Public Health, B.S.

The Public Health Bachelor of Science curriculum consists of a core of five courses providing a foundation of knowledge and skills critical to the theory and practice of the health professional. In addition, students complete a specialized cluster of courses in Public Health that provides the depth and breadth for the area.

To complete the Public Health, B.S. major, students must complete General Education requirements (48 units), Public Health core courses (27 units), selected elective courses (15 units), and any additional requirements selected (15 units), the upper-division writing skills requirement, Multicultural and International (M/I), and additional electives. Students are encouraged to complete the additional requirements prior to the major courses as the courses may meet General Education requirements, and they provide a foundation for the courses in Public Health. Elective units also may be used toward earning a certificate.

Public Health students are advised to obtain an advising roadmap from the department office. The roadmap includes the list of required courses. It is strongly recommended that students follow the coursework shown in the roadmap. Students need to consult with their advisers for decisions regarding major and minor courses. All substitutions must be approved by the department chair. Classes offered in the Public Health Department may require field assignments.

Due to the increasing number of opportunities in the area of health, we have structured courses in epidemiology, community and environmental health to complement basic courses in health behavior, health education methods, contemporary health issues, disease, drugs, and human sexuality. The curriculum is designed to prepare individuals not only to be competent instructors in the health areas, but to be health educators in many segments of our society. Upon completion of the degree, students would be eligible to take applicable certification exams, including the certified test to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

Degree Requirements

Major Requirements (42 units)

Public Health Core Requirements (27)

PH 90 - Contemporary Health Issues Units: 3 (Area E)
PH 92 - Public Health Statistics Units: 3 (Area B4)
PH 100 - Community Health Units: 3
PH 109 - Epidemiology of Disease Units: 3
PH 114 - Health Behavior Units: 3
PH 131 - Principles of Health Education Units: 3
PH 133 - Health Education Methods Units: 3
PH 161 - Environment and Human Health Units: 3 (Area IB)
PH 163 - Public Health Administration Units: 3

Major Electives (15 units)

Select from:

PH 48 - First Responder and Emergency Care Units: 3
PH 49 - Emergency Medical Technician Training Units: 3
PH 91 - Human Sexuality Units: 3
PH 104 - Global and Cultural Issues in Health Units: 3
PH 110 - Drugs, Society, and Health Units: 3
PH 111 - Alcohol and Alcoholism Units: 3
PH 112 - Consumer Health Units: 3
PH 115 - Health Issues of Aging Units: 3
PH 127 - Female Sexuality Units: 3
PH 128S - Holistic Health and Alternative Medicine Units: 3
PH 129 - Rural Health Units: 3
PH 130 - Women’s Health Units: 3
PH 135 - Introduction to Human Disease Units: 3
PH 152T - Topics in Health Units: 1-3 (for 3 units)
PH 156 - Health & Well-being in the San Joaquin Valley Units: 3
PH 188I - Health Education Internship Units: 1-3
NUTR 53 - Nutrition and Health: Realities and Controversies Units: 3

Additional Requirements (14 - 18 units)

BIOL 10 - Life Science Units: 3 (Area B2)
CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 1A Units: 3
AND
CHEM 1B - General Chemistry 1B Units: 3
OR
CHEM 3A - Introductory General Chemistry Units: 4
AND
CHEM 3B - Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Units: 3
BIOL 33 - Introductory Human Anatomy and Physiology Units: 5
OR
BIOL 67A - Human Anatomy & Physiology I Units: 4
AND
BIOL 67B - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Units: 4

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to the major program requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate degree requirements such as:

American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2 )
General Education Requirements (48 units)
Multicultural and International (MI)
Upper-division Writing
Sufficient Elective Units to Meet Required Total Units (varies); it is recommended that units in this area be utilized to complete a second major or minor.

A full description of the University’s graduation requirements can be found in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

Total Units: 120*

*General Education, MI, and Upper-division Writing courses can be double counted with major requirements. These courses include BIOL 10 (Area B2), PH 90 (Area E), PH 92 (Area B4), and PH 161 (Area IB). See advisor for details.

Advising Notes

A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for acceptance into Public Health
A minimum grade of C is required in all courses
Public Health majors may not apply CR/NC grading toward the major requirements. An exception to this is PH 188I , which is a mandatory CR/NC course.