Plan of Study

Academic Policies

Requirements for Admitted Students:
The course work for the BSPH Program is based on recommendations made by the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (2008) for undergraduate course work in Public Health. Students are required to complete 36 credits of Public Health coursework, including 33 credits of core required courses and 3 credits of approved Public Health electives.

Academic Programs

The School of Nursing and Health Studies will award a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, once a student has completed the requirements listed below.

The Public Health Program offers curricula that are designed to prepare students for public health practice or graduate education in health related fields. Programs of study can be tailored for students wishing to combine Public Health education with a variety of other health related fields (e.g., pre-med, pre-physical therapy).

No minor is required within the Public Health program. However, students have room within their plan of study to pursue a minor if desired.

General Education Requirements

The University of Miami's General Education Requirements (GERs) consist of the Areas of Proficiency, Areas of Knowledge, and Advanced Writing and Communication Skills requirements.  Through the completion of the GERs, graduates acquire essential intellectual skills and engage in a range of academic disciplines.  The GERs provide students with the opportunity to study methodologies and achievements in all areas of human inquiry and creative endeavor, and to cultivate abilities essential for the acquisition of knowledge.  The GERs also allow students to create an integrative map for their academic careers, providing a context for more focused studies. 

There are numerous ways students can create plans of study for the BSPH program.  Students should feel empowered to use the information listed in the Academic Bulletin and the Student Handbook to take charge of their education, pursue their own academic interests, and create their own, unique plans of study.  Students should meet with an academic advisor in the OSS to discuss any questions related to degree requirements and plans of study.

AREAS OF PROFICIENCY

The Areas of Proficiency requirements ensure that students either already possess, or develop at the University, the ability to express themselves effectively, to use mathematics with facility, and to reason cogently.

Written Communication Skills

Effective writing skills advance ideas efficiently and persuasively, so the expectation is that students become adept at using writing as an effective communication tool. 

REQUIREMENTS

Students fulfill this requirement by completing WRS 105 and WRS 106/WRS 107/ENG 106 (Note: SAT or ACT verbal scores can be used to waive the WRS 105 requirement; credit will not be awarded for the waiver.  Students who enter UM with credits for WRS 105 or WRS 106/WRS 107/ENG 106 may take WRS 208 to finish this requirement).

OUTCOMES

By completing the Written Communication Skills requirement, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective written communication skills in relation to specific rhetorical tasks.
   
   
2. Construct original, well-reasoned arguments using a range of materials.
   
   
3. Integrate and synthesize appropriate and relevant primary and secondary sources in their writing.
   
   

Advanced Writing and Communication Skills: Public Health

Pertinent Educational Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate effective written communication skills in relation to specific rhetorical tasks.
2. Construct original, well-reasoned arguments using a range of materials.
3. Integrate and synthesize appropriate and relevant primary and secondary sources in their writing.
4. Health Studies Assignments that Require Formal Student Writing or Presentation
   
   

Quantitative Skills

In a world increasingly influenced by science and technology, it is important for students to acquire the capacity to understand and use essential quantitative skills. The Quantitative Skills Proficiency Requirement helps students learn to use quantitative skills and tools to solve problems, including the interpretation, manipulation, and application of quantitative data.

REQUIREMENTS

Students fulfill this requirement by completing the following approved statistics course:

1. Statistics:BPH 202 

Students may be able to fulfill Quantitative Skills Proficiency Requirement through credit earned through the following tests: AP, IB, A-Level, and Cambridge Pre-U. Please click here to see how credit/exemption may be earned through these tests.

Outcomes

By completing the Quantitative Skills requirement, students will be able to:

1. Select and use appropriate quantitative methods and tools to solve problems; and
2. Interpret, manipulate, and apply quantitative data to solve problems

Mathematics

REQUIREMENTS

Students complete this requirement by completing MTH 107 or higher. 

Social Science

REQUIREMENTS

Students complete this requirement by completing PSY 110 and an additional approved social science course for a total of 6 credits.

Modern Language

REQUIREMENTS

Students complete this requirement by completing one 3 credit Modern Language course at or above the 200 level.

Natural Science

REQUIREMENTS

Students complete this requirement by completing BIL 150 and BIL 151, as well as CHM 103 and CHM 105 or CHM 121 and CHM 113 for a total of 9-10 credits.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

The Areas of Knowledge requirement is intended to help students understand and appreciate intellectual achievements in major areas of human inquiry and creative endeavor.  Students can satisfy this requirement through the majors, minors, or cognates.

