Public Health Minor

Sociocultural and Justice Sciences
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) elective credit hours must be from 300-400 level courses.

Only six (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.

Some courses require prerequisites. Click on any hyperlinked course for additional information. 

Required courses (10 credit hours):

SOC 215Introduction to Public Health

3

 

BIOL 110Human Biology

3

or

BIOL 111Foundations of Biology

3

or

BIOL 133Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology

3

 

SOC 300Research Methods

3

or

ESCI 310Methods in Environmental Analysis

3

or

PSY 315Research Methods

3

or

COMM 323Research Methods

3

 

SOC 415Seminar in Public Health

1

Electives (9 credit hours required):

At least 3 credit hours from the Biosciences and at least 3 credit hours from the Social and Behavioral Science. Six (6) elective credit hours must be at the 300 or higher level.

1. Biosciences (at least 3 credit hours required)

CHEM 105Food Chemistry

3

ESCI 105Global Environmental Issues

3

ESCI 410Environmental Assessment

3

GIS 201Geographic Information Systems I

3

GIS 301Geographic Information Systems II

3

BIOL 131Introductory Ecology and Evolution

3

BIOL 220Principles of Human Nutrition

3

BIOL 243Organismal Biology

3

BIOL 245Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIOL 246Human Anatomy and Physiology II

4

BIOL 336Mammalian Physiology

3

BIOL 338Microbiology

3

BIOL 438Molecules and Medicine

3

BIOL 450Modern Concepts in Biology

1-4

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

ANTH 301Plagues And Peoples

3

SOC 230Our Populated Planet

3

SOC 345Women, Health and Society

3

SOC 324City and Community

3

SOC 340Medical Sociology

3

SOC 350Special Topics

1-3

PSY 247Health Psychology

3

POLI 311Fundamentals of Public Administration

3

POLI 382Social Welfare Policy

3

POLI 387Environmental Policy

3

HLTH 215Personal and Community Health

3

HLTH 217Fitness & Wellness for Life: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

3

HLTH 303Fitness and Wellness

3

HLTH 386Wellness and Health Promotion

3

COMM 303Health Communication

3

COMM 460Organizational Communication

3

Note: SOC 350 Special Topics must be approved by program coordinator.

Total Credit Hours: 19