BS, Public Health Practice

1. Discuss the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.
2. Use basic public health concepts, methods, and tools for data collection and analysis.
3. Identify the major health-related needs and concerns of populations and formulate basic processes, approaches, and interventions as possible solutions.
4. Describe the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the lifespan.
5. Examine the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
6. Demonstrate the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation.
7. Compare and contrast the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the health systems of the United States and other countries.
8. Characterize the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public policy.
9. Illustrate the basic concepts of public health-specific writing and communication.
10. Assess and communicate individual and community-level needs for health promotion and disease prevention.
11. Create and apply strategies that effectively incorporate cultural competencies with health promotion and community health initiatives.
12. Synthesize and apply principles and theories of community health that are needed for the development of effective and evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
13. Promote and advocate for effective community health initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels.
14. Collaborate with community organizations to apply public health principles in a real-world setting.
15. Demonstrate requisite competencies in professional etiquette and career readiness to allow for a successful transition into the workplace (adapted from NACE).
16. Critically analyze the impact racism has on population health and reflect on what it means to be anti-racist.

The BS in Public Health Practice requires completion of at least 120 credits of coursework. In addition to completing General Education requirements, students complete 13 credits in the Public and Community Health Course, 8 credits in Public and Community Health Foundational Science, 9 credits in Social and Behavioral Public Health, 9 credits in Community Public Health, 12 credits in Health Electives, and complete the program with a 12-credit capstone internship experience taken during the final semester.

The Public Health Practice internship is a full-time, semester-long internship where students work in a Community/Public Health agency approximately 36 hours a week. This unique and rewarding experience provides Public Health Practice undergraduates with the opportunity to work in a mentored, professional, public/community health setting prior to graduation. This required internship is completed during the student’s final semester and only after all other academic requirements have been successfully completed. The department offers domestic and global internship opportunities. Students are guided through the internship search process in HLTH 490 and mentored during the internship in HLTH 491.

View the BS in Public Health Practice Handbook (Fall 2025 and later)

The Department of Behavioral and Community Health Honors program offers undergraduates the opportunity to engage in challenging educational experiences related to the social and behavioral aspects of public health.  Rising juniors with strong academic records and significant interest in intellectual pursuits are invited to apply for this opportunity to partake in independent, mentored, scholarly work. Linked here are some examples of the work our honors students complete.

Applications are accepted in early June for the next academic year. 

To be eligible for the program, you will need to meet the following requirements:

• Public Health Practice major
• Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Have successfully completed at least 3 HLTH classes (9 credits with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in HLTH classes.  Must have taken HLTH200 by the start of the program.)
• Have completed 45 total credits before applying to the program.  Students should be of “junior standing” their first semester in the program (approximately 60 credits)
• Ideally should have 2 semesters left of coursework before the BCH internship

Some Program Highlights:

• Getting to work 1:1 with a BCH faculty member on a thesis/project topic of your choosing
• Graduating with the distinction of departmental honors
• Ability to take HONR seminars and be a member of the University of Maryland Honors College
• Access to a small seminar class (HLTH 410) to develop personal interests and professional skills

Overview of Program Requirements:

• Enrollment in HLTH 410 (health elective) in the Fall 
• In Spring and Fall, students work with a faculty mentor of their choosing (faculty members must agree) to complete a research-oriented thesis or an honors-level project.  This may be original work or one that is derived from the ongoing work of the faculty mentor’s lab or research group (6 credits total)
• 12 credits of honors-level coursework through a combination of H sections, HONR courses, or graduate classes

If you have any questions please email Dr. Kirsten Stoebeneau, Undergraduate Honors Program Director, at kstoeben@umd.edu

Graduates of the B.S., Public Health Practice are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam. CHES® (pronounced chez) is the national credential for health educators. Earning this credential will further demonstrate your knowledge and skills in public health program planning, implementation, evaluation, research, and leadership. The credential tests you on the Eight Areas of Responsibility of Health Education Specialists.

Health education specialists are professionals who design, conduct and evaluate activities that help improve the health of all people. These activities can occur in various settings, including schools, communities, healthcare facilities, businesses, universities, and government agencies.

Health education specialists are employed under various job titles such as patient educators, health education teachers, health coaches, community organizers, public health educators, and health program managers.

What is the CHES® Exam?

Format: 165 multiple-choice questions via computer-based format and through Live Remote Proctoring from the safety of home. You are allotted 3 hours to complete the examination. 

Who is Eligible? 

Students in their final semester or who have graduated from the B.S. Public Health Practice program are eligible as long as they have earned a grade of “C” or higher in the program required courses. By the time students are enrolled in the HLTH 491 Internship semester, they have completed the required 25-semester credits of coursework addressing the Eight Areas of Responsibility and Competency for Health Education Specialists. 

When is the test and when do I register?

October Tests: Registration is held May-August; the earlier you register, the cheaper the test.

April Tests: Registration is held November-February; the earlier you register, the cheaper the test.

It is best to register during the semester before your internship and take the exam before graduation!

How much does the test cost?

The student rate ranges from $230-350, depending on when you register. Students should register during their HLTH 491 semester to obtain this rate. 

The nonstudent rate ranges from $280-400.

Are there study guides or study sessions?

The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) offers study guides at their bookstore: https://www.nchec.org/bookstore

NCHEC and other organizations offer study sessions: https://www.nchec.org/ches-study-groups

Why get certified?

There are several benefits to becoming a CHES®:

• Establishes a national standard for practice, as opposed to state or local certifications and registries
• Attests to an individual's knowledge and skills in areas deemed necessary to the field of practice as delineated by the profession
• Assists employers in identifying qualified practitioners and assures employers that services are provided by professionals who have met national standards
• Convey a sense of pride and accomplishment in the profession
• Promotes continued professional development.

Where can I learn more?

Visit the NCHEC website: www.nchec.org