonology. This course focuses on the physical and linguistic aspects of speech sounds. We will examine these sounds in terms of articulatory, acoustic, and perceptual aspects. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for transcribing speech, and in the development of auditory and speech perception skills necessary for transcription and analysis of typical and disordered speech. Topics in phonetics are also essential topics as preparation for studying phonology, which seeks an understanding of how speech sounds are organized in languages. Towards the end of the course we focus on these language-specific patterns.
HLTR 254. Social and Communication Development. This 1-unit course is designed as an overview of typical social and communication development from birth through adulthood. Course content includes but is not limited to the review of theoretical perspectives of language acquisition, the typical sequence of speech and language development, special topics in communication development, and the analysis of communication samples.
HLTR 260. Kinesiology. Upon completion of this course, a student should be able to identify the structural characteristics, movements, and muscles acting as the major joints of the body. The student will be able to select movements or exercises which utilize specific muscle groups and analyze the joint actions, muscle actions, and mechanical principles which apply to the performance of a specific movement. Prerequisites: BIOL 103 and BIOL 104 or BIOL 310 and BIOL 350 or BIO 106 and BIO 107. Fall
HLTR 261. Management and Prevention of Sports Injuries. This course is an introduction to the principles and practices associated with sport and fitness injury management. The course emphasizes the development of competencies in the recognition and treatment of injuries appropriate for professionals working with active populations. Topics include injury mechanics, injury prevention strategies, and injury recognition and management. Prerequisites: BIOL 103 and BIOL 104 or BIOL 310 and BIOL 350. Spring.
HLTR 270. Emergency Medical Care. Upon successful completion of this course the student will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) Exam required for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania EMT certification. This course meets all the educational requirements for the certification process as specified in the regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Sophomore or above, students enrolled in this course are required to provide proof of background checks, vaccinations, and other onboarding required paperwork. Students enrolled in this course are also required to complete clinical education hours outside of class meeting times. Prerequisites: None.
HLTR 285/285.2. Clinical Observership. Supervised observation in a clinical setting for pre-medical, pre-veterinary, and pre-health professions students. A minimum of 50 hours plus assigned work for one-half unit of credit; a minimum of 100 hours plus assigned work for one full unit of credit. Prerequisites: junior or senior class standing; 2.70 overall GPA. Application required prior to registration for the class.
HLTR 310. Research Methodology in the Health Sciences. Scientific method as the means through which knowledge advances in allied health fields. Developing and researching hypotheses, collecting data, testing hypotheses using appropriate statistical techniques, interpreting and reporting statistical results. Research methodology, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics, as well as use of the statistical software to analyze data. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: PSYC 120 and junior or senior class standing.
HLTR 354. Clinical Linguistics. Clinical linguistics is a core component of interdisciplinary education for those who wish to work with individuals who experience communication difficulties. This course will provide grounding in the traditional aspects of language (e.g. phonetics, phonology, grammar and semantics) and an overview of theories and approaches relevant to language science and linguistics. Students will describe, analyze, and interpret aspects of social interaction in a variety of populations across the lifespan (e.g. populations that are typically developing, multilingual, and have cognitive and linguistic difficulties). (U1)
HLTR 355. Audiology. The general objective of the course is to introduce the student to the profession and practice of audiology. This course will provide students an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, the physical properties of sound relevant to hearing and auditory disorders. In addition, the students will be introduced to the concept of hearing assessment, and techniques for hearing assessment. The information will be studied across the life span and across culture. Prerequisite: HLTR 252.
HLTR 360. Exercise Physiology. This course is an introductory course in exercise physiology. It will introduce certain concepts of the how and why the body responds to both acute and chronic exercise stress. Topics will include exercise metabolism, respiration, circulation, neuromuscular, hormonal, and environmental influences on exercise. Prerequisites: BIOL 103 and104, or BIOL 106 and 10,7 or BIOL 350, or BIOL 398.
HLTR 385. Social Issues In Health Science. A capstone seminar for students in the health sciences major. Guided readings and research to prepare students for graduate and professional study in allied health fields. Students explore ethical and social issues related to health science (such as the debate regarding immunizations, homeopathic approaches to healing, obesity as a cause of illness vs. an illness in itself), and co-author research papers which include perspectives from their chosen/intended field of study. Prerequisites: senior class standing; major in health sciences, nursing, or public health; other students by permission of instructor.
HLTR 190199, 290299, 390399. Special Topics.
HLTR 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
HLTR 384. Independent Research.
HLTR 288, 386388. Internship.
HLTR 400-401. Honors.