Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Public health is the study of preventing disease and promoting the health of people and their communities at the local, state, national, and international level. Public health aims to protect the health of populations by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases, and promoting healthcare equity, quality and accessibility. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health provides a broad-based curriculum for the study of the core functions of public health, determinants of health, epidemiology, global health, program planning and evaluation, public health research, healthcare systems, and policy and advocacy. Focused concentration areas provide additional background knowledge, skills and evidence-based practices to address community health challenges, healthcare management and administration, and health equity and global health. Students have opportunities to participate in undergraduate research, service-learning, community outreach activities, and internships. Students are also eligible for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. The program emphasizes problem solving and teamwork through project-based learning to prepare graduates for positions in local, state or federal government health agencies; non-profit/private community-based health organizations and foundations; wellness programs; public/private healthcare settings; research settings; tribal health; international organizations; and graduate programs in public health, healthcare administration, epidemiology or allied health professions. For students who intend to pursue careers in medicine or allied health professions (e.g., MD or DO, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, etc.) additional coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree in public health will be required for application to medical school or allied health professions graduate programs.
Concentrations
Community Health Promotion
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Community Health Promotion Concentration focuses on the influence that behavioral and environmental factors have on people’s health and quality of life. This concentration studies the principles and methods for planning, implementing and evaluating public health programs in a variety of communities and populations. Students will be prepared for careers in local, state and federal public health departments; non-profit health agencies and coalitions; college/university settings; and to pursue graduate degrees for the Master of Public Health (MPH) and MS in Community Health, Environmental Health, Health Education or Health Promotion.
Health Equity and Global Health
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Health Equity and Global Health Concentration focuses on concepts such as health disparities, chronic and infectious disease, access to health care, health care delivery, and the effects of systemic inequality and oppression on burden of disease in the US and internationally. This concentration will prepare students to pursue careers in a variety of fields and settings including non-governmental agencies; local and national health care agencies and coalitions; non-profit agencies, private business; and to pursue the graduate degree for the Master of Public Health (MPH).
Health Management and Administration
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Health Management and Administration Concentration focuses on the principles of delivery and management of public health and healthcare services. Students will learn about the social, cultural, and demographic factors that impact the structure of US and international healthcare systems. This concentration will prepare students to pursue careers as hospital administrators; public/non-profit health agency professionals; human resource professionals; private business; and to pursue graduate degrees in the Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), and Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Program Learning Objectives
- Describe the history, philosophy, and core functions of public health in the U.S. and globally.
- Analyze factors that affect human health and contribute to health disparities including socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and systemic factors.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate public health programs that improve population health outcomes and promote health equity.
- Apply epidemiological and public health research methods to assess community health needs, assets, and outcomes.
- Communicate public health information in oral, written, and visual forms through a variety of media.
- Describe the legal, ethical, structural, and economic dimensions of health care and policy, and the role of different governmental entities in public health.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 40 units of upper-division courses
- 2.0 GPA
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: Up to 4 units of credit/no credit grading may be selected for courses in Major, Support, or Concentration. In addition, no more than 12 units of cooperative or internship courses can count towards your degree requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| HLTH 1101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| Select from the following: (4B) 1 | 3 | |
| Multicultural Perspectives and Health | ||
| Women's Health and Society | ||
| HLTH 2261 | Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3316 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3318 | Applied Epidemiology | 4 |
| HLTH 3322 | Public Health Policy and Advocacy (Upper-Division 4) 1 | 3 |
| HLTH 3344 | Health Care Systems | 3 |
| HLTH 4402 | Research Methods in Public Health Settings | 4 |
| HLTH 4410 | Global Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4434 | Health Promotion Program Planning | 4 |
| HLTH 4435 | Health Promotion Program Implementation and Evaluation | 3 |
| Select from the following: | 2 | |
| Senior Project - Experiential | ||
| Senior Project - Report | ||
| Senior Project - Research | ||
| Senior Project - Internship | ||
| Concentration | ||
| (See list of Concentrations below) | 12 | |
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| ANT 2201 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| or SOC 1110 | Comparative Societies | |
| BIO 1151 | Life: Molecules and Cells (5B & 5C) 1 | 4 |
| BIO 2231 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 2232 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| CHEM 1120 | Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 1 | 4 |
| FSN 2202 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| PSY 2201 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| MCRO 2221 | Introduction to Microbiology | 4 |
| STAT 1110 | Applied Statistical Concepts and Methods (2) 1 | 3 |
| STAT 3520 | Statistics II | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below) | 27 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 2 | 8 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.
- 2
If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
Concentrations
Community Health Promotion
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| HLTH 3305 | Drugs in Society | 3 |
| HLTH 3310 | Injury Prevention | 3 |
| HLTH 3348 | Public Health and Mental Health | 3 |
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Health Communication | ||
| Food and Nutrition: Culture and Customs | ||
| Nutrition and Exercise for Health and Disease Prevention | ||
| Maternal and Child Nutrition | ||
| Leadership in Health and Physical Activity Programs | ||
| Physical Activity and Public Health | ||
| Public Health Microbiology | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Health Equity and Global Health
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| HLTH 3348 | Public Health and Mental Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4413 | Health Promotion for Special Populations | 3 |
| HLTH 4444 | Comparative Health Care Systems | 3 |
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Human Behavioral Ecology | ||
| The Global Environment | ||
| Climate and Humanity | ||
| Public Health Microbiology | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Politics of Developing Areas | ||
| World Food Systems | ||
| Sociology of Health and Illness | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
Health Management and Administration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| BUS 2212 | Financial Accounting for Nonbusiness Majors | 3 |
| or ECON 2001 | Survey of Economics | |
| HLTH 4444 | Comparative Health Care Systems | 3 |
| KINE 4401 | Leadership in Health and Physical Activity Programs | 3 |
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Legal Responsibilities of Business | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Leadership and Organizations | ||
| Human Resources Management | ||
| Using Big Data to Solve Economic and Social Problems | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 43 units required, 16 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 27 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning).
| Lower-Division General Education | ||
| Area 1 | English Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| 1A | Written Communication | 3 |
| 1B | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| 1C | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 3 | Arts and Humanities | |
| 3A | Arts | 3 |
| 3B | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 3 |
| Area 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | |
| 4A | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 3 |
| 4B | Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Area 5 | Physical and Life Sciences | |
| 5A | Physical Sciences (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| 5B | Life Sciences (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| 5C | Laboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) (1 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 6 | Ethnic Studies | |
| 6 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Upper-Division General Education | ||
| Upper-Division 2/5 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences | 3 |
| Upper-Division 3 | Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Upper-Division 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Total Units | 27 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.