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2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Combined Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Master of Public Health

  • Requirements During Undergraduate Studies
  • Requirements During Graduate Studies
  • Suggested Curriculum Sequence

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to a combined bachelor's/master's program and obtain both a B.S. in exercise science (EXS) and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) within an accelerated time frame. This combined degree program will include five years of study, which includes spring/summer semesters between years one and two (3-6 credits), years two and three (6 credits), years three and four (3 credits), and years four and five (nine graduate M.P.H. credits). Students admitted to the combined degree program will count up to 12 credits of graduate work in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree. In alignment with university policy, a maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate work may count toward both the graduate and undergraduate degrees. After completing 120 credits (to include the 12 credits of M.P.H. graduate courses) and all requirements for the EXS degree, students are awarded a bachelor's degree and are eligible to continue with the M.P.H.

The M.P.H. degree constitutes a minimum of 48 credits; the EXS/M.P.H. combined degree has minimum of 30 credits remaining for the master's degree after completion of the bachelor's degree 120 credits. Note: The undergraduate degree only allows 12 credits to dual-count toward the combined degree, leaving 36 graduate credit hours remaining, six of which are completed in the student's (undergraduate) fourth year. Additionally, those six credits, cannot be used to fulfill undergraduate requirements. All M.P.H. requirements must be met, including the research project and practicum experience. Upon completion of the M.P.H. program, graduates will be qualified to sit for voluntary professional certification by taking the National Board of Public Health Examiners Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam and/or the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam for additional credentialing.

Application Requirements to the Combined Degree

Students may apply to the Master of Public Health program online at gvsu.edu/grad/mph.

Students may apply to the Master of Public Health program as early as the start of their junior year (upon the completion of 55+ credits) for admission in the upcoming fall cohort (senior year status). Students will be notified of acceptance after the early admissions deadline (November 1) if the application is submitted by that date or after the official admissions deadline (March 1).

Requirements for application include:

  1. Junior standing (upon the completion of 55+ credits)
  2. Minimum overall GPA of a 3.0
  3. Two completed and received letters of recommendation
  4. Resume
  5. A written statement addressing questions determined by the M.P.H. program

Requirements

During Undergraduate Studies

All university requirements, including general education courses, must be completed before the final (graduate) year of the combined B.S./M.P.H. program. In the final undergraduate year (usually the fourth year), students will take 18 credits of graduate-level courses. In accordance with university policy, students will earn a maximum of 12 graduate credits during their undergraduate program.

Students may dual-count the following courses toward the exercise science and Master of Public Health degrees. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their faculty advisor to ensure all undergraduate and graduate requirements are met.

  • PH 500 (3 credits) in lieu of EXS 420 (3 credits)
  • PH 505 (3 credits) in lieu of PSY 310 (3 credits)
  • PH 510 (3 credits) in lieu of EXS major elective #1 (3 credits)
  • PH 530 (3 credits) in lieu of EXS major elective #2 (3 credits)

Students will graduate with their B.S. degree in exercise science at the conclusion of year four, as long as they meet all university and degree requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree.

During Graduate Studies

A student shall be considered a graduate student for all purposes upon either of the following events: the award of a baccalaureate degree or the completion of 12 graduate credit hours.

Graduation Without Completion of the Combined Degree Program

For those students who are accepted to the M.P.H. and at some point decide to pursue only the undergraduate degree, the exercise science program will recognize up to 12 credits of the graduate courses completed (e.g., PH 500 - Introduction to Public Health, PH 505 - Social and Behavioral Public Health, PH 510 - Public Health Epidemiology, PH 530 - Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health, STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professions) as credit toward completion of the undergraduate degree. Credit from these graduate courses cannot be used toward a graduate degree at GVSU at a later date.

Suggested Order of Coursework

Note: The sequence that follows makes no attempt to minimize credit load. For example, the sequence assumes that all general education courses are distinct and no double dipping is done to ensure the student will reach the 120 credits needed to complete their baccalaureate degree.

This program requires 12 total semesters of coursework to complete. Please note this plan of study requires completion of credits during the spring/summer semesters.

M.P.H. Emphasis Areas:

M.P.H. students will choose one of two available emphasis options (health promotion or epidemiology) to complement the core curriculum courses. Please note: Some electives may not be offered within a student's planned time to degree.

Explanation of the Emphasis Options

Epidemiology

Epidemiology emphasis prepares students to describe quantitative trends in health and disease for populations, with application in the biological, environmental, behavioral, and social sciences. Epidemiology specialty allows professionals to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of health professionals, such as physicians, laboratory scientists, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, statisticians, veterinarians, and behavioral scientists.

Health Promotion

Health promotion emphasis prepares students to be public health leaders who can design, implement, advocate for, and evaluate efforts to promote healthy behaviors and social conditions for specific populations. Health promotion allows students to use social science theories and individual, community, and policy-based intervention strategies.

Plan of Study - Combined Degree Exercise Science - Health Fitness Emphasis with Master of Public Health's Health Promotion Emphasis

Year One

Required: 33 undergraduate credits, including 3 credits in spring/summer

Year Two

Required: 34 undergraduate credits, including 3 credits in spring/summer

Year Three

Required: 38 undergraduate credits, including 9 credits in spring/summer

Year Four: M.P.H. Health Promotion Emphasis

Required: 12 dual-counted undergraduate/graduate credits, 6 graduate credits, 3 undergraduate credits

* Dual-counted courses

Year Four: M.P.H. Health Promotion Emphasis

Spring/Summer

Required: 9 graduate credits

Year Five: M.P.H. Health Promotion Emphasis

Required: 21 to 23 graduate credits

Plan of Study:

Combined Degree Exercise Science - Health Fitness Emphasis with Master of Public Health Epidemiology Emphasis

Year One

Required: 33 undergraduate credits, including 3 credits in spring/summer

Year Two

Required: 34 undergraduate credits, including 3 credits in spring/summer

Year Three

Required: 38 undergraduate credits, including 9 credits in spring/summer

Year Four: M.P.H. Epidemiology Emphasis

Required: 12 dual-counted undergraduate/graduate credits, 6 graduate credits, 3 undergraduate credits

* Dual-counted courses

Year Four: M.P.H. Epidemiology Emphasis

Spring/Summer

Required: 9 graduate credits

Year Five: M.P.H. Epidemiology Emphasis

Required: 21 to 23 graduate credits


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