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

Apr 02, 2025

2023/2024 University Catalog

(Major Code: 12141) (SIMS Code: 557303) (SIMS Code: 557305 - SDSU Global Campus)

All candidates for a degree in applied arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on “Graduation Requirements .”

A minor is not required with this major.

Preparation for the Major

(29 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 212 - Human Anatomy Units: 4
CHEM 100 - Introduction to General Chemistry with Laboratory Units: 4
PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology Units: 3
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

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 courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better:

RWS 305W - Writing in Various Settings Units: 3
or
LING 305W - Advanced Composition for International Students Units: 3

International Experience

All public health majors are required to participate in a pre-approved international experience to increase awareness of cross-cultural issues, global health, economic, political, cultural, social services, and health challenges experienced by local populations in international environments. Students participate in residence for two or more weeks (exemption from the study abroad portion of the requirement must be approved by the dean of the college based on serious and compelling life events or physical limitations; a relevant course will be substituted). Specific details can be found on the college website at http://www.chhs.sdsu.edu/international.

To meet the international experience requirement, majors must complete one of the following:

A CSU Study Abroad Program;
An SDSU Exchange Program;
An SDSU Study Abroad Program;
An SDSU Study Travel Program;
OR

One Course Selected from

HHS 290 - International Experience Units: 1
HHS 350 - Applied International Health and Human Services Units: 3
ASIAN 490 - Study Abroad in Asian Studies Units: 3
ED 450 - Study Abroad Units: 1-3
GEN S 450 - Life and Culture Semester Abroad Units: 3
ISCOR 450 - Study Abroad in International Security and Conflict Resolution Units: 3
LATAM 320 - Culture and Society of Tijuana Units: 3
LATAM 450 - Study Abroad in Latin American Studies Units: 3
LATAM 550 - Mexican-US Border from a Latin American Perspective Units: 3
POL S 450 - Study Abroad in Political Science Units: 3
P H 550 - Applied International Public Health Units: 3
SCI 350 - International Experience Units: 1-3

Major

A minimum of 51 upper division units to include:

P H 300 - Professionalism and Public Health Units: 3
P H 302 - 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 402 - Public Health Communications Units: 3
P H 450 - Public Health Policy 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 Selected from the Following

Twelve Units of Electives from

(Area A Electives)

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

P H 330 - Plagues Through the Ages Units: 3
P H 331 - Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Units: 3
P H 333 - Health Equity: Exploring Root Causes of Disparities Units: 3
P H 332 - Public Health Nutrition 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 451 - Public Health and Food Safety Units: 3
P H 452 - Health Impacts of Climate Change Units: 3
P H 485 - Applied Public Health Research Units: 3
May satisfy the Area A Public Health Elective or the Area B Public Health/BSPH graduation requirement (cannot be used to satisfy both).
P H 496 - Experimental Topics Units: 1-4 (maximum of three units)
P H 538A - