Public Health minor

Office: W395 Thompson Hall
(716) 673-3469
Randolph Hohle, Coordinator
Email: publichealth.minor@fredonia.edu
Website: http://home.fredonia.edu/interdisciplinary

Public health incorporates nearly every aspect of health and perhaps is best defined by its mission: "Maximum health for all, via the prevention of disease, disability and unhealthful environmental conditions." The focus of public health is on health conditions of people in social, geographic, economic or other types of communities, both local and global. In contrast, medicine focuses on the health conditions of the individual. Public health emphasizes prevention; in medicine, the emphasis is on treatment.

The Interdisciplinary Studies minor in Public Health offers students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in the broad field of public health, incorporating emergent issues (e.g., new public health topics such as bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases) along with more traditional topics such as: communicable and chronic diseases; maternal and child health; injuries; psychosocial issues and tobacco; mental health, substance abuse and social violence; and air, water and solid hazardous waste. The Public Health minor will facilitate private or public sector careers addressing physical, mental and/or environmental health concerns of communities and populations at risk for disease/injury, and graduate study in public health.

Requirements for the minor in Public Health

The minor requires successful completion of 19 credit hours.

Six (6) credit hours must be from 300-400 level courses.

Only 6 credit hours may be taken in a student’s major.

SOC 215 should be completed early, preferably during the sophomore year, and as soon as possible after declaring the minor. Enrolling in SOC 415 requires completion of 15 credit hours of public health courses, including SOC 215.

Required Courses: (10 credit hours)

SOC 215Introduction to Public Health

3

BIOL 110Human Biology

3

or

BIOL 111Introduction to Biology

3

or

BIOL 133Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology

3

BIOL 457Biostatistics

3

or

SOC 300Research Methods

3

SOC 415Seminar in Public Health

1

NOTE:

  • BIOL 457: or STAT 250 for Biology majors
  • SOC 415: 1 credit hour; after completing 15 credit hours public health course work

Electives: (9 credit hours required)

1. Biosciences (at least 3 credit hours required)

BIOL 131Introductory Ecology and Evolution

3

BIOL 243Organismal Biology

3

BIOL 251Basic Concepts in Biology

1-3

BIOL 310The Human Genome

3

BIOL 336Mammalian Physiology

3

BIOL 338Microbiology

3

BIOL 345Emerging Infectious Diseases

3

or

BIOL 360AIDS and STDs

3

or

BIOL 450Modern Concepts in Biology

1-4

CHEM 107Chemistry for Consumers

3

or

CHEM 113Chemistry and the Environment

3

or

CHEM 115General Chemistry Lecture I

3

ESCI 105Global Environmental Issues

3

or

ESCI 410Environmental Assessment

3

2. Social/Behavioral Sciences (at least 3 credit hours required)

PSY 247Health Psychology

3

SOC 240Health and Society

3

SOC 311Sociology of Addiction

3

SOC 321Population and Society

3

SOC 345Women, Health and Society

3

or

PSY 255Psychology of Women

3

3. Specialty Groups/Courses (suggested courses)

Biosciences:
BIOL 437Molecular Genetics Laboratory

2

BIOL 470Hormone Mechanisms

3

CHEM 116General Chemistry Lecture II

3

CHEM 125General Chemistry Laboratory I

1

CHEM 126General Chemistry Laboratory II

1

Women’s Health:
HLTH 215Personal and Community Health

3

HLTH 303Fitness and Wellness

3

or

HLTH 386Wellness and Health Promotion

3

SOC 345Women, Health and Society

3

or

PSY 255Psychology of Women

3

SOC 472Sociology Internship

1-15

NOTE:

  • SOC 472: after completing 15 credit hours of public health course work and with permission of Coordinator
Community Health:
COMM 101Fundamentals of Communication

3

or

COMM 105Public Speaking

3

or

COMM 460Organizational Communication

3

or

SOC 363Victimology

3

CSIT 104Introduction to Microcomputer Software

3

HLTH 215Personal and Community Health

3

HLTH 386Wellness and Health Promotion

3

POLI 371Civil Rights and Liberties

3

SOC 337Sociology of Aging

3

or

SOC 338Sociology of Death and Dying

3

Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness:
COMM 101Fundamentals of Communication

3

or

COMM 105Public Speaking

3

or

COMM 460Organizational Communication

3

HLTH 115First Aid Skills and Knowledge

3

HLTH 215Personal and Community Health

3

HLTH 303Fitness and Wellness

3

HLTH 386Wellness and Health Promotion

3

Specialty Courses:
SOC 350Special Topics

1-3

SOC 472Sociology Internship

1-15

NOTE:

  • SOC 350: permission of Coordinator required
  • SOC 472: after completing 15 credit hours of public health course work and with permission of Coordinator

Total Credit Hours: 19