Apr 24, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Department of Public Health


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Health

Ray G. Newman, Chair
118 College Drive, Box 5122
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5437
www.usm.edu/ph

Anderson-Lewis, Arrington, Bes, Choi, Dobson, Fastring, Fiorentini-Wright, Mayfield-Johnson, McGuire, Newman

The Department of Public Health offers a Bachelor of Science in allied health and a Bachelor of Science in public health in the emphasis areas of health promotion and health policy and administration. Students are trained for exciting careers in a health-related profession dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communitites.

Overview of Majors

Students majoring in allied health must have graduated from an accredited two-year allied health program with an associate degree and be eligible to sit for a national certification examination in the specific discipline area for the associate degree level allied health professional.

Students majoring in public health with an emphasis in health policy and administration will complete courses pertaining to health care planning, management, marketing and financing in addition to public health course work.

Students majoring in public health with an emphasis in health promotion will complete courses pertaining to personal wellness, contemporary health issues, community program planning and evaluation, health policy and administration, and social and behavioral psychology.

Career Opportunities

The allied health degree enhances the skills and employment options for graduates of community college allied health programs such as respiratory care, radiology technology, dental hygiene, etc., preparing students for management positions in a wide variety of health care settings. Students with a degree in public health work in a variety of health-related settings, including hospitals, health clinics, health departments, nursing homes, assisted living communities, and nonprofit and community outreach organizations.

Field Experience/Practicum

Students in the allied health program must complete a special problems course under the supervision of an administrator in a health care facility. Public health students are required to complete a 200-hour practicum at an approved health-related facility. In the practicum, students will observe and participate in daily activities under the direction of a facility preceptor.

Special Program Requirements

The following are requirements for a degree in allied health or public health:

Cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be admitted into the program
Cumulative GPA of 2.5 before taking any DPH course above 300 (except 430 and 436)
Grade of C or better in all program curriculum courses

Though a student may be admitted to the program based on a cumulative GPA earned at a previous institution (i.e., junior college), once admitted the student must obtain and maintain a Southern Miss cumulative GPA of  2.5 or better to remain in good standing within the program. Students with a Southern Miss cumulative GPA of less than 2.5 will be placed on program probation and will not be allowed to enroll in DPH courses 300 level and above until the cumulative Southern Miss GPA is once again 2.5 or above.

Minors in Public Health

The department offers a minor in public health and a minor in health policy and administration. For information on requirements for these minors, please see the non-degree section below.

Offerings for Non-majors

A number of courses offered within the Department of Public Health do not have prerequisites and are excellent choices for electives.

DPH 101 - Personal Wellness 
DPH 430 - Human Sexuality 
DPH 436 - Stress Management Techniques  

Programs

    Bachelor of ScienceNon-degree

    Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Health