GhanaCU (New!)

Ghana Christian University College

BSc PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM.

BSc PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM.

AIMS OF THE PROGRAM:

  • Develop capacity to improve the leadership, implementation of public health program and health practitioners who will work at the district level and program level in the Ghana Health Service and its Allied institutions.
  • Combine a thorough professional education with academic excellence and have a substantial record of research, innovation and publication which is reflected in the quality and relevance of our teaching.
  • Develop practitioners who are proactive and innovative in the promotion of health and the prevention of ill health at the individual, group and community level, within the context of national and international considerations.
  • Train specialists who are capable of identifying and evaluating public health problems, planning and implementing evidence-based interventions to solve them.
  • Develop students’ knowledge and skills, helping them to provide evidence based public health practice to several different groups.
  • Meet the needs of a wide range of professions as well as of individuals who want to explore and think critically about current health and social care issues.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM:

  • Strengthen public health capacity by developing a cadre of health professionals with skills in epidemiology and public health management
  • Contribute to research activities on priority public health problems
  • Improve national capacity to respond to public health emergencies such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters and unusual public health events including those that could be a result of chemical or bioterrorism
  • Contribute to the strengthening of  national surveillance systems through a team approach to the ONE HEALTH concept
  • Improve communications and networking of public health practitioners in the country and the Sub-region

EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS OF STUDENTS:

Upon completion of the B.Sc. Public Health Program, the graduates can work as public health officers, researchers and educators who will possess professional knowledge, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, leadership skills, and the desire for independent, as well as inter-disciplinary pursuit of high standards of healthcare in Private and Public Clinics and Hospitals, Educational Institutions, Home Care, Quasi Hospitals, Community Based Clinics, Health Related NGOs (local and international), WHO, UNICEF, Standard Board, Food and Drugs Authority(FDA), etc.

 COURSE STRUCTURE OF BSc PUBLIC HEALTH:

Level 100. Semester 1

Code Course Title Credit
BPHC 101 Introduction to Public Health 3
BPHC 103 Introduction to Basic Science   I 3
BPHC 105 Basic Concepts in Food and Nutrition 3
BPHC 109 Introduction to Sociology 3
BPHC 110 Academic Writing 3
HSEN 1512        Communication Skills I 3
GCU 1203 Sign Language 3
Total   21

Level 100. Semester 2

Code Course Title Credit
BPHC 102 Anatomy & Physiology 3
BPHC 104 Computing in Public Health 2
BPHC 106 Health Behaviour and Society 3
BPHC 112 Introduction to Psychology 3
BPHC 114 Human Growth and Development 3
BPHC 116 Community Entry and Organization 2
BPHC 118 Introduction to Basic Science   II 3
GCU1201 Workplace Values 3
Total   22

Level 200. Semester 1

Code Course Title Credit
BPHC 203 Epidemiology:  Principles and Methods 3
BPHC 205 Medical Anthropology:  Cultural Foundation 2
  for Health and Illness  
BPHC 207 Introduction to Biostatistics 3
BPHC 209 Introduction to Microbiology 3
BPHC 211 Introduction to Pharmacology 3
BPHC 213 Introduction to Public Health Ethics 2
BPHC 215 Basic Principles of Environmental Health 2
BPHC 217 Health Promotion and Education 2
Total   20

Level 200. Semester 2

Code Course Title                                                         Credit Credits
BPHC 202 Ecological Approach to Health     3
BPHC 204 Health Care Systems in Ghana 3
BPHC 208 Population, Health and Development 3
BPHC 212 Research Methods in Social and Behavioural Sciences 2
BPHC 214 Public Health Communication 3
BPHC 220 Person-Centred Health Practice 3
GCU2201 Leadership and Servanthood in Workplace 3
Total   21

Level 300. Semester 1 

CORE COURSES FOR LEVEL 300 (All Options)

Code Course Title Credit
BPHC 305 Principles of Disease Control 2
BPHC 307 Public Health Nutrition 2
BPHC 309 Primary Health Care 2
BPHC 303 Management of Health Care Institutions 2
BPHC 301 Internship /field Attachment I 2
BPHC 313 Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programmes I 2
BPHC 315 Research Methods I 2
GCU3101 Theology of Work 3
     
Core              17
Electives              4-7
Total               21-24

 Level 300 Semester 2

CORE COURSES FOR LEVEL 300 (All Options)  
Code Course Title Credit
BPHC 304 Fundamentals of Public Health Surveillance 2
BPHC 312 Management and Leadership in Health Services 2
BPHC H 314 Health Management Information Systems 2
BPHC 322 Research Methods II 2
BPHC 324 Public Health Seminar 1      2
Core         10
Electives   8-10
Total   18-20

Level 400 Semester 1

CORE COURSES FOR LEVEL 400 (All Options)

Code                           Course Title Credit
BPHC 405                   Introduction to Gender and Health Care 2
BPHC 411                   Project Work  (Dissertation II) 3

 
BPHC 413                   Scientific Communication 2
BPHC 407                  Internship /Field Attachment II

BPHC 415                   Advanced Public Health Ethics

 3

3
Core 10 (-4)
Electives 8-11
Total 18-21

 Level 400 Semester 2

CORE COURSES FOR LEVEL 400 (All Options)

Code Course Title Credit
BPHC 410 Project Work (Dissertation II) 6
BPHC 414 Public Health Seminar II 2
BPHC 420 Field Attachment 2
BPHC 415 Advanced Public Health Ethics II 2
Core   12
Electives   6-9
Total   18-21

