Public Health (Undergraduate)

Faculty

Melissa Galvin Lumpkin, Chair, Professor
Monique Ahinee Amamoo, Professor; Director, Graduate Program
Rachel Casiday, Associate Professor; Director, Experiential Learning
Kimberly Davey, Associate Professor; Director, Undergraduate Program

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Major
Public Health Major (B.S.)

Minor
Public Health Minor

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Programs
Fast-Track Master of Public Health (B.S./M.P.H.)
Fast-Track Master of Social Work (B.S./M.S.W.)
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The Department of Public Health offers a major in public health, leading to a bachelor of science degree. Fast-track versions are also available for students pursuing the bachelor of science in public health with the master of public health or with the master of social work. The department also offers a minor in public health.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Public Health (B.S.)

Admission Requirements

Students interested in transferring into the program must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75, meet with the undergraduate program director, and meet with the academic advisor before declaring the major. Students transferring into the program who do not meet the minimum GPA of 2.75 will be placed on probation.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the public health program, students must:

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above on all course work.
Make a grade of C or better in each required public health course. If a student fails to earn a grade of C or better, the student must take the same course again and earn a grade of C or better to remain in the program. Students who fail to earn a grade of C or better after two course attempts in any required public health course will be dismissed from the program.
Students who fall below the minimum GPA requirement of 2.75 will be placed on probation for the next academic semester. Students must bring their GPA to 2.75 or above during that semester of academic probation or they will be dismissed from the program.

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Programs

Fast-Track Master of Public Health (B.S./M.P.H.)

Undergraduate students from select undergraduate Samford majors (health sciences, human development and family science, public health, and sociology) are eligible to participate in a fast-track option that allows students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in their selected major and a master of public health (M.P.H.) degree. The length of the fast-track program depends on the undergraduate major students are pursuing. Generally, the first three years are dedicated to completion of all required undergraduate courses. Students then enroll in M.P.H. courses during their senior year of undergraduate study. The M.P.H. courses completed during that year also satisfy general and directed undergraduate elective requirements, allowing students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Students will seamlessly enter the M.P.H. program and complete the required number of semesters to earn their M.P.H. degree.

Participation in this program requires careful advisement and scheduling as well as permission of both the department chair of the undergraduate major and the chair of the Department of Public Health. Please contact the director of undergraduate programs for more information.

Fast-Track Master of Social Work (B.S./M.S.W.)

This joint degree program will allow students to simultaneously enroll in both the bachelor of science in public health (in their final year) and the master of social work. The joint degree program will prepare students for service in professional positions that require skills and training in both public health and social work. For example, positions that emphasize prevention of health-related problems or access to healthcare may require education in both the public health and social work fields.

Programs

Major

Public Health Major (B.S.)

Minor

Public Health Minor

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Program

Fast-Track Master of Social Work w/B.S. in Public Health (B.S./M.S.W.)

Courses

Public Health