People interested in assisting individuals and communities live healthier, happier lives choose Public Health as a major. Public Health Specialists work with groups of people, usually in a community setting, promoting physical activity, protecting and preserving health. The Public Health Educator then works as a catalyst to assist the individual or community to modify and enhance lifestyles to promote health and prevent disease. Public Health Specialists are interested in developing community-based education programs that promote healthy lifestyles that help prevent disease.
In preparation towards becoming a Public Health Specialist, students will learn skills that will enable them to assist communities and individuals in achieving their goal of a healthy lifestyle and risk management reduction. These skills then become the tools to aid in the healthy lifestyle changing process. Skills taught include assessing individual/community needs and assets; planning, implementing, and administering health education programs; evaluating the effectiveness of health education programs; and facilitating/understanding group dynamics and individuals across the lifespan.
The curriculum is designed following the Council on Education for Public Health Foundational Knowledge Areas and Competencies. In addition, the coursework assures that graduates have the needed areas of responsibilities and specific competencies to become Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES). The Public Health program is designed to provide advanced areas of study dependent on the individual’s unique needs and interests. Students in Public Health must sit for one of the following certification exams: CHES; ACSM Exercise Physiologist; ACSM Physical Activity in Public Health Specialists; or NSCA Certified Strength and Conditional Specialist or other approved certifications. A Public Health major must pass each required KHS course with a grade of C or better to count toward graduation.
The majority of professional schools for Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy have rigorous and strict guidelines for acceptance. It is important that the LSU Shreveport program direct students in a career path that is successful toward meeting individual career goals. The Department has established a transition point for all student in the Pre-PT or Pre-OT concentration to continue. Hereby, the following criteria are required for continuance of study in the specific Pre-PT or OT concentrations after completion of 60 credit hours.
- For both Pre-Physical Therapy and Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration students, the GPA on all College work attempted must by 3.0 or better.
- For students following the Pre-Physical Therapy coursework, they must have a GPA of 3.2 or greater in all undergraduate math and science courses and must complete KHS 325 .
- For students following the Pre-Occupational Therapy coursework, they must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 for the prerequisite courses: PSYC 405 , PSYC 209 , CHEM 110 or CHEM 121 , KHS 325 , KHS 325L , KHS 340 , SOCL 105 , MATH 210 or MATH 260 , BIOS 284 , BIOS 284L , BIOS 285 , and BIOS 285L .
The Department undergraduate committee will administer the screening program. Any student who does not appear to be progressing satisfactorily will be notified in writing and, when appropriate, given the opportunity to correct deficiencies identified by the committee. Should the student be unable or unwilling to do so, he or she will be removed from the concentration. Alternative concentrations and career paths will then be discussed with their advisor.
All Public Health majors must select a specific concentration from the following: Exercise Science, Health and Fitness Management, Health Behavior, Nonprofit Administration, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Occupational Therapy, or Strength and Conditioning.
The concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy is for students utilizing Community Health as the baccalaureate degree major for fulfilling prerequisite requirements for admission to the LSU School of Allied Health Physical Therapy program at New Orleans or Shreveport campuses. Coursework is based upon requirements for LSU Health School of Allied Health. Within the concentration, there is the potential to meet the requirements for the American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Physiologist Exam by completing additional coursework.