Public Health

Faculty 

KELLY PARSLEY, M.A., M.P.H., DEPT. CHAIR
GERALD SCHAFER, PH.D.

Mission

Carroll College’s Health Sciences and Public Health programs are based on the application of evidence-based, health-related knowledge, with a goal of developing future leaders in health promotion and disease prevention on the individual, local, national, and global levels. These degree programs are inherently interdisciplinary, with emphases that include the biological, quantitative, and social sciences. They introduce students to an integrated model of health improvement and maintenance so that graduates may competently address the complex public health challenges facing the world today.

The Health Sciences major is designed for students seeking careers in clinical health professions. The Public Health major is intended for students who want to improve health by informing and leading decision-making by policymakers, practitioners, and the public, in order to advance individual and population health. These students may pursue work in population health fields such as infection control, epidemiology, and environmental health, and also in community health and education. Both degree programs work to develop future leaders who rely on their knowledge of current research for improving health on both the individual and community levels.

Goals

  1. To provide students with the specialized knowledge, skills, and global perspective they need to pursue their chosen health profession.
  2. To offer students practical experience that will supplement their academic work and facilitate their entry into a chosen health career.
  3. To foster evidence-based perspectives of local, national, and global health challenges and solutions. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes for students in the Public Health Program are set by the National Consortium for Health Science Education:

  1. Foundational Knowledge of Public Health and Health Sciences: Students will gain foundational knowledge for proficiency in basic epidemiologic principles, including diseases and disorders, surveillance techniques, statistical applications, and data presentation.
  2. Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills both individually and in groups.
  3. Healthcare Delivery Systems: Students will be able to identify how various healthcare systems affect the services they provide and quality of care delivered.
  4. Employability Skills: Students will demonstrate key employability skills including development of resumes, personal statements, and interview skills.
  5. Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: Students will understand ethical practices with respect to regulations, policies, laws and legislative rights of citizens.
  6. Health Care Maintenance: Students will understand the fundamentals of wellness, healthy behaviors, and the prevention of disease.

Admission To Public Health And Health Sciences Internship Program

All Public Health and Health Sciences majors must apply for admission to the internship program. Applicants must have a minimum of 2.5 GPA or better in all requirements for the major. Planning for internships must occur during the semester prior to participation in an internship. Failure to do so may jeopardize the student’s opportunity to participate in an internship during the fall, spring or summer semesters of the following school year. For more information, see the program’s web page.

Courses

PH-200: Public Health Field Experience

Credits 1 3
Public Health majors will be assigned a field placement in an appropriate setting. During the semester, students will be required to spend three hours per week per credit in the assigned setting.

PH-289: Special Topic

Credits 1 3
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

PH-289G: Special Topic

Credits 1 4
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

PH-321: Gardening & Community Health

Credits 3
This course combines an exploration of urban and community agriculture with practical, hands-on gardening skills specific to Montana. It will begin with a survey of the food and hunger situation in America and continue with an overview of the historical and current development of urban and community agriculture, with an emphasis on the community and health benefits associated with this model of agriculture. Prerequisite: none The educational goals of this course are that students will 1. Understand problems and impacts of community food and nutrition availability 2. Recognize the impact of local agriculture on community health, individual well-being, and economic development 3. Become familiar with strategies for community agriculture 4. Explore the possibilities and limits of local and urban agriculture 5. Develop a conceptual background of and participate in early spring gardening, harvesting, and season extension techniques for Montana (Zone 4), with a goal of providing food to local organizations before the end of the spring semester.

PH-330G: Public Health Methods

Credits 3
Cultural Diversity, Service Learning. The course includes the history, evolution, and current status of health programs and services both globally and nationally. It also presents the philosophical perspectives of various health disciplines and the paradigms of health education, health promotion, and community health in contemporary society. Fall semester. Service Learning course. Fulfills either National Diversity or Global Diversity requirement; but cannot be used for both.

PH-330N: Public Health Methods

Credits 3
Cultural Diversity, Service Learning. Intermediate Writing. The course includes the history, evolution, and current status of health programs and services both globally and nationally. It also presents the philosophical perspectives of various health disciplines and the paradigms of health education, health promotion, and community health in contemporary society.

PH-333: Public Health Theories & Practice

Credits 3
The purpose of this course is to expose students to aspects of program planning, implementation, and evaluation of health programs. The models for program planning, assessing needs, measurement, interventions, community organizing, community building, and allocation of resources will be discussed.

PH-389: Special Topic

Credits 1 3
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

PH-389CD: Special Topic

Credits 1 4
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

PH-405: Senior Seminar

Credits 1
Writing Intensive. The purpose of this seminar is to provide senior level public health and health sciences majors information that will assist them in preparing for professional life. Students planning to attend graduate school should take this course during fall semester.

PH-425: Internship

Credits 1 6
Sed Vitae. Internship Experiences recognize that learning can take place outside the classroom. Carroll College allows its students to participate in opportunities that relate to their area of study. This opportunity must relate directly a student's program of study in order to qualify for an internship. Close cooperation among Carroll and the participating organizations ensures an experience that contributes significantly to the student's overall growth and professional development. Juniors and seniors in any major area may participate with the approval of faculty internship advisor and/or department chair, Career Services, and a site supervisor. Students will receive academic credit and may or may not receive monetary compensation for an internship. Enrollment in the course must be during the same semester in which the experience takes place. Interested students should contact their academic advisor and Career Services prior to the start of an experience.

PH-485

Credits 1 3
Independent study is open to junior and senior students only. At the time of application, a student must have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. A student may register for no more than three (3) semester hours of independent study in any one term. In all cases, registration for independent study must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

PH-489: Special Topic

Credits 1 3
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

PH-499: Senior Thesis

Credits 1 3
The senior thesis is designed to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate individual research. A student may undertake a thesis in an area in which s/he has the necessary background. Ordinarily a thesis topic is chosen in the student's major or minor. It is also possible to choose an interdisciplinary topic. Interested students should decide upon a thesis topic as early as possible in the junior year so that adequate attention may be given to the project. In order to be eligible to apply to write a thesis, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 based upon all courses attempted at Carroll College. The thesis committee consists of a director and two readers. The thesis director is a full-time Carroll College faculty member from the student's major discipline or approved by the department chair of the student's major. At least one reader must be from outside the student's major. The thesis director and the appropriate department chair must approve all readers. The thesis committee should assist and mentor the student during the entire project. For any projects involving human participants, each student and his or her director must follow the guidelines published by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Students must submit a copy of their IRB approval letter with their thesis application. As part of the IRB approval process, each student and his or her director must also complete training by the National Cancer Institute Protection of Human Participants. The thesis is typically to be completed for three (3) credits in the discipline that best matches the content of the thesis. Departments with a designated thesis research/writing course may award credits differently with approval of the Curriculum Committee. If the thesis credits exceed the full-time tuition credit limit for students, the charge for additional credits will be waived. Applications and further information are available in the Registrar's Office.