Public Health, B.S.

The Public Health degree promotes the health and wellness of communities in California and globally. Through this major, students have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, attitudes, ethics, and practical skills, to provide professional services and interventions to culturally diverse and socioeconomically diverse populations across the lifespan that promotes healthy behaviors, healthy lifestyles, and wellness. Graduates of the program will have the skills to promote optimal wellness among individuals, families, and communities in a variety of settings. 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
PH 92 - Public Health Statistics Units: 3 (Area 2)
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 UD 2/UD 5)
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 5B)
CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 1A Units: 5
AND
CHEM 1B - General Chemistry 1B Units: 5
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 (43 units)
Additional University Graduation Requirements (9 units)
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
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, Additional University Graduation Requirements, and Upper-division Writing courses can be double counted with major requirements. These courses include BIOL 10 (Area 5B), PH 92 (Area 2), and PH 161 (Area UD 2/UD 5). 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.