Public Health BS Health Science

Program Purpose

Physicians, dentists and other health care professionals are an integral part of public health. For instance, the best way to prevent the flu is to protect yourself with a flu shot. Each flu season physicians report the number of influenza cases to the state epidemiologist to help track whether the number of people getting sick is increasing or decreasing. Physicians may also work with health promotion specialists to develop a health communication strategy that encourages people to practice healthy behaviors such as washing your hands with soap and water, and covering your mouth when you cough.

The Health Science Emphasis is for students who may be interested in a future career in public health and/or medicine.  Doctors or dentists with a background in public health understand both how to prevent and treat illness and disease.  In addition, these individuals have the expertise to apply both a medical and a population-base point of view to health problems related to chronic and infectious diseases.

Curricular Structure

Links to University Course Catalog, MAP sheet, and semester plans

Learning Outcomes

 

Cultural Humility & Vulnerable Populations

Recognize each person's inherent value as a divine child of God by integrating faith, cultural humility, and compassionate communication in the delivery of equitable public health interventions and patient-centered care, especially for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Courses that Contribute: None
Linked to BYU Aims: Spiritually Strengthening, Character Building
Upstream Approach to Health

Analyze an upstream team approach to health by identifying and evaluating points where public health and primary care can integrate, highlighting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce inequities in access, quality, and delivery of care. 

Courses that Contribute: None
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging, Lifelong Learning and Service
Clinical Data Methods

Apply statistical methods to manage, analyze, and interpret clinical data from health systems to make inferences about population health in public health and primary care contexts.

Courses that Contribute: None
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging, Lifelong Learning and Service

Evidence of Learning

Cultural Competency

Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations

Upstream Approach to Health

Social Determinants of Health

Statistical Methods and Software

Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement

Direct measures provide necessary data for continuous quality improvement. Data from direct measures are collected and analyzed to determine areas of strength and weakness. Results provide important feedback for program improvement.

Assessment information is collected at the end of each winter semester and summer term. Conclusions of assessment findings are made and presented to department faculty for further discussion. Faculty ultimately agree on quality improvement actions to be taken in subsequent semesters.