Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of Program
The School of Public Health offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a Public Health major, within which students select one of three Areas of Emphasis: 1) Community and Population Health, 2) Public Health Sciences, or 3) Patient Navigation.
This degree and its Areas of Emphasis prepare students for entry level jobs and certain graduate and professional programs, typically over four years whit the Area of Emphasis typically completed during the last two years.
Students in the Community and Population Health Area of Emphasis will be prepared for entry into social science-based and public health graduate programs.
Students in the Public Health Sciences Area of Emphasis will be prepared for entry into graduate programs in public health sciences or clinical professional degree programs.
Students in the Patient Navigation Area of Emphasis will be prepared for positions in clinical and health insurance settings, as well as entry into graduate and professional programs.
In general, Public Health Program graduates will be eligible for entry-level public health positions in a wide array of agencies involved in public and private health, including local, regional and state health departments, consulting and advocacy organizations, healthcare organizations and government agencies.
The program delivers an undergraduate education that:
- Provides a strong foundation of knowledge about public health history, principles and current issues;
- Ensures a broad liberal education that incorporates multiple disciplines and develops both intellectual and civic capabilities;
- Instills a strong sense of values and ethics; and
- Builds capacity to adapt and apply acquired knowledge and abilities to address new challenges.
Administration
Dean
- Jeff Coben - MD (University of Pittsburgh)
Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership
Senior Associate Dean for Academic, Student, and Faculty Affairs
- Linda Alexander - EdD (University of Virginia)
Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Senior Associate Dean for Administration
- Sarah Woodrum - DrPH (University of Illinois, Chicago)
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management, and Leadership
Associate Dean for Operations
- Robert Duval - PhD (Florida State University)
Chair and Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership
Assistant Dean for Public Health Practice and Service
- Michael Brumage - MD (West Virginia University)
Adjunct Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies
- Janet B. Hunt - MPH (University of Tennessee)
Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Director of MPH Programs
- Michael Mann - PhD (University of Florida)
Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Director of Practice-based Learning
- Roberta Sykes - MS (West Virginia University)
Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Chairs
- Robert Duval - PhD (Florida State University)
Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership - Thomas Hulsey - ScD (Johns Hopkins University)
Professor, Department of Epidemiology, and Interim Chair for Biostatistics - Snehalata Huzurbazar - PhD (Colorado State University, Fort Collins)
Professor, Department of Biostatistics - Michael McCawley - PhD (New York University)
Associate Professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences - Keith Zullig - PhD (University of South Carolina)
Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
SPH Admissions for BS in Public Health
The WVU School of Public Health (SPH) will admit students for fall and spring semesters.
Direct admissions relates to students applying upon graduation from high school and those with no previous undergraduate credits. Applicants who meet the minimum standards (see below) will be accepted directly into the program by WVU Admissions.
Students who do not meet direct admit minimum standards, but who are interested in pursuing a degree in public health, have two options:
1) Apply to transfer into the program via a WVU Academic Status Update form once a college GPA of 2.5 is established.
2) Apply for pre-public health status by meeting those guidelines listed below. Students in Pre-Public Health can take the same courses and can request access to the same academic advising as majors do. However, these students will have to meet internal transfer requirements of a 2.5 college GPA within 2 semesters of entering this program.
External transfer students (those who have completed undergraduate credits at another institution) who meet the transfer admission guidelines (see below) should apply to WVU as transfer students and will be accepted directly into the program by WVU Admissions.
Admission Guidelines
● Students are eligible for direct freshman admission if they meet these minimum guidelines:
- 3.0 Cumulative High School GPA
OR
- ACT of 21 (superscored) and 2.75 Cumulative High School GPA
OR
- SAT of 990 (superscored) and 2.75 Cumulative High School GPA
● Students are eligible for admission into pre-public health if they meet these minimum guidelines:
- 2.75 Cumulative High School GPA
OR
- ACT of 19 (superscored) and 2.5 Cumulative High School GPA
OR
- SAT of 910 (superscored) and 2.5 Cumulative High School GPA
● External transfer students who have completed undergraduate coursework at WVU or another institution of higher education prior to applying to the Public Health major are eligible if they meet the following minimum guidelines:
- 2.5 Cumulative Undergraduate GPA
Please note, the School of Public Health reserves the right to limit student enrollment in the program but cutting off admissions based on school-wide capacity for new students.
Degree Designation Learning Outcomes
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program provides an undergraduate education that provides a strong foundation of knowledge about public health history, principles and current issues; requires a broad liberal education with exposure to multiple disciplines and develops intellectual and civic capabilities; instills a strong sense of values and ethics; and builds capacity to adapt and apply acquired knowledge and abilities to address new challenges.
Bachelor of Science (BS)
At the conclusion of the program students will be able to:
- Discuss the historic milestones, core disciplines and core functions of public health.
- Appreciate human cultures and social determinants of health as they relate to individual and population health.
- Explain the impact of natural processes and systems on health and patterns of disease and injury among diverse populations.
- Apply critical and creative thinking, and analysis and synthesis of information processes to inform, assist and promote public health.
- Disseminate knowledge and information to address current public health issues effectively through both oral and written communications.
- Engage in public health-related activities with local, regional, national and/or global organizations.
Public Health Practice Area of Emphasis
- Recognize how environmental and occupational factors impact the health status of individuals and populations.
- Apply skills in biostatistical and epidemiologic methods in public health practice and research.
Community and Population Health Area of Emphasis
- Recognize how social and behavioral factors impact the health status of individuals and populations.
- Identify appropriate theories, methods, strategies and policies to address the public health needs of communities and populations.
Patient Navigation Area of Emphasis
- Attain productive and effective communication skills with all members of the patient care team, including those that may not traditionally be included in this team (e.g., social workers, food pantries, transportation, childcare)
- Recognize how to improve patient quality of life and care via multiple systems and processes.
- Apply chronic disease management techniques and constructs.