USC
University of Southern California
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Minor Programs

Minor in Cinema-Television for the Health Professions

This minor is designed for students who plan to enter careers or professional programs in medicine after graduation and are interested in working with film and television producers to disseminate accurate health information to the public. It introduces pre-health students to the theory and techniques of the cinematic arts and to a set of media practices useful for the implementation of health promotion strategies. The minor will provide a foundation for students who want to be able to function as consultants to the entertainment industry in their roles as researchers and clinicians. It complements major programs such as biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology, health promotion and disease prevention studies, and environmental studies.

Required courses (24 units)Units
CTCS 190Introduction to Cinema 4
CNTV 345Health Issues in Entertainment Media 4

Two of the following:
HP 370Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications4
HP 401Cultural Competence in Medicine4
HP 408Environmental Health in the Community4
HP 410Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse 4
HP 420Gender and Minority Health Issues 4
HP 421Violence as a Public Health Issue 4
HP 422AIDS in Society 4

Eight additional units from the following:
CTAN 451History of Animation 2
CTCS 400Non-Fiction Film and Television 4
CTPR 301Creating the Non-Fiction Film 4
CTPR 375Functions of a Director 4
CTPR 385Colloquium: Motion Picture Production Techniques 4
CTPR 474Television Documentary Production 4
CTWR 315xFilmwriting 3
CTWR 412Introduction to Screenwriting 2
CTWR 416Motion Picture Script Analysis2-4

Minor in Cultural Competence in Medicine

This minor is designed for students who plan to enter careers or professional programs in medicine after graduation and are interested in using cultural knowledge to provide more effective health care. The minor focuses on cultural differences in the understanding of health, disease, health care and risk factors unique to specific populations. The minor will provide a foundation for students who want to be able to function as effective health care providers in our increasingly diverse society. It complements major programs such as biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology and environmental studies.

Required courses (20 units)Units
HP 200Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention4
HP 400Culture, Lifestyle and Health4
HP 401Cultural Competence in Medicine4
HP 420Gender and Minority Health Issues4

One of the following:
HP 370Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications4
HP 402Maternal and Child Health4
HP 408Environmental Health in the Community4
HP 410Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse4
HP 421Violence as a Public Health Issue4
HP 422AIDS in Society4
HP 442Chronic Disease Epidemiology4
HP 450Traditional Eastern Medicine and Modern Health4
HP 460Adolescent Health4
PSYC 462Minority Mental Health4

Minor in Health Communication

This minor is designed to appeal to students with a wide range of interests, including those with a general interest in promoting healthy lifestyle practices through effective communication. These students will be prepared to seek jobs in areas including the managed care industry, hospitals, wellness programs, broadcast and cable companies, and private and governmental agencies, as well as other organizations looking for experts with demonstrated knowledge in health-related fields.

Required courses (20 units)Units
COMM 302Persuasion4
COMM 385Survey of Organizational Communication4
COMM 443Health Communication Strategies and Evaluation4
HP 200Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention4

One of the following:
COMM 304Interpersonal Communication4
COMM 308Communication and Conflict4
COMM 315Health Communication4
COMM 324Intercultural Communication4
COMM 375Business and Professional Communication4
COMM 402Public Communication Campaigns4
COMM 480Nonverbal Communication4
COMM 486Human and Technological Systems in Organizations4
HP 370Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications4
HP 400Culture, Lifestyle, and Health4
HP 401Cultural Competence in Medicine4
HP 402Maternal and Child Health4
HP 403Behavioral Medicine4
HP 408Environmental Health in the Community4
HP 412Health Promotion and Prevention Policy4
HP 420Gender and Minority Health Issues4
HP 421Violence as a Public Health Issue4
HP 422AIDS in Society4
HP 430Nutrition and Exercise Epidemiology4
HP 442Chronic Disease Epidemiology4

Minor in Public Health

This minor is designed for students interested in a broad array of health issues. The focus of the minor is on reducing disability and mortality from avoidable injuries and chronic disease, educating the community about healthy lifestyles, assuring access to health care, and measuring changes using various indicators over time. This minor teaches students to meet the challenges of the changing environment of the health care system. It complements a number of majors including psychology, sociology, American studies and ethnicity, biological sciences, economics, environmental studies, kinesiology, gender studies, international relations, philosophy, religion, gerontology and political science.

Required courses (20-24 units*)Units
HP 200Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention4
PPD 330Introduction to Health Care Systems4

Three of the following:
HP 370Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications4
HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle and Health4
HP 401Cultural Competence in Medicine4
HP 402Maternal and Child Health4
HP 403Behavioral Medicine4
HP 408Environmental Health in the Community4
HP 410Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse4
HP 412Health Promotion and Prevention Policy4
HP 420Gender and Minority Health Issues4
HP 421Violence as a Public Health Issue4
HP 422AIDS in Society4
HP 430Nutrition and Exercise Epidemiology4
HP 441Health Promotion in the Workplace4
HP 442Chronic Disease Epidemiology4
HP 460*Adolescent Health4

*Prerequisite required

Minor in Nutrition and Health Promotion

This minor is designed to appeal to students interested in nutrition, especially in preparation for graduate study in health-related fields (e.g., medicine, public health) or to enter health-related fields of employment. The focus of the minor is on assessing, planning and evaluating dietary intake of individuals or groups under various conditions of health and disease based upon principles of nutrition and behavioral science. Students in this minor will study factors associated with dietary habits and the development of effective individual and group interventions. It complements majors including psychology, gerontology, biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology and environmental studies.

Required courses (20 units)Units
HP 230Nutrition and Health4
HP 430Obesity and Health4
HP 431Behavior and Education Strategies for Nutrition and Fitness4

Two of the following:
HP 370Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications4
HP 400Culture, Lifestyle, and Health4
HP 401Cultural Competence in Medicine4
HP 402Maternal and Child Health4
HP 403Behavioral Medicine4
HP 412Health Promotion and Prevention Policy4
HP 420Gender and Minority Health Issues4
HP 432Clinical Nutrition4
HP 433Advanced Topics in Nutrition4
HP 460Adolescent Health4
HP 480Internship in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention2-4, max 4
HP 490xDirected Research2-8, max 8

Minor in Substance Abuse Prevention

This minor offers students an opportunity to gain an overall understanding of substance abuse as a major modifiable risk factor for illness. It allows students to learn theories of behavior change, to understand the issues in prevention and cessation of drug abuse, and to develop, implement, and evaluate intervention strategies. It complements a number of majors including psychology, sociology, American studies and ethnicity, biological science and gerontology.

Required courses (24 units*)Units
HP 200Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention4
HP 300*Theoretical Principles of Health Behavior (Prerequisite: PSYC 100)4
HP 410Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse4
HP 411Drug Intervention Program Design and Evaluation 4

One of the following:
HP 370Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications4
HP 400Culture, Lifestyle, and Health4
HP 401Cultural Competence in Medicine4
HP 402Maternal and Child Health4
HP 403Behavioral Medicine4
HP 412Health Promotion and Prevention Policy4
HP 421Violence as a Public Health Issue4

*Including prerequisite