SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Dean R.J. Katz
Associate Associate J.J. Reum, K.L. Hunting, J.G. Palen, R.T. Parkin
The School of Public Health and Health Services was established within The George Washington University in 1997. Seven departments form SPHHS: Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Exercise Science, Global Health, Health Policy, Health Services Management and Leadership, and Prevention and Community Health.
Degree programs offered by SPHHS include the Bachelor of Science with majors in athletic training, exercise science, and public health; the Master of Public Health; the Master of Health Services Administration; the Master of Science in the fields of exercise science, health policy, and public health microbiology and emerging infectious diseases; and the Doctor of Public Health. SPHHS cooperates with several other schools within GW in offering joint and dual degree programs. Secondary fields for undergraduates in schools other than SPHHS and graduate certificate programs are offered as well.
SPHHS Regulations—SPHHS regulations governing the following subjects are analogous to those of Columbian College of Arts and Sciences: residence; academic work load; academic standing (including probation, suspension, semester warning, and mid-semester warning); dean's lists; incompletes; pass/no pass option; earning an additional hour of credit; and placement, waiver, and credit examinations. See the section headed Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
Special Honors—In addition to meeting the general requirements stated under University Regulations, a candidate for graduation with Special Honors in athletic training or exercise science must have a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in required courses in the major and at least a 3.25 average overall; and must submit an honors paper in ExSc 171. Only if a committee of at least two faculty members approves the honors paper will the student be recommended for graduation with Special Honors.
Bachelor of Science Degree Programs
Athletic Training
The Bachelor of Science with a major in athletic training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. Graduates are prepared to take the Board of Certification Examination.
The program prepares students for a range of careers in an allied health care profession responsible for the health care of athletes and other physically active individuals. Athletic trainers provide information on injury prevention, evaluate and treat injuries, and provide related aspects of health care to the physically active.
Students may apply to enter the athletic training major upon completion of 30 credit hours with a minimum grade-point average of 2.5. Admission into the Athletic Training Education Program is selective and may be contingent upon availability of clinical practicum sites and approved clinical instructors. Students who wish to apply for admission to the major must meet the following requirements: complete the Athletic Training Education Program application; have prior athletic training observation experience; submit a personal essay; complete a personal interview; complete ExSc 50 Emergency Procedures and Safety Skills and ExSc 102 Introduction to Athletic Training with a minimum grade of B in each of the two courses; complete the Technical Standards form; and submit proof (or waiver) of hepatitis B vaccination, MMR vaccinations, and a TB test and proof of having passed a physical exam for the physical tasks involved in athletic training. Students should expect additional expenses due to required practicum travel.
Transfer students must meet all of the above criteria for admission into the Athletic Training Education Program. Transfer credit from other institutions will be evaluated by departmental faculty for acceptance by the School of Public Health and Health Services.
The degree program requires 124 credit hours, with 45 credits of general curriculum courses: the University Writing requirements; BiSc 13–14; an approved math course; Psyc 1; PubH 101 or 102 or 103; Stat 53; a course chosen from SpHr 11 or Comm 40 or 41 or 42; two additional approved courses chosen from the social and behavioral sciences; and two approved courses chosen from the humanities.
Required courses in the athletic training major are 74 credit hours: ExSc 50, 102, 109, 110, 119, 126, 137, 141, 142, 145 or 146, 151, 152, 154–55, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 168, 169, and 171.
In addition to School of Public Health and Health Services regulations, students must maintain a 2.5 overall GPA and show timely progress toward the degree.
Exercise Science
The Bachelor of Science with a major in exercise science prepares students for careers in health promotion, corporate fitness and wellness programs, exercise physiology, personal training, exercise rehabilitation, and coaching, as well as graduate study in exercise science, sport psychology, physical therapy, medicine, and other clinical health professions.
Students applying to the exercise science major may enter the program as freshmen or as transfer students with a minimum grade-point average of 2.0.
The 124-credit-hour program requires the general curriculum courses listed directly above with the athletic training major, an exercise science core, courses in the concentration, and electives as necessary to complete the degree program. See the section above for graduation with Special Honors.
The 43-credit exercise science core consists of ExSc 50, 103, 109, 110, 119, 142, 151, 152, 154–55, 158, 171, and 175.
Students in the exercise science program select either the health and fitness concentration or the pre-health professional concentration, typically by the sophomore year.
Health and Fitness Concentration—24 credit hours: ExSc 121, 138; PubH 103; and five courses chosen from ExSc 105, 120, 125, 133, 136, 140, 145, 146, or designated offerings of ExSc 101.
Pre-Health Professional Concentration—28 credit hours chosen in accordance with the intended professional field. For those preparing to apply to a physical therapy program: ExSc 159, 168, 169; Phys 1–2; Chem 11–12. For those preparing to apply to nursing, physician assistant, or M.D. programs: ExSc 159; Phys 11–12; Chem 11–12, 151–52, 153–54.
Public Health
The Bachelor of Science with a major in public health aims to increase understanding of public health principles for students who intend graduate study toward careers in law, medicine or another health profession, or public health. The program is also available to students who plan to pursue entry-level jobs in sectors of public health or health services. With a liberal arts base, the program emphasizes technical detail and analytic skills, nurturing critical thinking and synthesis of information in recognizing historical and societal associations of trends in public health and health care delivery.
Students may apply to enter the 120-credit-hour public health major during the semester prior to completing 60 credits with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0. General curriculum requirements listed under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences must be completed, with the exception that a statistics course must be included in fulfillment of the quantitative and logical reasoning category. Required courses in the major are PubH 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 121, 132, 172, 180, 191, 195, and 9 credits of SPHHS electives chosen from specified courses with approval of the advisor. The remainder of the program may be a secondary field, a minor, or approved electives.
Students interested in the dual degree program consisting of the Bachelor of Science with a major in public health and the Master of Public Health should consult SPHHS admissions during the semester prior to completing 60 credits.
Secondary Fields of Study
Secondary fields of study in public health and in exercise science are available to undergraduates in other schools of the University. See the entries for Exercise Science and for Public Health in the course listings section for courses that pertain to these secondary fields. SPHHS students may choose a secondary field from Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the Elliott School of International Affairs, or the Schools of Business, Engineering and Applied Science, or Medicine and Health Sciences.
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