Program: Public Health, Emphasis in Environmental Health, B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences - San Diego State University

Apr 06, 2025

2024-2025 University Catalog

(Major Code: 12141) (557306BAAS) (557306BSI)

Preparation for the Major

(30-32 units)

P H 101 - Introduction to Public Health Units: 3
P H 292 - History of Public Health Units: 3
BIOL 100 - General Biology Units: 3
BIOL 100L - General Biology Laboratory Units: 1
BIOL 211 - Fundamentals of Microbiology Units: 2
BIOL 211L - Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory Units: 2
CHEM 100 - Preparation for General Chemistry Units: 4
and either
PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology Units: 3
or
SOC 101 - Introductory Sociology: The Study of Society Units: 3
and either
PSY 280 - Statistical Methods in Psychology Units: 4
or
SOC 201 - Elementary Social Statistics Units: 3
and either
CHEM 130 - Elementary Organic Chemistry Units: 3
or
CHEM 232 - Organic Chemistry Units: 3
and either
MATH 140 - College Algebra Units: 3
or
MATH 141 - Precalculus Units: 3
or
MATH 150 - Calculus I Units: 4
or
MATH 151 - Calculus II Units: 4

Note

The undergraduate public health major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the public health major, students must meet the following criteria:

Receive a grade of B (3.0) or better in P H 101 and P H 292 . These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC);
Complete each remaining course in preparation for the major with a minimum grade of C. These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC);
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.90 or better.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

See Graduation Requirements section for a complete listing of requirements. Complete one of the following 3-unit courses with a grade of C (2. 0) or better:

RWS 305W - Writing in Various Settings Units: 3
or
LING 305W - Academic and Professional Writing for Multilingual Students Units: 3

Major

A minimum of 45 upper division units to include:

P H 300 - Professionalism and Public Health Units: 3
P H 302 - Epidemiology of Communicable and Chronic Disease Units: 3
P H 304 - Environment and Public Health Units: 3
P H 305 - Medical Care Organization and Delivery Units: 3
P H 306 - Public Health Research Units: 3
P H 307 - Applied Biostatistics in Public Health Units: 3
P H 401 - Biological Basis of Disease Units: 3
P H 490A - Health Data Analysis Units: 3
P H 490B - Planning Public Health Programs Units: 3
P H 490C - Public Health Program Evaluation Units: 3

15 Units

15 units selected from the following:

A. Nine Units of Environmental Health Courses

P H 451 - Public Health and Food Safety Units: 3
P H 452 - Health Impacts of Climate Change Units: 3
P H 538A - Principles of Toxicology Units: 3

B. Three Units of Electives from

P H 330 - Plagues Through the Ages Units: 3
P H 331 - Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Units: 3
P H 332 - Public Health Nutrition Units: 3
P H 333 - Health Equity: Exploring Root Causes of Disparities Units: 3
P H 353 - Human Sexuality and Disease Units: 3
P H 362 - Global Health Units: 3
P H 395 - Emerging Topics in Public Health Units: 3
P H 402 - Public Health Communications Units: 3
P H 496 - Experimental Topics Units: 1-4
P H 485 - Applied Public Health Research Units: 3
GEN S 340 - Confronting HIV/AIDS Units: 3

Note

Other electives as selected and offered by the School of Public Health, with approval of academic adviser.

C. Three Units from One of the Following Categories:

Applied Public Health Practice

Internship from a list of selected public health agencies.

P H 497 - Supervised Specialization in Public Health Units: 1-6

Preprofessional Science

300-level science course selected with approval of School of Public Health undergraduate academic adviser.

Research

Participation in a public health-related research project or series of reserach projects under the guidance of a faculty memeber. Must receive approval from the undergraduate public health adviser. Junior or Senior standing.

P H 499 - Special Study Units: 1-3

Note

Upon completion of emphasis, students have the option to take the Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) certification examination with the State of California. Prior to the examination, students should take an additional year of physics laboratory courses.

Time Limitation

All public health courses taken for the major must have been taken and completed within seven years of the granting of the undergraduate degree. Courses taken prior to the seven year rule must be repeated. This policy applies to courses taken at SDSU or transferred from another four-year college or university or appropriate courses from a community college. No exceptions will be made to this policy.