Undergraduate Major in Public Health

BSPH students will demonstrate the following two foundational competencies:

1. 1. Communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms, through a variety of media and to diverse audiences.
   2. Locate, use, evaluate, and synthesize public health information.

Population Health Sciences students will demonstrate the following five competencies:

1. 1. Identify health issues and describe the impact on specific populations
   2. Explain factors that contribute to community health and health equity.
   3. Compare population health indicators across subpopulations, time, and data sources.
   4. Identify evidence-based solutions that engage diverse stakeholders to address population health issues.
   5. Explain systems thinking and its application to population health approaches.

BSPH majors receive instruction in the following 11 foundational knowledge domains.

1. 1. Concepts and applications of basic statistics
   2. Foundations of biological and life sciences
   3. History and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society
   4. Basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice
   5. Concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations
   6. Underlying science of human health and disease, including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course
   7. Socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities
   8. Fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation
   9. Fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as the differences between systems in other countries
   10. Basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy and the roles, influences, and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government
   11. Basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology

BSPH majors will gain exposure the following 12 Concepts through curricular and co-curricular experiences.

1. 1. Advocacy for protection and promotion of the public’s health at all levels of society
   2. Community dynamics
   3. Critical thinking and creativity
   4. Cultural contexts in which public health professionals work
   5. Ethical decision making as related to self and society
   6. Independent work and a personal work ethic
   7. Networking
   8. Organizational dynamics
   9. Professionalism
   10. Research methods
   11. Systems thinking
   12. Teamwork and leadership

Progression to the BSPH requires a 2.8 cumulative GPA after Term 4. Students admitted to the program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 while in the program. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all Public Health courses. Students who do not meet milestones for the program will be re-directed to other options. Students who fail to meet the standards for professional conduct during the practice experience or who do violate UT’s Student Conduct and Community Standards will not be retained in the major