Department of Public Health Sciences

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).

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

The Fall 2023 Application Process Has Now Closed

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. As of December 8, 2023 at 12:00pm, the Fall 2023 application process is closed.

Questions? Email Rylee Bowman at rbowma3@clemson.edu.

Directory - Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Informatics Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Falta, Deborah	Principal Lecturer	864-656-1627 FALTAD@clemson.edu
Fan, Qiping	Assistant Professor	864-656-1622 qipingf@clemson.edu
Gezer, Fatih	Post Doctoral Fellow	864-656-5865 fgezer@clemson.edu
Heo, Moonseong	Professor	864-455-1132 MHEO@clemson.edu
Howard, Kerry	Research Manager	khowar7@clemson.edu
Jing, Xia	Associate Professor	864-656-3347 xjing@clemson.edu
Rennert, Lior	Assistant Professor	LIORR@clemson.edu
Zhang, Lu	Assistant Professor	(864) -6563082 lz3@clemson.edu

Directory - Community Health & Behavior Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Baxter, Samuel	Post-Doctoral Fellow	(864) 656-7390 baxter@clemson.edu
Cartmell, Kathleen	Associate Professor	864 656-2719 kcartme@clemson.edu
Clinkscales, Amelia	Undergraduate Director	864-656-2795 ABCLINK@clemson.edu
Gorham, Lindsey	Lecturer	864-656-1898 lgorham@clemson.edu
Griffin, Sarah	Professor, Interim Department Chair	864-656-1622 SGRIFFI@clemson.edu
Hague, Sarah E.	Lecturer	shague@clemson.edu
Hunter, Erin	Assistant Professor	864-656-7435 hunter9@clemson.edu
Kemper, Karen	Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, Faculty Senator	864-656-5490 KKAREN@clemson.edu
Mayo, Rachel	Professor, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate	864-656-6741 RMAYO@clemson.edu
Sherry, Julia	Lecturer, Language and International Health Internship Coordinator	(864) 656-3783 jsherry@clemson.edu
Stover, Amanda	Assistant Professor	864-656-1898 anstove@clemson.edu
Tugman, Becky	Lecturer	BTUGMAN@clemson.edu
Welsh, Ralph Stewart	Senior Lecturer	864-656-7158 RALPHW@clemson.edu
Williams, Joel	Associate Professor	864-656-1017 JOEL2@clemson.edu

Directory - Health Systems Faculty

Name	Title	Phone/Email
Edward Dotherow	Post Doctoral Fellow	864-656-5865 jdother@clemson.edu
Floyd, Sarah	Assistant Professor	(864) 656-5865 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	cnovako@clemson.edu
Owen, Shannon	Lecturer	ssowen@clemson.edu
Sherrill, Windsor	Provost Distinguished Professor, Associate Vice President for Health Research	864-656-0263 wsherri@clemson.edu
Shi, Lu	Associate Professor	864-656-0495 LUS@clemson.edu
Staton, Tanya	Lecturer	864-656-3841 TLHALL@clemson.edu
Truong, Khoa Dang	Associate Professor	864-656-4704 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
Neuse, Hannah	Administrative Assistant	864-656-9866 hneuse@clemson.edu
Porter , Katherine	Administrative Coord I	864-656-5865 khmarx@clemson.edu