 ELECTIVES (level 300 & level 400)

Health Education

Electives (level 300)

BPHE 339 Nutrients and their Metabolism   2
BPHE 341 Assessment of Nutritional Status   2
BPHE 343 Malnutrition and Food Security   2
BPHE 345 Contemporary Issues in Health Promotion   2
BPHE 347 Health Communications Theory and Practice   2
BPHE 316 School Health Services I (student must take School

Health Services II in level 400

  

2
BPHE 358 Behaviour Change Communication   2
BPHE 362 Media Communication in Health Education and Public Health   2

Electives (level 400)

BPHE 407                   School Health Services II (Preconditioned on School

Health Services I)

      2
BPHE 449                   Communication for Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle 2
BPHE 451                   Nutrition Transition in Ghana 2
BPHE 453                   Diet and Disease 2
BPHE 455                   School Feeding Programmes 2
BPHE 457                   Food Safety and Hygiene 2
BPHE 459                   Intervention Strategies for Health Promotion 2
BPHE 461                   Principles and Practice of Community Organization 2
BPHE 463                   Psychological Influence on Health 2
BPHE 465                   School Based Nutrition Education 2
BPHE 412                   Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 2
BPHE 422                   Environmental Health Promotion and Education 2
BPHE 438                   Nutritional Rehabilitation Programmes 2
BPHE 444                   Nutrition Seminar 2

Epidemiology and Disease Control

Electives (level 300)

BPHE 319                   Neglected Tropical Diseases 2
BPHE 321                   Zoonotic Diseases 2
BPHE 323                   Non-Communicable Diseases 2
BPHE 325                   Environmental Quality and Sanitary Inspection 2
BPHE 327                   Municipal Sanitary Services and Amenities 2
BPHE 329                   Hygiene of Food Processing and Handling 2
BPHE 318                   Occupational Health and Policy 2
BPHE 326                   Global Climate Change and Health and Safety 2
BPHE 328                   Control of Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases 2
BPHE 332                   Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response 2
BPHE 334                   Geographical Information Systems I 2
BPHE 336                   Water Supply and Treatment 2
BPHE 338                   Solid Waste Management 2
BPHE 342                   Pest and Vector Control 2
BPHE 344                   Environmental Exposure Assessment 2
BPHE 352                   Applied Nutrition 2
BPHE 354                   Nutritional Surveillance 2
BPHE 356                   Lifestyle and Nutrition 2

Electives (level 400)

BPHE 401                   Biostatistics for Public Health 2
BPHE 421                   Public Health Surveillance of Chronic Diseases 2
BPHE 423                   Emergency/ Preparedness and Outbreak Investigation 2
BPHE 427                   Domestic and Industrial Waste Water Disposal 2
BPHE 429                   Health Aspects of Housing 2
BPHE 431                   Gender and Environmental Health Care 2
BPHE 435                   Human Excreta and Sewage Disposal 2
BPHE 437                   Introduction to Field Epidemiology 2
BPHE 404                   Geriatric Health Care 2
BPHE 406                   Mental and Social Health Care 2
BPHE 416                   International Health Regulations (2005) 2
BPHE 418                   Global Health 2
BPHE 426                   Domestic and Industrial Waste Water Disposal 2
BPHE 434                   Public Health Programmes 2
BPHE 446                   Change Interventions for Chronic Disease 2
BPHE 454                   Mental Health as a Public Health Issue 2

 Reproductive and family health

Electives (level 300)

BPHE 301                   Child Survival Programme: Expanded Programme 2
                                    of Immunization  
BPHE 303                   Reproductive Health: Maternal Care 2
BPHE 331                   Population and Health 2
BPHE 302                   Infant and Young Child Feeding 2
BPHE 306                   Child Survival: Management of the Sick Child 2
BPHE 308                   Family Planning Methods and Practice 2

Electives (level 400)

BPHE 403                   Reproductive Health IV – Comprehensive 2
                                    Care for HIV/AIDS 2
BPHE 409                   Reproductive Health and Culture 2
BPHE 411                   Health problems of infants and children 2
BPHE 467                   Adolescent Health: Social and Behavioural Perspective 2
BPHE 448                   Rights for the Health of Women and Children 2
BPHE 452                   Reproductive Health in Developing Countries 2

 Health planning policy and management

Electives (level 300)

Code                           Course Title Credit
BPHE 317                   Health Planning and Policy Management 2

Electives (level 400)

BPHE 433                   Public Health Legislation, 2
                                    Regulation and Enforcement  
BPHE 447                   Food and Nutrition Policy 2
BPHE 408                   Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programme II 2
BPHE 424                   Institutional Development and Sector Management 2
BPHE 442                   Food Laws and Regulations 2

Health Information System and Management

Electives (level 300)

BPHE 333                   Database System Management I 2
BPHE 335                   Health Information Management 2
BPHE 337                   Information Security 2
BPHE 351                   Information Technology Application in Health 2
                                    Care management  
BPHE 348                   Data Analysis and Presentation (HMIS) I 3

Electives (level 400)

BPHE 439                   Geographical Information Systems II 2
BPHE 441                   Clinical Data Classification and Coding I 2
BPHE 443                   Electronic Health and Data Systems 2
BPHE 445                   Data Base Systems and Management II 2
BPHE 432                   Medical Records and Management 2
BPHE 436                   Clinical Data Classification and Coding II 2
BPHE 417                   Database Management II 2