Public Health Sciences Minor
In an effort to broaden the options for students interested in the health sciences, the Public Health Sciences Institute, a program within the Division of Science and Mathematics, offers a minor in public health.
By 1996, while life expectancy has increased to 70.2 years for African American and 76.9 years for Caucasians’ (National Center for health Statistics, 1998), a disparity continued to exist. As these health parities continue, there is a growing need for more quantitative health scientists to address these issues. The health of underrepresented minorities differ significantly from the majority population in this nation. African American infants are twice as likely as Caucasian infants to die in the first year of life, despite the decline in infant mortality over the past few years. The minor in public health is intended to help students better understand the health disparities within their communities in order to better serve them.
The Courses required for the Minor (12 hours)
The minor requires the completion of fifteen (15) credit hours. Twelve (12) of these hours are considered core requirements and are listed below.
BIO 240 Introduction to Public Health (3 hours)
This course is designed to give students a strong foundation in the administration and practice of public health; to provide an understanding of the technical, social and political parameters surrounding public health research and practice. The course will include a lecture series and a research project and may include travel to local, state and federal agencies and services,
BIO 330 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 hours)
This course is a study of the distribution and determinants of health-related
states and events in populations with a view toward identifying the
etiology of diseases. It includes: fundamental strategies
for epidemiological research, the framework for assessing valid statistical
associations and making judgments of causality, measures of diseases
frequency and association, detailed discussions of the various types
of study designs, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data,
and methods for the evaluation and control of chance, bias and confounding
in assessing the presence of a valid statistical association.
(Electives from any of the AUC schools that have a
similar course description may substitute for this course)
BIO 340 Biostatistics (3 hours)
This course is designed for applications of statistics in the Biomedical and Health Sciences. It introduces parametric and non-parametric statistical methodology, including descriptive measures, elementary probability, estimation and hypothesis testing, correlation, regression and single factor analysis of variance. Underlying theory is empirically demonstrated utilizing biomedical applications. Computer based statistical analysis is used throughout the course.
BIO 450 Public Health Sciences Seminar & Practicum (3 hours)
This course is designed to engage students in discussion and critical analysis of contemporary health service issues, and provides practical experience in a health service agency. A major research project that uses concepts covered in the core courses is required.
Examples of Electives Available for Multiple Disciplines (3 hours)
Each student is also required to choose one elective at any of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) schools to complete the minor. Below are some suggested electives. This is a guide to indicate the variety of courses available to complement the many majors offered here at Morehouse College.
Listed below are some courses offered at the different AUC institutions, which will satisfy elective requirements. The Dean of the Division of Science and Mathematics approves all elective courses. An updated list of elective courses is generated each semester to ensure breadth and to exercise quality control.
Electives
(CAU) CPHI 231 Ethics and Human Values (3)
(CAU) CBIO 261 Environmental Biology (4)
(CAU) CPSC 220 Introduction to Public Policy (3)
(CAU) CPSC 372 Comparative Public Policy (3)
(CAU) CHPE 300 Psychological and Social Health (3)
(CAU) CSCJ 308 Medical Sociology (3)
(CAU) CUSW 350 Issues of Health Disparities Among Minority Populations
(3)
(CAU) CUSW 142 Mental Health Issues of Diverse Groups
and Women (3)
(MC) BIO 497 Environmental Biology (3)
(MC) PHI 315 Philosophy of Science (3)
(MC) PHI 475B Bioethics (3)
(MC) PSC 361 Ethics and Public Policy (3)
(MC) PSC 476 Political Anthropology (3)
(MC) PSC 482 International Ethics (3)
(MC) PSY 393 Health/Medical Psychology (3)
(MC) SOC 156 Men in Society
(MC) SOC 202 Cultural Anthropology
(MC) SOC 305 Urban and Community Sociology
(MC) SOC 340 Medical Sociology (3)
(MC) SOC 341 The Life Cycle and Aging
(MC) SOC 356 Demography, Ecology, and Environment (3)
(SC) BIO/ES 314 Environmental Biology (4)
(SC) CHEM/ES 453 Environmental Chemistry (4)
(SC) CHEM/ES 411 Toxicology (4)
(SC) CWS/SOC 430 Special Topics: Violence Against Women (3)
(SC) IS 211 Introduction to International Studies (4)
(SC) PHI 130 Introduction to Ethics (4)
(SC) REL 285 Religion, Women, and Violence in Global Perspective (4)
(SC) PSC 320 Environmental Politics and Policy (4)
(SC) PSC 322 Legislative Process (4)
(SC) PSY 420 Mental Health Practicum (4)
(SC) PSY 200b Risky Behaviors, Social Influence, and
HIV/AIDS (4)
(SC) ANTH 305 Cross-Cultural Perspective on Gender
(4)
(SC) ANTH 322 Urban Anthropology (4)
(SC) ANTH 404 The Anthropology of Globalization (4)
(SC) ANTH 444 Food and Culture (4)
(SC) SOC 242 Health-Sociological and Economic Perspectives
(4)
(SC) SOC 301 Violence Against Women (4)
(SC) SOC 321 Community Organizing (4)
(SC) SOC 402 The Sociology of Health (4)
Directed and/or Independent Study courses with a public health focus can be used as elective credit toward the public health minor with prior approval by the Director or Faculty Advisor of the Public Health Sciences Institute.
The minor in public health has been designed to give a comprehensive overview of a viable health science career path. This minor is one that will be attractive to students in many different disciplines. Emphasis is placed on a multi-disciplinary approach to learning. All classes taken outside of the Institute may be taken upon approval from an academic advisor. A list of approved courses will be generated each semester to ensure that the electives taken are sufficient to meet the objectives set out above. Also to assist in advisement, syllabi of all elective courses will be requested to keep on file at the Institute.
