University of Southern California

Keck School of Medicine

Department-Specific Programs

Department of Preventive Medicine

Minor in Cinema-Television for the Health Professions

This minor 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. 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 complements major programs such as biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology, health promotion and disease prevention studies, and environmental studies.

Required courses (24 units) units
CTCS 190 Introduction to Cinema 4
HP 345 Health Issues in Entertainment Media 4
Two of the following:
HP 370 Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications 4
HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine 4
HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community 4
HP 410 Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse 4
HP 420 Gender and Minority Health Issues 4
HP 421 Violence as a Public Health Issue 4
HP 422 AIDS in Society 4
Eight additional units from the following:
CTAN 451 History of Animation 2
CTCS 400 Non-Fiction Film and Television 4
CTPR 301 Creating the Non-Fiction Film 4
CTPR 375 Functions of a Director 4
CTPR 385 Colloquium: Motion Picture Production Techniques 4
CTPR 474 Television Documentary Production 4
CTWR 315x Filmwriting 3
CTWR 412 Introduction to Screenwriting 2
CTWR 416 Motion Picture Script Analysis 2-4

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 provides a foundation for students who want to become effective health care providers in an increasingly diverse society. It complements major programs such as biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology and environmental studies.

Required courses (20 units) Units
HP 200 Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 4
HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle and Health 4
HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine 4
HP 420 Gender and Minority Health Issues 4
One of the following:
HP 370 Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications 4
HP 402 Maternal and Child Health 4
HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community 4
HP 410 Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse 4
HP 421 Violence as a Public Health Issue 4
HP 422 AIDS in Society 4
HP 442 Chronic Disease Epidemiology 4
HP 450 Traditional Eastern Medicine and Modern Health 4
HP 460 Adolescent Health 4
PSYC 462 Minority Mental Health 4

Minor in Environmental Health

This minor provides students with a basic understanding of environmental health and its challenges. Curriculum will focus on global health, epidemiology (as it relates to environmental exposures), toxicology and exposure science. Students will be prepared to address and prevent environmental health hazards, promote public health and contribute to the resolution of various environmental health challenges. This minor is ideal for pre-health majors across the university.

REQUIRED COURSES (20 UNITS) units
HP 200 Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 4
HP 320* Biological and Behavioral Basis of Disease 4
HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community 4
HP 446 Poison, People, and Politics 4
HP 448 Global Environmental Changes and Health 4

*Prerequisite required

Minor in Global Health

This minor provides students with a basic understanding of the factors that determine the health of populations around the globe. Curriculum focuses on the cultural, environmental and clinical aspects of various health topics such as maternal and child health, aging, obesity, infectious disease and others. By studying these issues, students from majors across the university will be prepared to assess and contribute to the resolution of emerging global health challenges. This minor will appeal to a wide variety of majors, particularly majors centered on international affairs, business and health care.

REQUIRED COURSES (20 UNITS) UNITS
HP 270 Introduction to Global Health 4
HP 470 Case Studies in Global Health 4
Three of the following:
GERO 483 Global Health and Aging 4
HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health 4
HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine 4
HP 402 Maternal and Child Health 4
HP 422 AIDS in Society 4

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 such as 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 302 Persuasion 4
COMM 385 Survey of Organizational Communication 4
COMM 443 Health Communication Strategies and Evaluation 4
HP 200 Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 4
One of the following:
COMM 304 Interpersonal Communication 4
COMM 308 Communication and Conflict 4
COMM 315 Health Communication 4
COMM 324 Intercultural Communication 4
COMM 375 Business and Professional Communication 4
COMM 402 Public Communication Campaigns 4
COMM 480 Nonverbal Communication 4
COMM 486 Human and Technological Systems in Organizations 4
HP 370 Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications 4
HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health 4
HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine 4
HP 402 Maternal and Child Health 4
HP 403 Behavioral Medicine 4
HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community 4
HP 412 Health Promotion and Prevention Policy 4
HP 420 Gender and Minority Health Issues 4
HP 421 Violence as a Public Health Issue 4
HP 422 AIDS in Society 4
HP 430 Obesity and Health 4
HP 442 Chronic Disease Epidemiology 4

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 200 Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 4
PPD 330 Introduction to Health Care Systems 4
Three of the following:
HP 370 Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications 4
HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health 4
HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine 4
HP 402 Maternal and Child Health 4
HP 403 Behavioral Medicine 4
HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community 4
HP 410 Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse 4
HP 412 Health Promotion and Prevention Policy 4
HP 420 Gender and Minority Health Issues 4
HP 421 Violence as a Public Health Issue 4
HP 422 AIDS in Society 4
HP 430 Obesity and Health 4
HP 441 Health Promotion in the Workplace 4
HP 442 Chronic Disease Epidemiology 4
HP 460 Adolescent Health 4

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 230 Nutrition and Health 4
HP 430 Obesity and Health 4
HP 431 Behavior and Education Strategies for Nutrition and Fitness 4
Two of the following:
HP 370 Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications 4
HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health 4
HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine 4
HP 402 Maternal and Child Health 4
HP 403 Behavioral Medicine 4
HP 412 Health Promotion and Prevention Policy 4
HP 420 Gender and Minority Health Issues 4
HP 432 Clinical Nutrition 4
HP 433 Advanced Topics in Nutrition 4
HP 460 Adolescent Health 4
HP 480 Internship in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 2-4, max 4
HP 490x Directed Research 1-8, max 12

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 200 Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 4
HP 300* Theoretical Principles of Health Behavior 4
HP 410 Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse 4
HP 411 Drug Intervention Program Design and Evaluation 4
One of the following:
HP 370 Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications 4
HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health 4
HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine 4
HP 402 Maternal and Child Health 4
HP 403 Behavioral Medicine 4
HP 412 Health Promotion and Prevention Policy 4
HP 421 Violence as a Public Health Issue 4

*Including prerequisite