Department of Public Health Sciences at Clemson University

Students in a Clemson Public Health Science classroom with a faculty member

The Clemson University Department of Public Health Sciences seeks to improve health service delivery, public health practice, and the health status of the University community, the citizens of the state of South Carolina, the nation, and across the globe through the integration of our research, teaching and service.

Majoring In Public Health Science

Public Health Scientists address real world issues related to protecting and advancing population health. Students in our major develop skills to identify and mitigate disease outbreak; improve healthcare delivery; expand health access and equity; design and deliver interventions and health education programs; and conduct valuable research to inform policymakers and clinicians of evidence-based strategies that advance public health and wellness. Graduates of our program find employment in a variety of fields: epidemiology, medicine, government, public safety, health administration, non-profit organizations and industry. If you are looking for an exciting career in one of the fastest growing industries in America, the Public Health Science major is right for you.

About the Department of Public Health Sciences

The Department of Health Science was founded in 1991, with its first students graduating in May 1994. Renamed in 1998, the Department of Public Health Sciences has been recognized by the Association of Prevention Training and Research and the Association of American Colleges & Universities as one of 15 exemplary undergraduate programs in public health. In 2017, it became one of the first stand-alone undergraduate public health programs to be accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH).

The Department of Public Health Sciences houses the B.S. in Health Sciences degree with three concentrations in Preprofessional Health Studies, Health Promotion and Behavior, and Health Services Administration. The B.S. in Health Sciences degree is currently accredited as a Standalone Baccalaureate Program (SBP) by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). For more information about CEPH, see: https://ceph.org. For more information about CEPH accreditation criteria, see: https://ceph.org/about/org-info/criteria-procedures-documents/criteria-procedures.

The department is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health as a Public Health Program (PHP). The accreditation review will address the online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with concentrations in Rural and Community Health and Outcomes and Quality Improvement and the B.S. in Health Sciences degree with three concentrations in Preprofessional Health Studies, Health Promotion and Behavior, and Health Services Administration. Other degrees and areas of study offered by the department will not be included in the unit of accreditation review.

Since its inception, the Department of Public Health Sciences has provided undergraduate training in the health sciences with an emphasis on health promotion and pre-professional preparation. The undergraduate curriculum consists of a foundational set of core public health courses and three unique concentration areas that provide scholars with a thorough understanding of the theories, values, knowledge, and practices used in the health sciences. With the introduction of two unique graduate programs in 2014, the Department of Public Health Sciences has enhanced its national reputation and produced highly qualified health research experts who now serve at some of the most prestigious institutions across the nation.

As a public, land-grant institution, Clemson’s mission goes beyond simply serving as an institute of higher education. Its mission is to benefit the public good. The Department of Public Health Sciences is committed to education, community involvement, and reciprocal research that improves the quality of life and economic prosperity in the state and beyond.

We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion enrich the academic experience of our students, faculty, and staff, and prepare us to thrive in a global society. Thus, we are firmly committed to an environment that respects all members of our community. We will work to eliminate barriers that any members of our community experience.

We accept personal and professional responsibility to eliminate bias and oppression wherever they are found. We understand our obligation to speak up when we see bias, whether in our teaching, study, or everyday life.

Our self study report CEPH’s final accreditation report
Changing Majors To Public Health Science

Are you interested in changing your major to Health Science? You must be a current Clemson student to qualify to apply for change of major to Health Science. Prospective transfers (students enrolled at another institution) or freshmen (students in high school) will apply directly to Health Science as part of the Clemson Admissions process.

If you are an incoming freshman who received an admission decision other than Health Science and are interested in changing to Health Science prior to the start of classes, please contact the admissions counselor for your state for more information. Academic Advisors do not maintain any waitlists for admission or make any admissions decisions. The list of admissions counselors can be found here.

Read about the competitive application process which occurs each fall semester in the Health Science Change of Major FAQs

The application will open on the first day of classes in the fall term and close on the last day of classes in the fall term. (NOTE: this is the last day of classes, not the last day of exams.) Click here to apply.

Questions? Email Rylee Bowman at [email protected].

Directory - Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Informatics Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Falta, Deborah	Principal Lecturer	864-656-1627 [email protected]
Fan, Qiping	Assistant Professor of Epidemiology	864-656-3841 [email protected]
Gezer, Fatih	Research Associate	864-656-5865 [email protected]
Heo, Moonseong	Professor	864-455-1132 [email protected]
Howard, Kerry	Research Manager	[email protected]
Jenkins, Wiley	Professor, Department Chair	864-656-7117 [email protected]
Jing, Xia	Associate Professor	864-656-3347 [email protected]
Khan, Md Tareq Ferdous	Assistant Professor	[email protected]
Rennert, Lior	Associate Dean for Health Sciences	[email protected]
Witrick, Brian	Assistant Professor	864-656-4442 [email protected]
Woo, MinJae	Assistant Professor	864-656-5490 [email protected]
Zhang, Lu	Assistant Professor	(864) -6563082 [email protected]

Directory - Community Health & Behavior Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Cartmell, Kathleen	Associate Research Professor	843 754-4689 [email protected]
Clinkscales, Amelia	Senior Lecturer/Undergraduate Programs Coordinator	864-656-2795 [email protected]
Driver, Ally	Lecturer	615-477-7623 [email protected]
Gorham, Lindsey	Lecturer/Internship Coordinator/Advisor	864-656-1898 [email protected]
Griffin, Sarah	Professor, Interim Department Chair	864-656-1622 [email protected]
Hague, Sarah E.	Lecturer	[email protected]
Hunter, Erin	Assistant Professor of Global Health	864-656-7435 [email protected]
Kemper, Karen	Emeritus Faculty	864-656-5490 [email protected]
Lartey, Stella	Assistant Professor	[email protected]
Malone, Katymay	Clinical Assistant Professor, Master of Public Health Program Coordinator	[email protected]
Mayo, Rachel	Professor	864-656-6741 [email protected]
Morgan, Amanda	Lecturer	864-656-5495 [email protected]
Stover, Amanda	Assistant Professor of Rural Health	864-656-1898 [email protected]
Tugman, Becky	Senior Lecturer, Public Health Science	[email protected]
Welsh, Ralph Stewart	Senior Lecturer	864-656-7158 [email protected]
Williams, Joel	Associate Professor	864-656-1017 [email protected]

Directory - Health Systems Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Floyd, Sarah	Assistant Professor	(864) 656-5865 [email protected]
Gimbel, Ron	Professor & Director, Clemson Rural Health	864-656-1969 [email protected]
Lopes, Snehal	Post Doctoral Fellow	[email protected]
Novakovic, Christianna	Lecturer	[email protected]
Owen, Shannon	Lecturer	[email protected]
Sherrill, Windsor Westbrook	Provost Distinguished Professor, Associate Vice President for Health Research	864-656-0263 [email protected]
Staton, Tanya	Senior Lecturer	864-245-1578 [email protected]
Truong, Khoa Dang	Associate Professor	864-656-4704 [email protected]

Directory - Public Health Sciences Staff

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Atkinson, Karen	Research Associate - Graduate Recruitment	864-710-6997 [email protected]
Coffey Moses, Rebecca	Graduate Student Services Coordinator	864-656-5502 [email protected]
Porter , Katherine	Administrative Coord I	864-656-5865 [email protected]