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? 

 WCCCD Logo  Course planning

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

Choose an area of study

Associate Degree  
Associate of Arts (AA) Fire Protection Technology (AAS)
Associate of Science (AS) *Pharmacy Technology (AAS)
Anesthesia Technology (AAS) Pre-Physician Assistant (AAS)
*Emergency Room/Multi-Skill Healthcare Tech (AAS) *Surgical Technology (AAS)

*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 119 English Composition I (ENG 1020) 3  
*ENG 120 English Composition II (ENG 3010) 3  
*MAT 135 Quantitative reasoning (STA 1020) 4  
*DT 130 Fundamentals of Nutrition (NFS 2030) 3  
Approved Natural Science with lab (see MTA) 4-5 Second science must be from different discipline with lab
*PSY 260 Social Problems (PSY 2600) 3  
Approved Social Science (see MTA) 3 Second Social Science must be from different discipline
+*Foreign Language (ARA 101, FRE 101, GER 101, or SPN 101) 4 1 of 2 required foreign language proficiency
Approved Humanities/Fine Arts (see MTA) 3 Second Humanities/Art must be from different discipline.
Total 30 credits min.  

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

Complete pathway courses

Course Credit Hours Notes
+Foreign Language (ARA 102, FRE 102, GER 102, or SPN 102 4 Satisfies 2 of 2 WSU required foreign language proficiency
Total      4 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.

  WSU Logo 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 2100 Introduction to Public Health 3
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 32 credits (minimum)

 Transfer credit summary

Transfer credit summary Credits
Wayne County Community College District transferrable credits 70 credits

Required Wayne State University Major credits

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

32 credits (minimum)

18-24 credits (18 minimum)

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 WCCCD will need to be taken at WSU.  
  • These pathways do not replace the importance of WCCCD and Wayne State academic advising. The pathway provides a general roadmap to degree completion. 

 Primary contacts

WCCCD Logo                  Wayne County Community College District
                  District Division of Student Services
                  Ms. Nanette Williams-Armstrong
                  313-496-2634 | nwillia2@wcccd.edu      

 

WSU Logo   Transfer Student Success Center 
   313-577-2487 | transfer@wayne.edu
   Public Health Department
   313-577-0653 | Academic Advisors