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.

The Program of Public Health at Clemson University is undergoing a review by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for accreditation. Part of this process includes the provision of a third-party comment period, which allows anyone, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, community and practice partners, and members of the public, to share relevant information about the program directly with CEPH.

If you have any information about the program you would like to share with CEPH to inform their review, send your comments to submissions@ceph.org by November 7, 2026.

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 rbowma3@clemson.edu.

Directory - Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Informatics Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Falta, Deborah	Principal Lecturer	864-656-5865 FALTAD@clemson.edu
Fan, Qiping	Assistant Professor of Epidemiology	qipingf@clemson.edu
Gezer, Fatih	Research Associate	864-656-5865 fgezer@clemson.edu
Gual Gonzalez, Lídia	Assistant Professor	(864) 656-7390 lgualgo@clemson.edu
Heo, Moonseong	Professor	864-455-1132 MHEO@clemson.edu
Howard, Kerry	Research Manager	khowar7@clemson.edu
Jenkins, Wiley	Professor, Department Chair	864-656-7117 wileyj@clemson.edu
Jing, Xia	Associate Professor	864-656-3347 xjing@clemson.edu
Khan, Md Tareq Ferdous	Assistant Professor	mtkhan@clemson.edu
Rennert, Lior	Associate Dean for Health Sciences	liorr@clemson.edu
Witrick, Brian	Assistant Professor	bwitric@clemson.edu
Woo, MinJae	Assistant Professor of Data Science	864-656-5865 mwoo@clemson.edu
Zhang, Lu	Associate Professor	(864) -6563082 lz3@clemson.edu

Directory - Community Health & Behavior Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Cartmell, Kathleen	Associate Research Professor	843 754-4689 kcartme@clemson.edu
Clinkscales, Amelia	Senior Lecturer/Undergraduate Programs Coordinator	864-656-2795 abclink@clemson.edu
Driver, Ally	Lecturer	615-477-7623 agdrive@clemson.edu
Gorham, Lindsey	Lecturer/Internship Coordinator/Advisor	864-656-2793 lgorham@clemson.edu
Griffin, Sarah	Professor \| Interim Director, Extension Center for Health Outreach (ECHO)	864-656-5865 sgriffi@clemson.edu
Hague, Sarah E.	Lecturer	shague@clemson.edu
Hunter, Erin	Assistant Professor of Global Health	864-656-7435 hunter9@clemson.edu
Kemper, Karen	Emeritus Faculty	864-656-5865 kkaren@clemson.edu
Lartey, Stella	Assistant Professor	slartey@clemson.edu
Malone, Katymay	Clinical Assistant Professor \| Master of Public Health Program Coordinator	864.656.5490 kmalon4@clemson.edu
Mayo, Rachel	Professor	864-656-6741 rmayo@clemson.edu
Morgan, Amanda	Lecturer	520 Edwards Hall amorg26@clemson.edu
Stover, Amanda	Assistant Professor of Rural Health	864-656-1898 anstove@clemson.edu
Tugman, Becky	Senior Lecturer, Public Health Science	btugman@clemson.edu
Welsh, Ralph Stewart	Principal Lecturer	ralphw@clemson.edu
Williams, Joel	Associate Dean for Graduate Studies \| Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences	864-656-1017 joel2@clemson.edu

Directory - Health Systems Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Floyd, Sarah	Assistant Professor	sbf@clemson.edu
Gimbel, Ron	Professor & Director, Clemson Rural Health	864-656-1969 rgimbel@clemson.edu
Lopes, Snehal	Post Doctoral Fellow	snehall@clemson.edu
Novakovic, Christianna	Lecturer	864-656-6694 cnovako@clemson.edu
Owen, Shannon	Lecturer	ssowen@clemson.edu
Sherrill, Windsor Westbrook	Provost Distinguished Professor, Senior Associate Vice President for Research	864-656-0263 wsherri@clemson.edu
Staton, Tanya	Senior Lecturer	TLHALL@clemson.edu
Truong, Khoa Dang	Associate Professor	864-656-5865 KTRUONG@clemson.edu

Directory - Public Health Sciences Staff

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Atkinson, Karen	Research Associate - Graduate Recruitment	864-710-6997 KWEDWAR@clemson.edu
Coffey Moses, Rebecca	Graduate Student Services Coordinator	864-656-5502 COFFEY2@clemson.edu
Porter , Katherine	Administrative Coord I	864-656-5865 khmarx@clemson.edu