Major requirements will shift starting in AUT 2024. Below are the anticipated changes. Check back regularly as additional changes to degree requirements are likely to take place.
Check Current Degree Requirements for degree requirements for students entering the Major that are effective now through SUM 2024.
In addition to the major requirements below, students must also complete General Education Requirements for the School of Public Health.
| Total credits for degree: | 180 |
| Total credits for general education requirements: | 84 |
| Minimum GPA for courses applying towards the public health portion of degree: |
2.0 |
| A. Integrated Core Sequence | 20 credits |
| B. Public Health Foundation | 8 credits |
| C. Structural Racism | 5 credits |
| D. Public Health Service Learning | 6 credits |
| E. Social & Behavioral Sciences Breadth | 15 credits |
| F. Natural Science | 10 credits |
| G1. BA Selectives | 20 credits |
| G2. BS Selectives | 40 credits |
| H. Public Health Electives | 20 credits |
| I. Public Health Portfolio | 3 credits |
The University has deemed the following quarters as Extraordinary Circumstances Quarters: SPR 2020, SUM 2020, AUT 2020, WIN 2021, SPR 2021, SUM 2021, and WIN 2022. “S” grades earned extraordinary circumstances quarters will count toward degree requirements. Learn more about extraordinary circumstances quarters and S/NS grading here.
A. Integrated Core Sequence — 20 credits
| Number | Name | Quarters Offered |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPH 380 | History & Practice of Public Health (W) Prerequisite: Admission into Major |
A, W, Sp | 5 |
| SPH 381 | Science & Public Health Prerequisite: Minimum 1.7 in SPH 380; Either BIOL 118, BIOL 180, CHEM 120, CHEM 142, CHEM 145, or MICROM 301 and 302 |
A, W, Sp | 5 |
| SPH 480 | Research Methods in Public Health Prerequisite: Minimum 1.7 in SPH 381; minimum 1.7 in SPH 389; EPI 320, BIOST 310 |
A, W, Sp | 5 |
| SPH 481 | Ethics, Social Justice & Policy in Public Health Prerequisite: Minimum 1.7 in SPH 480 |
A, W, Sp | 5 |
B. Public Health Foundation — 8 credits
Please note that both requirements for the Public Health Foundation must be completed or in-progress in order to register for SPH 480 in the Integrated Core Sequence.
| Number | Name | Quarters Offered |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOST 310 | Biostatistics for Health Sciences | A, W, Sp | 4 |
| EPI 320 | Introduction to Epidemiology | A, W, Sp | 4 |
BIOST 310 is the preferred option for satisfying the statistics portion of the Public Health Foundation requirement. However, ONE of the following may also satisfy the requirement:
| Number | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS&SS/SOC/ STAT 221 | Statistical Concepts and Methods for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| Q SCI 381 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 5 |
| QMETH 201 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 4 |
| STAT 220 | Basic Statistics | 5 |
| STAT 290 | Advanced Placement Statistics | 5 |
| STAT 311 | Elements of Statistical Methods | 5 |
C. Structural Racism — 5 credits
Complete SPH 389: Race, Racism, and Public Health – A, W, Sp
Note: SPH 389 replaces the one-credit diversity seminar – SPH 489: Structural Racism & Public Health. SPH 389 must be completed in the first year in the major.
D. Public Health Service Learning — 6 credits
Complete SPH 391/2/6: Public Health Service Learning – A, W, Sp
Note: SPH 391/2/6 is a new addition to the Public Health-Global Health Major’s curriculum, effective AUT 2024
E. Social & Behavioral Sciences Breadth — 15 credits
Up to 5 credits per course in at least three departments. Courses fulfilling a Social & Behavioral Sciences credit cannot be used to fulfill another major-specific requirement:
- Afro-American Studies
- American Asian Studies
- American Ethnic Studies
- American Indian Studies
- Anthropology (ANTH only)
- Chicano Studies
- Geography
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology (except SOC 221)
Note: the Social & Behavioral Sciences Breadth decreased from 25 credits to 15 credits.
F. Natural Science — 10 credits
One 5-credit introductory course in biology and chemistry:
- Biology selected from:
BIOL 118, BIOL 180 or MICROM 301/302 - Chemistry selected from:
CHEM 120, CHEM 142, CHEM 143 or CHEM 145
G1. Bachelor of Arts (BA) Selectives — 20 credits
20 credits from courses identified to address competency areas in health economics, health promotion and social justice.
G2. Bachelor of Science (BS) Selectives — 40 credits
Two year-long sequences of introductory science from the following list:
- Biology (BIOL 180, 200, 220) - 15 credits
- Chemistry (CHEM 142, 152, 162) - 15 credits
- Can also accept Honors Chemistry (CHEM 145, 155, 165) or Accelerated Chemistry (CHEM 143, 153) as Chemistry sequence
Remaining 10 credits chosen from:
- Biochemistry: BIOC 405, 406
- Organic Chemistry: CHEM 237, 238, 239, 241, 242
- Physics: PHYS 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123
- Mathematics: MATH 124, 125, 126
The science courses in this area may overlap with F. Natural Science if the biology and/or chemistry series are chosen.
H. Public Health Electives — 20 credits
I. Public Health Portfolio — 3 credits
Complete SPH 493: Public Health Portfolio – A, W, Sp
Note: SPH 493 replaces Public Health Capstone. SPH 493 should be completed in the final year in the major.
| Number | Name | Quarters Offered |
|---|---|---|
| SPH 493 | Public Health Portfolio Prerequisite: completed SPH 480 and SPH 481; SPH 481 may be taken concurrently |
A, W, Sp |
Updated Jan 5, 2024