Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Using real-world cases, field work and practicum, students in Duquesne's public health program learn what it takes to improve health care globally.

Public Health Program Outcomes

  • Understand of health promotion and disease prevention.
  • Identify the interdisciplinary framework of public health and the contributions of varied disciplines to the understanding of and practices in public health.
  • Explain the basic tenets of epidemiology including rates, risk factors, disease determinants, causation and surveillance methods.
  • Describe how public health can determine interventions (health communication, social and behavioral) for improving population health.
  • Explain the impact of the environment and communicable diseases on population health.
  • Detail the role of public health in protecting vulnerable populations and those with health disparities.
  • Understand environmental impacts on health.
  • Discuss the importance of health literacy.

Public Health Curriculum

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Health

120.5-122 Credits

Fall of 1st Year- 14 Credits
• Introduction to Life Processes/Lab (BIOL 101/L) 4/0 cr.
• Writing & Analysis (BRDG 101) 3 cr.
• IPE Health Research Skills (BRDG 103) 1 cr.
• Core Science- Chemistry (CHEM 107) 3 cr.
• Introduction to Public Health (PBHL 201) 3 cr.

Spring of 1st Year- 16 Credits
• Writing & Literature (BRDG 102) 3 cr.
• Introduction to Ethical Reasoning (BRDG 105) 3 cr.
• Essential Questions (EQ XXX) 3 cr.
• Business Information Systems (ISYS 184) 3 cr.
• Preparing for Clinical Practice (PHYA 101) 1 cr.
• Introduction to Psychology (PSYC101) 3 cr.

Fall of 2nd Year- 16 Credits
• Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab (BIOL 207/208) 3/1 cr.
• Disparities in Health Care (HLTS 200) 3 cr.
• Exploring Intercultural Communication (COMM 114) 3 cr.
• THEO-coded course 3 cr.
• Health Care Ethics (HCE 255, PHIL 252, or THEO 253) 3 cr.

Spring of 2nd Year- 16 Credits
• Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab (BIOL 209/210) 3/1 cr.
• Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 201) 3 cr.
• International Public Health (PBHL 205) 3 cr.
• Introduction to Biostatistics (MATH 225) 3 cr.
• PHIL-coded course 3 cr.

Fall of 3rd Year- 15 Credits
• Introduction to Epidemiology (PBHL 301) 3 cr.
• Social and Behavioral Change in Community Health Education (PBHL 305) 3 cr.
• Healthcare Law & Policy (PBHL 310W) 3 cr.
• Introduction to Health Economics (PBHL 325) 3 cr.
• Biostatistics II (MATH 335) 3 cr.

Spring of 3rd Year- 15 Credits
• Clinical Processes (PBHL 311) 3 cr.
• Environmental Toxicology (PBHL 470) 3 cr.
• Needs Assessment and Program Planning (PBHL 320) 3 cr.
• Health-related PSYC or SOC 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective  3 cr.

Fall of 4th Year- 13.5-15 Credits
• Public Health Fieldwork (PBHL 350) 1.5-3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.

Spring of 4th Year- 15 Credits
• Research Methods in Public Health (PBHL 401) 3 cr.
• Health Promotion (PBHL 405) 3 cr.
• Public Health Capstone (PBHL 410W) 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health

129.5-131 Credits

Fall of 1st Year- 16 Credits
• Biology I: Cells, Genetics, Development/Lab (BIOL 111/L) 4/0 cr.
• Writing & Analysis (BRDG 101) 3 cr.
• IPE Health Research Skills (BRDG 103) 1 cr.
• General Chemistry I/Lab/Recitation (CHEM 121/L/R) 4/1 cr.
• Introduction to Public Health (PBHL 201) 3 cr.

Spring of 1st Year- 18 Credits
• Biology II: Diversity, Ecology & Evol/Lab (BIO 112/L) 4/0 cr.
• Writing & Literature (BRDG 102) 3 cr.
• General Chemistry II/Lab/Recitation (CHEM 122/L/R) 4/1 cr.
• Essential Questions (EQ XXX) 3 cr.
• Business Information Systems (ISYS 184) 3 cr.

Fall of 2nd Year- 17 Credits
• Clinical Microbiology (BIOL 205/205L) 3/1 cr.
• Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab (BIOL 207/208) 3/1 cr.
• Introduction to Ethical Reasoning (BRDG 105) 3 cr.
• Exploring Intercultural Communication (COMM 114) 3 cr.
• Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101) 3 cr.

Spring of 2nd Year- 15 Credits
• Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab (BIOL 209/010) 3/1 cr.
• Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 201) 3 cr.
• Introduction to Biostatistics (MATH 225) 3 cr.
• International Public Health (PBHL 205) 3 cr.
• Preparing for Clinical Practice (PHYA 101) 1 cr.
• THEO-coded course 3 cr.

Fall of 3rd Year- 18 Credits
• Introduction to Epidemiology (PBHL 301) 3 cr.
• Social and Behavioral Change in Community Health Education (PBHL 305) 3 cr.
• Healthcare Law & Policy (PBHL 310W) 3 cr.
• Introduction to Health Economics (PBHL 325) 3 cr.
• Biostatistics II (MATH 335) 3 cr.
• PHIL-coded course 3 cr.

Spring of 3rd Year- 15 Credits
• Clinical Processes (PBHL 311) 3 cr.
• Environmental Toxicology (PBHL 470) 3 cr.
• Needs Assessment and Program Planning (PBHL 320) 3 cr.
• Health Care Ethics (HCE 255, PHIL 252, or THEO 253) 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective or Fieldwork 3 cr.

Fall of 4th Year- 13.5-15 Credits
• Public Health Fieldwork (PBHL 350) 1.5-3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.

Spring of 4th Year- 15 Credits
• Research Methods in Public Health (PBHL 401) 3 cr.
• Health Promotion (PBHL 405) 3 cr.
• Public Health Capstone (PBHL 410W) 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.
• Public Health Elective 3 cr.

Public Health Graduation Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Public Health

A student who has completed all requirements with a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and successfully completed all internship requirements will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

A student who has completed all requirements with a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and successfully completed all internship requirements will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health.