Public Health (BS)

What is Public Health?

The Department of Public Health at Wayne State University specializes in broadly preparing undergraduate students to meet current and emergent threats to the health of vulnerable individuals, populations, and communities. As a truly interdisciplinary field, public health draws strength from the natural sciences, biostatistics, and behavioral sciences to address the social determinants of health inequalities, health care access and affordability, mental health and suicide prevention, housing and food insecurity, and many other issues.

Public health faculty are engaged in meaningful community-based intervention research centered on immigrant health, childhood obesity, healthcare access, student mental health, and patient-centered outcomes. Faculty and instructors have professional experiences working with city and county governments, health care organizations, health insurance companies, foundations, and non-profit organizations.

What can I do with a Public Health Degree? 

  Course planning

Choose an area of study (associate degree), earn Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), and complete pathway courses. The below pathway outlines the required Henry Ford College courses.  Courses not taken or transferred from Henry Ford College can be completed at Wayne State University.

Choose an area of study

Associate Degree  
Associate in Arts (AA) *Respiratory Therapist (AAS)
Associate in General Studies (AGS) Pre-Surgical Technologist (AS)
Associate in Science (AS) *Surgical Technologist (AAS)
*Fitness and Sport Center Mgt. -Associate in Business *Firefighter/Paramedic Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
*Fitness Leadership (AAS) *Paramedic (AAS)
*Medical Practice-Clinical Mgt. (AAS) *Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS)
*Ophthalmic Technician (AAS) Pre-radiographer -Associate in Science (AS)
*Radiographer (AAS) Pre-Physical Therapist Assistant (AS)

*Satisfies 6-9 PH elective credits. Due to the requirements associated with these programs the total amount of credit earned will likely exceed the minimum bachelor's degree requirement.

Earn the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA)

MTA Requirement/Specific Course Credit Hours Notes
ENG 131 Intro to College Writing (ENG 1020) 3 or ENG 132H
ENG 132 College Writing & Research (ENG 3010)                   3  
*MATH 141 Intro to Statistics (STA 1020)      4  
Approved Natural Science (see MTA) 3-4  
Approved Natural Science with lab (see MTA) 4-5 Second Science must be from different disciplines with lab
Approved Social Science (see MTA) 3  
Approved Social Science (see MTA) 3 Second Social Science must be from different discipline
Approved Humanities/Fine Arts (see MTA) 3 Second Humanities/Art must be from different discipline
*ARA 131, FRE 131, GER 131, SPN 131 (see MTA) 4 Satisfies 1 of 2 WSU required foreign language
Total                                                    30 credits (minimum)  

*Meets MTA requirements and/or satisfies Wayne State degree requirement (prerequisites may be required, see HFC Academic Advisor). 

Complete pathway courses

Course Credit Hours Notes
HPE 158 Intro to Nutrition (NFS 2030) 3  
AH 141 Intro to Public Health (PH 2100) 3  
*ARA 132, FRE 132, GER 132, SPN 132 (second language, same language) 4 Satisfies 2 of 2 WSU required foreign language proficiency
Total      10 credits  

*All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must successfully demonstrate language proficiency equivalent to the two course sequence in a single foreign language. Proficiency is demonstrated by completing courses numbered 1010 and 1020 in one of the following subject area codes: ARB, ARM, CHI, FRE, GER, GKA, GKM, HEB, ITA, JPN, LAT, POL, RUS, SPA, SWA, and UKR.

  Course planning 

The following courses are required to finish the degree requirements.  Any pathway course(s) not completed at the community college can be completed at Wayne State University. 

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Health

 Course Credit Hours
PH 3100 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health 3
PH 3200 Introduction to Biostatistics  4
PH 3300 Epidemiology  4
PH 3500 Environmental Health 3
PH 4100 Public Health Principles and Practice 2     or PH 4250
PH 4150 Public Health Practicum 2     or PH 4250
PH 4400 Methodological Approaches 4
PH 5100 Capstone Course in Public Health 4
PH Electives (see WSU advisor) 3
Total 29 credits (minimum)

Transfer credit summary

Transfer credit summary Credits
Henry Ford College transferrable credits 73 credits

Required Wayne State University Major credits

Additional PH, Electives, or Minor (see WSU advisor)

29 credits (minimum)

18 credits 

Total credits required to complete bachelor's degree 120 credits (transferred or WSU)
  • WSU requires a minimum of 30 hours in residency. 
  • You can review how courses transfer using the course equivalency tool for other acceptable equivalences.

How do I get started?

  • Join Wayne State Transfer Pathways
  • Schedule a WSU Transfer Success Appointment         
  • Meet with your academic advisors and track your academic progress 

Notes

  • The pathway allows multiple associate degree options with the flexibility to customize your degree path. The minimum eligibility to participate in the Wayne State Transfer Pathways is a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), and an associate degree (earned or Reverse Transfer).  
  • All college-level (non-developmental), non-duplicated courses with a 2.0 (C) grade point average (GPA) or above will be considered for transfer credit.  Earned credit will transfer as 1) direct course equivalency, 2) major/department credit, or 3) elective credit. Credits not earned at the community college will need to be taken at WSU.  
  • These pathways do not replace the importance of community college and Wayne State academic advising. The pathway provides a general roadmap to degree completion. 
  • Career tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles. 

Primary contacts

    Henry Ford College
    Academic Advising
    313-317-6845 | advising@hfcc.edu                                     

             Transfer Student Success Center 
             313-577-2487 | transfer@wayne.edu
             Public Health Department
             Academic Advising