Public Health, BS

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Elizabeth Levitzky, PhD Assistant Professor and Program Director

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program is a 2 + 2 program that prepares students with the necessary knowledge and skills to address current and emerging challenges for improving and extending the lifespan of the population, with particular attention to the needs of those in Louisiana. Students complete 60 hours of prerequisite course hours at an accredited college or university, transferring to LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans campus to complete 60 credits hours in the School of Public Health.

The coursework integrates the core disciplines of public health providing students with skills in communication and teamwork, problem solving, health economics, environmental health assessment, leadership, management and planning, and information management. Service-learning partnerships with local and regional organizations give students the opportunity to utilize their knowledge and professional skills to address complex public health problems such as climate change, global health, chronic disease prevention and control, and youth risk behaviors.

The BSPH prepares students through education and training for employment in entry-level and mid-level positions in a wide array of health-related organizations, including public health departments, non-profits, research centers, and healthcare businesses. Students may also choose to pursue a graduate degree in the public health or other health professions.

The core coursework for the BSPH degree ensures graduates obtain the required core competencies and foundational knowledge for all accredited BSPH programs.

16 REQUIRED COURSES
Course Number	Course Title
BSPH 3100	Introduction to Public Health
BSPH 3102	Writing for Public Health Professionals
BSPH 3200	Essential Global Public Health
BSPH 3300	Introduction to Biostatistics
BSPH 3302	Data Analysis in Public Health
BSPH 3400	Introduction of Environmental Science
BSPH 3500	Communications for Public Health
BSPH 3600	U.S. Health Care Systems
BSPH 3700	Essentials of Epidemiology
BSPH 4100	Public Health in Action
BSPH 4102	Health Equity
BSPH 4104	Evidence-based Practice in Public Health
BSPH 4400	Climate Change - a Public Health Perspective
BSPH 4500	Project Implementation
BSPH 4600	Public Health Policy and Advocacy
BSPH 4602	Public Health Organizations and Leadership

SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE

The BSPH Service-Learning Experience (Public Health in Action, BSPH 4100) is an experiential learning course that allows students to explore the principles of public health learned in the first year course work within a community setting and reflect on those experiences. This course utilizes a service-learning approach. Service-learning emphasizes hands-on experiences that address real-world concerns. The service experience provides a context for testing, observing, or trying out discipline-based theories, concepts, or skills. Likewise, the academic context enriches the service experience by raising questions about real-world concerns and providing a forum for probing these concerns in-depth. Service-learning fosters reciprocal learning and critical engagement, preparing students to be full and responsible participants in both their profession and their communities.

Students complete a minimum of 20 hours of fieldwork and earn 3 credit hours towards graduation. Registration for BSPH 4100 is required to earn credit.

Prerequisites for the Service Learning Experience (BSPH 4100):

Students must successfully complete at least 30 credit hours including: BSPH 3100, 3102, 3200, 3300, 3302, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700
Students must successfully complete annual HIPAA training.
Students must successfully complete CITI training.
Students must successfully complete SPH Code of Conduct.
Students must have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
Students on academic probation are ineligible to take the Service-Learning course.

Contact Information: Amber Brown, Coordinator of Public Health Practice & Community Engagement

Phone: 504-568-5874 /Email: abro49@lsuhsc.edu

DIRECTOR’S HOUR

Students are required to meet with the BSPH program director and other faculty via sessions scheduled every other week during the fall and spring semesters. The sessions are to inform students about special program events, career development and employer presentations, schedules, announcements, etc. In addition, the event serves as a forum for students to provide feedback to the program about the curriculum, testing, and other program topics as well as to accomplish various administrative tasks such as instructor evaluations, etc. Attendance is mandatory.

TIME TO DEGREE COMPLETION

Students must complete the 60-credit hour curriculum for the BS in Public Health in no more than 6 years after initial enrollment in the program. Any requests for extension of this policy are subject to approval by the Program Director and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Public Health, BS Curriculum