Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 126
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0
Minimum number of credits to complete the major: 86
Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of health lifestyles and research for injury and disease prevention. Public health work involves analyzing the effect of genetics, personal choice and the environment on health in order to develop programs that protect the health of families and communities. Many health challenges face our local and global communities, in the areas of emerging infectious disease, obesity and sedentary lifestyle, aging, health care policy and costs, environmental health, health promotion and education, etc. The School of Health Sciences offers a major in public health to increase interest among students in pursuing careers in public health as well as preparing them effectively for graduate education in health care professions as well as in other fields with public health implications (law, business, international affairs, etc.). The public health field is currently experiencing a workforce shortage at local, state and federal levels.