In the Cognates Program, students examine creative expression in the arts, literature, and philosophy; study human development and behavior; and explore the mathematical, scientific, and technological world. Students fulfill an Area of Knowledge requirement by completing a cognate in one of the three areas of the university curriculum: Arts & Humanities (A&H); People & Society (P&S); and Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM). A cognate normally requires nine credits of coursework, and can be either a thematic or an individualized cognate. Thematic cognates consist of courses grouped by theme, while individualized cognates consist of courses that have the same area of knowledge designation. Completed cognates are listed on the students' transcripts.

As an alternative to using a cognate to fulfill an Area of Knowledge requirement, a major or minor may be used to fulfill the Area of Knowledge requirement. Approved thematic cognates can be found using the cognate search engine which allows students to search for thematic cognates based on cognate features, courses, and keywords. Each thematic cognate is administered by a department or program designated as the “Responsible Academic Unit” (RAU). Inquiries about a thematic cognate should be directed to the cognate's RAU. Several cognates may include the same courses; however, one course cannot be used to complete multiple cognates.  For more information on cognates, go to the "General Education Requirements" section of the Academic Bulletin or visit http://www.miami.edu/cognates/.

Arts & Humanities

Arts & Humanities cognates engage students in the study of the most enduring and influential works of art, imagination, and culture.  Through study, creation, and performance, courses in this area enable students to understand the works of artists, musicians, novelists, philosophers, playwrights, poets, historians, and theologians.  These courses cultivate the ability to interpret, critically evaluate, and experience the creative products of human culture and expression.

REQUIREMENTS

Complete one Arts & Humanities cognate. 

OUTCOMES

By completing the Arts & Humanities requirement, students will be able to:

1. critically evaluate and interpret the creative products of humanistic and artistic expression, applying appropriate vocabulary and concepts for their description and analysis
2. understand the creation and performance of art

People & Society

People & Society cognates help students understand and analyze the organization of society and the patterns of social change, in the past and in the contemporary world.

REQUIREMENTS

Complete one People & Society cognate.  The public health major may be used to fulfill this cognate area.

OUTCOMES

By completing the People & Society requirement, students will be able to:

1. analyze the organization of society
2. analyze patterns of social change

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

STEM cognates develop students’ abilities to think critically about mathematical, scientific, and technological issues by understanding the processes and methods of scientific inquiry involved in experimentation, observation, and quantitative analysis.  The STEM cognates nurture literacies that enable students to make informed decisions in an increasingly complex world.

REQUIREMENTS

Complete one STEM cognate. 

OUTCOMES

By completing the STEM requirement, students will be able to:

1. understand the use of quantitative tools, experimentation, and observation to analyze and solve mathematical, scientific, environmental, and technological problems
2. interpret quantitative data and draw useful conclusions

Individualized Cognates

Students may create an individualized cognate to fulfill an Area of Knowledge requirement. All of the courses used in an individualized cognate must have the Area of Knowledge attribute in CaneLink for the requirement that they are being used to fulfill, even if they are transfer credits. If a course has been approved to be utilized in an individualized cognate, an Area of Knowledge attribute will be listed in CaneLink. No exceptions will be accepted. A searchable list of courses eligible to be used in individualized cognates is available here.

Individualized cognates use the following academic plan codes: AT_0080 (Arts & Humanities), PS_0070 (People & Society), and ST_0026 (STEM). 

BS Public Health Plan of Study

Required Public Health Courses (need: 33 credits)

• BPH 206: Introduction to Public Health
• BPH 208: Introductory Epidemiology
• BPH 305: Issues in Health Disparities
• BPH 310: Global Health
• BPH 309: Health and Environment
• BPH 321: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• BPH 352: Biological Principles of Public Health
• BPH 465: Public Health Statistics and Data Management
• BPH 322: Introduction to Health Policy
• BPH 490: Field Practicum in Community Health

• BPH 301: Human Sexuality
• BPH 303: HIV/AIDS and Health maintenance for Health Care Providers
• BPH 305: Issues in Health Disparities
• BPH 306: Principles of Nutrition
• BPH 317: Human Growth and Development
• BPH 319: Contemporary Issues in Bioethics for Health Care
• BPH 355: Global Nutrition
• BPH 419: Contemporary Health Issues of South Florida
• BPH 487: Practicum in Global Health (Chile, Spain, etc.)
• MGT 270: Introduction to Health Sector Management (School of Business)
• CIS 450: Introduction to Health Informatics (School of Business, junior standing is required)
• APY 205: Medicine, Health Care in Society

• BIL 150/151
• CHM 103/105 or 111/113
• Social Science class
• PSY 110 or equivalent