What is Population Health?

Population health management is a new discipline in healthcare that has grown out of changes in technology, reimbursement and a focus on prevention and chronic illness management. Population health professionals step beyond the individual focus of traditional public health and clinical medicine. They look at trends and identify factors that impact the health of an entire population. The goal of this holistic approach is to shift people toward healthier lifestyles. 

Healthcare of the Future 

The healthcare industry is changing faster than ever before, and now, healthcare professionals are no longer in the industry of managing illness —they are in the business of keeping people healthy. At Missouri Western, we’ve developed the Bachelor of Science in Population Health Management, a brand-new program in the field and across the nation. The program reflects the ever-changing healthcare industry with the goals of improving health outcomes and shifting people toward healthier lifestyles. 

National Leader

The Population Health Management degree is an innovative non-clinical Bachelor of Science program. It was developed in collaboration with population health industry leaders and is one of the first in the country. The program prepares graduates to enter the workforce prepared to meet the needs of this changing healthcare environment. 

You will stand out with in-demand skills in information systems, healthcare finance, policy, community wellness and public health. You will graduate with valuable real-world experience gained through community based internships and other applied learning opportunities.

Fiona Sansone

Dr. Fiona Sansone
Endowed Director
fsansone@missouriwestern.edu
Murphy Hall 309
(816) 271-5622

General Studies
42-47
Core Requirements
ACT 201Microcomputer Applications3
ALH 106Medical Terminology2
ALH 320Community and Public Health3
ALH 330Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics3
ALH 350Introduction to Population Health3
ALH 351Applied Population Health Management Lab1
ALH 402Population Health Internship3
BIO 250Anatomy and Physiology5
BIO 375Pathophysiology4
ECO 375Economics of Health Care3
EXS 391Personal and Environmental Health3
GBA 210Business Statistics I 13
or NUR 314 Quantitative Analysis for Health Care Research
or PSY 300 Introductory Psychological Statistics
HIF 200Health Care Delivery Systems3
HIF 300Health Data Management3
HIF 330Legal and Ethical Aspects of Healthcare Management3
NUR 424Care Coordination Across the Lifespan2
PSY 220Health Psychology/Stress Management3
SOC 360Sociology of Health, Illness and Medicine3
Restricted Electives
Fourteen additional credit hours, with six or more hours being Upper Division from ACC, FIN, MGT, HIF, PSY, GEO, CSC, SWK, ECO, ACT, PED, BIO, CHE, ALH, or NUR
1

PSY 200 Intermediate Psychology will be waived as a prerequisite for PSY 300 Introductory Psychological Statistics

Program Graduation Requirements

  1. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
  2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0. 

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses.  Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam. 

Are you ready to declare this major or minor? Download, sign and submit the form(s) to the Nursing Department.

Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.

Admission Requirements

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Completion of MWSU General Studies/Core42 Requirements and Completion of BIO101 Principles of Biology, BIO250 Anatomy and Physiology, ECO261 Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C or higher
  • Declare your interest in Population Health Management
  • Complete a major declaration form
  • A pre-major declaration is also available for the PHM Program

Griffons Are in Demand

Recent Graduate Job Titles:

  • Business Consultant
  • Claims Analyst
  • Medical Informatics Liaison
  • Community Health Worker
  • Clinic Manager

Possibilities

Graduates Can Expect to Find Roles with the Following Types of Organizations:

  • Hospitals
  • Community Service Agencies
  • Public Health
  • Electronic Health Records Companies
  • Wellness Providers
  • Healthcare Reimbursement
population health banner

Standout

Courses reflect the changing needs of the healthcare industry

  • Sociology of Health, Illness & Medicine
  • Health Data Management
  • Health Care Economics
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Population Health
  • Care Coordination
  • Health Communications
  • Health/Stress Management Psychology

Find out More

Have Questions About:

Online Options?
Transfer Credit?
Program Costs?

Request More Information

Recent Internships

Recent Student Internships Sites:

Primary Care:

  • Clinic Management

Hospital Based:

  • Health Informatics, 4th Grade Challenge, Market Research, Community Based Care Network

Other:

  • Community Housing and Health
  • Public Health
  • Electronic Health Record Company

Admission requirements:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Completion of MWSU General Studies/Core42 Requirements and Completion of BIO101 Principles of Biology, BIO250 Anatomy and Physiology, ECO261 Principles of Microeconomics with a grade of C or higher
  • Declare your interest in Population Health Management 
  • Complete a major declaration form
  • A pre-major declaration is also available for the PHM Program

Recent graduate job titles:

  • Business Consultant
  • Claims Analyst
  • Medical Informatics Liaison
  • Community Health Worker
  • Clinic Manager

Graduates can expect to find roles with the following types of organizations:

  • Hospitals 
  • Community Service Agencies
  • Public Health
  • Electronic Health Records Companies
  • Wellness Providers
  • Healthcare Reimbursement

Courses reflect the changing needs of the healthcare industry:

  • Sociology of Health, Illness & Medicine
  • Health Data Management
  • Health Care Economics
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Population Health 
  • Care Coordination
  • Health Communications
  • Health/Stress Management Psychology

Recent internships:

Primary Care: 

  • Clinic Management

Hospital Based:

  • Health Informatics, 4th Grade Challenge, Market Research, Community Based Care Network

Other:

  • Community Housing and Health
  • Public Health
  • Electronic Health Record Company

Have questions about:

  • Online options?
  • Transfer credit?
  • Program costs?

Request More Information Here