2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog 
    
    Mar 15, 2026  
2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Combined Public Health, BA & Public Health, MPH (PBH-MPH-PREG)


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Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Health is an interdisciplinary degree designed for students interested in careers in health promotion, education, and advocacy. The degree also prepares students to pursue a graduate degree in public health. Graduates of the B.A. program are eligible to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES ®) exam.

The combined B.A./M.P.H. degree program allows students to earn a B.A. in Public Health and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), with up to nine (9) semester credit hours of approved graduate courses at the 5000, 6000, or 7000 level to be double-counted and applied to both the B.A. and M.P.H. degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

To participate in the combined-degree program, you must meet the following qualifications: 

  • Senior standing for the semester you start the combined-degree program 

  • 3.00 or better cumulative grade point average on all undergraduate work 

  • Undergraduate advisor’s approval, and 

  • A recommendation from the Master of Public Health (MPH) director or advisor to be accepted in the program 

Admission Process 

At the end of their junior year, students who wish to pursue a combined BA/MPH degree should submit to the Graduate School an application for the combined degree program. Additionally, required documents include: (1) a Wright State transcript; (2) A program of study approved by both the Public Health undergraduate advisor and M.P.H. program director. 

Program Learning Objectives

Students in the BA in Public Health program will learn to: 

  1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate public health information clearly and effectively through a variety of communication channels in both oral and written forms.
  2. Evaluate public health information and ensure its accuracy and relevancy. 
  3. Differentiate, appraise, and relate public health information. 
  4. Explain the range of biological, behavioral, environmental, and social factors that influence patterns in population health outcomes. 
  5. Construct and evaluate messages and strategies that influence the behavior of various audience segments. 
  6. Describe and appraise the health needs of priority populations for health behavior interventions. 

Students in the Masters of Public Health program will learn to:

  1. Analyze and interpret data to inform public health practice.
  2. Understand and compare public health and healthcare systems.
  3. Plan and manage programs to promote health.
  4. Understand and advocate for policy in public health.
  5. Apply leadership principles to address public health issues.
  6. Communicate audience-appropriate public health information.
  7. Collaborate with other health professionals to understand and solve public health issues.
  8. Apply systems thinking to public health issues and policy.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the BA in Public Health can:

  1. Communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms, and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences. 
  2. Locate, use, evaluate, and synthesize public health information. 
  3. Analyze the range of biological, behavioral, environmental, and social factors that influence patterns in population health outcomes.
  4. Design messages and strategies that influence the behavior of various audience segments, including decision-makers. 
  5. Implement and evaluate population health interventions. 
Students graduating with the Master of Public Health can:
  1. Apply statistical and epidemiologic methods to analyze public health issues. 
  2. Implement evidence-based approaches to improve population-level health. 
  3. Demonstrate professionalism, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in collaboration with interprofessional teams. 

For More Information

Program Requirements


I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours


As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours. 

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours


All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year.  Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category. 

CHEH 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Health Education and Human Services

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours


All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course.

Students must complete a Second-Year Writing Course: 3 Credit Hours . 

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours


Students will select one course from the list below.  Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course chosen below. 

Required: 

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours


Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.  One course must fulfill the History requirement. 

Element D - Social and Behavorial Sciences: 6-7 Credit Hours


Required:

Element E - Natural Sciences: 8-9 Credit Hours




 

Additional Core Courses: 1-3 Credit Hours


Students will select 1-3 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core.  The hours required are dependent upon choices made in Elements D and E above.  Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student.  When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.  

Additional Core Requirements


Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following: 

  • One Global Inquiry (GI) course 

  • Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses 

  • One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses.  To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major.  Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing. 

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36. 

II. Public Health Major Foundations Requirements: 24 Credit Hours


III. Additional Major Requirements: 31 Credit Hours


Required courses (12 credit hours):

IV. Communication and Analytical Skills Electives: 12 Credit Hours


Students will complete at least 3 credit hours from List A (Communications) and 3 credit hours from List B (Analytical).  Students then choose from either list A or B or approved department substitutions to earn a total of 12 credit hours.

V. General Electives: 8 Credit Hours


Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit. 

Students are encouraged to work with their advisor to pursue minors or certificates related to their public health interest.

Total: 120 Credit Hours


Graduate Program Requirements


The three double counted courses are included in the following lists as well.  

MPH Core Courses: 24 Credit Hours


All three concentrations will take these 24 hours of foundational courses.

Health Promotion and Education Concentration Requirements: 18 Credit Hours


Population Health Concentration Requirements: 18 Credit Hours


Epidemiology Concentration Requirements: 18 credit hours


Graduate Requirements: 42 Credit Hours


Combined Program Total: 153 Credit Hours


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