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Public Health

96%
EMPLOYMENT RATE
of surveyed alumni within 9 months of graduation
13:1
RATIO
Of students to faculty
100%
OF INCOMING FIRST-YEARS & TRANSFERS
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Nursing & Health Student Handbook
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Protect the safety and improves the health of communities

Engage in addressing the world’s most pressing health problems.

Mount Mercy’s bachelor of science in public health prepares students to engage in addressing the world’s most pressing health problems. Our multi-disciplinary program includes training in improving and protecting the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations both locally and globally.

Graduates acknowledge that public health initiatives improve global health, affect environmental health, reduce the impact of natural disasters and global epidemics, address health disparities, and create healthier communities.

Why should I choose MMU?

Research and hands-on learning help develop your understanding of public health.

Skills like strategic communication, advocacy and activism, and health policy development will help you grow into a health care career that serves communities, improves environmental health, and reduces the impact of major events like epidemics and natural disasters.

Service learning and volunteerism are an encouraged part of the public health curriculum. In addition to helping you experience public health work in action beyond the classroom, your hands-on learning experiences will introduce you to the many health agencies and organizations working to better health in our community.

From hospitals to health agencies, public health graduates are an asset in many organizations.

Health impacts every aspect of our lives, which is also why health graduates are found in a variety of industries. Public health students who are continuing their education pursue graduate programs, law school, medical professional programs, and more after graduation. 

Many public health students develop a particular interest in the field or encounter an agency in their service work that helps them discover their next steps. Mount Mercy public health graduates can be found working in public health agencies, research centers, education, government agencies, community clinics, and more.

Lauren imhoff

Mount Mercy is my favorite place in the world, and I’m so happy that I chose to come here. I think that the opportunities I’ve gotten here are really unique, and I don’t know if I would have gotten it at a bigger university.

What are the next steps?

Build off previous experiences by transferring up to 75 credits form an Iowa community college or up to 93 credits form a regionally accredited 4-year university.

Veterans may also earn credit for military training via the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). 

Mount Mercy offers competitive tuition and generous scholarships.

We also encourage all students to apply for federal, state, and other kinds of financial assistance.

Learn more about:

We make it easy by accepting applications year-round! No deadline, no fee, no pressure.

  1. Create your application
  2. Apply under standard admissions criteria or go "test optional"
  3. Request official transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Mail to:

* Mount Mercy University Admissions
  1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
  Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

* If you are applying for an accelerated program, please mail to "Accelerated Programs"

For more detailed instructions on how to apply, see our Admissions page.

What courses will I take?

Public Health Major

Required:
HS 210Introduction to Public Health3
HS 215Introduction to Epidemiology3
HS 450Internship in Health Care3
MA 135Basic Statistics3
PS 259Health Psychology: Health & Wellness Applied3
SO 240Medical Sociology3
Choose One of the Following:3-4.5
BI 123
Biology of Human Concern
BI 125
Foundations of Biology & Scientific Inquiry I
BI 150
Basic Microbiology
Choose Six of the Following:18-19.5
BI 225
Global Environmental Issues
HS 200
Organization of Health Care Services
HS 201
Quality Patient/Resident Care
HS 205
Essentials and Practice in Health Care Navigation
HS 220
Health Literacy
HS 305
Spiritual and Cultural Perspectives in Health Care Management
HS 399
Special Topics: Health Care
PO 112
Globalization and Human Survival
SO 235
Social Inequalities
SO 342
Sociology of Mental Health & Illness
SO 343
Global Health
SO 344
Gender & Health
SW 225
Aging In America
SW 245
Basic Helping Skills
SW 300
Human Behavior and the Social Environment
Total Hours39-42

Academic Requirements

All Public Health majors must achieve a minimum grade of C in all required major HS (Health Services) courses and prerequisite courses. This applies to equivalent courses transferred from other institutions. Additionally, Public Health majors must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0.

Public Health Minor

Required:
HS 210Introduction to Public Health3
SO 240Medical Sociology3
Choose Three of the Following: 19
HS 200
Organization of Health Care Services
HS 201
Quality Patient/Resident Care
HS 205
Essentials and Practice in Health Care Navigation
HS 215
Introduction to Epidemiology
HS 220
Health Literacy
HS 305
Spiritual and Cultural Perspectives in Health Care Management
HS 399
Special Topics: Health Care
HS 450
Internship in Health Care
BI 225
Global Environmental Issues
PO 112
Globalization and Human Survival
PS 259
Health Psychology: Health & Wellness Applied
SO 235
Social Inequalities
SO 315
Methods of Social Research 2
SO 342
Sociology of Mental Health & Illness
SO 343
Global Health
SO 344
Gender & Health
SW 225
Aging In America
SW 245
Basic Helping Skills
SW 300
Human Behavior and the Social Environment
Total Hours15
1

Students who complete coursework in Nursing (NU) may use 6 credit hours towards the elective requirement

2

or equivalent methods course

Academic Requirements

All Public Health minors must achieve a minimum grade of C in all minor HS (Health Services) courses. This applies to equivalent courses transferred from other institutions.

The following is the typical sequence of courses required for the major*:

Freshman
FallHoursWinterHoursSpringHours
SO 122 or PS 1013CO 1013PS 101 or SO 1223
MA 1353 Historical Roots3
Writing Competency4 Expressive Arts: Lit3
Expressive Arts: Fine Arts3 Ultimate Questions: Religion3
  Elective3
 13 3 15
Sophomore
FallHoursWinterHoursSpringHours
HS 2103SO 310 (or Elective)3HS 2153
BI 12314 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy3
NU 1131 SO 235 (or Public Health Restricted Elective)3
Global Awareness Domain3 Elective3
SW 245 (or Public Health Restricted Elective)3 Elective3
 14 3 15
Junior
FallHoursWinterHoursSpringHours
SO 2403Elective3HS 4503
GS 138 (or Public Health Restricted Elective)3 SO 342 (or Public Health Restricted Elective)3
HS 220 (or Public Health Restricted Elective)3 Elective3
Elective3 Elective3
Elective3  
 15 3 12
Senior
FallHoursWinterHoursSpringHours
PS 2593Elective3SO 4413
Public Health Restricted Elective3 ME 4501
Elective3 Public Health Restricted Elective3
Elective3 Elective3
Elective3 Elective3
 15 3 13
Total Hours: 124

Note: Elective courses could be used for a second major, a minor, a course of interest, internship or study abroad experience. For complementary majors/minors see: Health Care Administration; Health Care Navigation; Nursing; and Sociology

1

Students may also choose between BI 125 + Lab or BI 150 (nursing students only).

*Disclaimer

The course offerings, requirements, and policies of Mount Mercy University are under continual examination and revision. This Catalog presents the offerings, requirements, and policies in effect at the time of publication and in no way guarantees that the offerings, requirements, and policies will not change.

This plan of study represents a typical sequence of courses required for this major. It may not be applicable to every student. Students should contact a department faculty member to be sure of appropriate course sequence.

Careers in public health

Inherently multidisciplinary, public health opens many pathways towards careers in health care and beyond.

Many students in fields like business, science, or nursing pair their studies with public health to combine their interests and skills in their future career. Public health is also a great starting point for future graduate study in law, medical professions, and social work.

The leadership and communication skills you develop in the public health program will help you achieve your career goals.

Graduates of our health care programs can be found working at:

  • University of Iowa Health Care
  • Mercy Iowa City
  • Mercy Medical Center
  • UnityPoint Health
  • Waypoint
  • VA Health System
  • Jones Regional Medical Center
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