Our Bachelor in Public Health degree (BPH) program has been in existence since the late 1970's and is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The undergraduate program aims to educate and train students to pursue a career working in community and public health, in a variety of settings including departments of health, international and community health and social agencies, hospitals, school districts, non-governmental agencies (NGOs) as well as in voluntary, private or governmental agencies. The BPH degree program prepares students to accomplish the following in their professional work and work-settings:
- Encourage and promote public health education within the framework of legal, ethical, moral and professional standing.
- Advocate for and support equity to reduce stigma and health disparities.
- Provide leadership within the public health profession.
- Collaborate with other professionals, staff, communities and consumers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health education programs.
- Articulate, engage, and advocate for positive public health policy initiatives.
- Conduct and incorporate research findings into practice settings.
- Participate successfully in the professional certification examination process.
- Establish and maintain a personal commitment to intellectual inquiry, self-directed learning, and professional growth.
For more information please contact:
Dr. Karen Kopera-Frye,
Undergraduate Coordinator
Phone: 575-646-3526
Office: CHSS 303
Email: kfrye@nmsu.edu
Professional Objectives:
Pursue a career working in community and public health programs and education in voluntary, private and governmental agencies.
- Successfully participate in the professional certification examination process.
- Encourage and promote public health education within the framework of legal, ethical, moral and professional standards.
- Provide leadership within the public health profession.
- Collaborate with other professionals, staff, communities and consumers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health education programs.
- Conduct and incorporate research findings in health education into practice settings.
- Establish and maintain a personal commitment to intellectual inquiry, self-directed learning, and professional growth.
Academic Program Objectives:
The Bachelor of Public Health student will be able to:
- Assess individual and community needs, assets and capacity for health education
- Plan effective health education programs
- Implement effective health education programs
- Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
- Administer and manage health education programs
- Serve as a Health Education Resource Person
- Communicate and advocate for health and health education
If you are working towards your BPH or MPH, you must complete a Field Experience.
For MPH students, this includes those completing the degree face-to-face or online, as well as those seeking the dual degrees of Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work.
Undergraduate students pursuing the BPH degree register for PHLS 4998 (6 credit hours). BPH students complete 250 hours of Field Experience during this 6-credit course (190 hours for BPH students who completed the Service Learning Experience as part of the AAS degree in public health from DACC).
Graduate students pursuing the MPH in either of the concentrations (Health Behavior and Health Promotion [HBHP: formerly Community Health Education] or Health Management, Administration and Policy [HMAP]) register for MPH 5998 (three credit hours). MPH students complete 160 hours of Field Experience during this 3-credit course.
We are here to support you and help you find a Field Experience site where you’ll gain meaningful public health experience. While some field experience sites are not able to offer internship/practicum experiences during the current pandemic, many of our existing sites have been able to adapt to virtual projects supervision. In other cases, students may be able to work with a faculty member on a relevant project or they may work with a mentor in their workplace to develop a project that contributes to public health practice. We will be working with all of our students and preceptors on a case-by-case basis to develop goals and objectives that are project-based and that have some flexibility in terms of the Field Experience contact hours.
A field experience allows you the opportunity to apply classroom learning to actual public health problems and solutions. You are encouraged to seek creative field experience placements that allow you to apply skills you have acquired in the classroom setting, to assist a group or community with a public health/education issue, and to promote personal and professional growth. Sites may be at local, regional, national, or international organizations or facilities. To get started with finding a Field Experience site:
- Contact the Field Experience Coordinator to discuss your interests and identify possible sites
- Develop goals for your Field Experience in collaboration with your site preceptor and the Field Experience Coordinator
- Register for PHLS 4998 (6 credit hours) or MPH 5998 (3 credit hours) – the Field Experience Coordinator will assist you with registration once your site and goals are approved
The Department of Public Health Sciences has three minors students can complete.
Minors Offered
Public Health Sciences
Gerontology
US-Mexico Border Health Issues
The Collaborative Minor of CAST (Child Advocacy Studies).
Thanks for considering New Mexico State University’s Public Health Education undergraduate program. We are one of only a handful of programs that are accredited by our two national professions–SOPHE and AAHE. Public Health Education is an exciting, growing profession. When one considers that almost all of our major health problems are caused by lifestyle and behavior, educating the community about healthy lifestyles, behaviors, and decisions is critical.
Students new to NMSU or those still working on their General Education and department pre-requisites are considered Pre-Public Health students. Students must apply to the Bachelor program in order to take the 4000 level program courses.
