Public Health Science Major

School of Public Health
Room 2367
Phone: 301- 405-5436
phsc@umd.edu
http://sph.umd.edu/degrees/bachelor-science-public-health-science-college-park/

Director: Kristin Cipriani

The Public Health Science program includes a strong curriculum in science and public health courses, such as biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, and health policy. Students will have the opportunity for individual exploration in public health through electives, laboratory experiences, optional internships, and a culminating interdisciplinary capstone course. As a collaborative degree involving multiple scholarly disciplines, courses offered by this program may be found under the following acronyms:  PHSC, SPHL, HLTH, KNES, EPIB, MIEH and HLSA.

The degree effectively prepares students to pursue exciting careers in allied health, medical, and public health fields as well as post-baccalaureate professional and academic degrees.

The degree is offered at both the College Park and Shady Grove campuses.

Program Objectives

The Public Health Science Bachelor of Science degree is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with the educational foundation required to effectively address local, national and global issues within the public health arena.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Discuss the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.
    2.
  2. Use basic public health concepts, methods, and tools for data collection and analysis.
    3.
  3. Identify the major health-related needs and concerns of populations and formulate basic processes, approaches, and interventions as possible solutions.
    4.
  4. Describe the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the lifespan.
    5.
  5. Examine the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
    6.
  6. Demonstrate the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation.
    7.
  7. Compare and contrast the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the health systems of the United States and other countries.
    8.
  8. Characterize the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public policy.
    9.
  9. Illustrate the basic concepts of public health specific writing and communication.
    10.
  10. Interpret and synthesize scientific knowledge to propose evidence-based approaches and solutions to public health problems.
    11.
  11. Critically analyze the impact racism has on public health and reflect on what it means to be anti-racist.

To view the coursework described below, please visit our PHSC curriculum page.

In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Science, students must complete 120 credits, 74 of which are specific to the Public Health Science degree. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- or higher in all Public Health Science major-required coursework.

Course Title Credits
Scientific Foundation Courses
MATH120Elementary Calculus I3
BSCI170
& BSCI171		Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology
and Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology Laboratory		4
BSCI201Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BSCI202Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
CHEM131
& CHEM132		Chemistry I - Fundamentals of General Chemistry
and General Chemistry I Laboratory		4
CHEM231
& CHEM232		Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I		4
BSCI222Principles of Genetics4
BSCI223General Microbiology4
Public Health Science Foundation Courses
SPHL100Foundations of Public Health3
HLTH366Behavioral and Community Issues in Public Health3
EPIB301Epidemiology for Public Health Practice3
EPIB315Biostatistics for Public Health Practice3
HLSA300Introduction to Health Policy and Services3
MIEH300A Public Health Perspective: Introduction to Environmental Health3
PHSC450Addressing Social and Structural Inequities Through Public Health3
KNES320Physiological Basis of Physical Activity and Human Health4
PHSC415Essentials of Public Health Biology: The Cell, The Individual, and Disease3
PHSC497Public Health Science Capstone3
Public Health Science Options Courses 112
Total Credits74
1

The Public Health Science option courses build upon the Scientific and Public Health Science Foundation courses. The option courses are 300 and 400 level courses primarily offered within the School of Public Health. By choosing from these courses, students have an opportunity to customize their program. Students are encouraged to choose courses that best align with a particular career goal. Please visit the PHSC website for the current list of approved options. https://sph.umd.edu/department/phs/college-park-curriculum-post-spring-2018

Click here for roadmaps for graduation plans in the School of Public Health.

Additional information on developing a graduation plan can be found on the following pages: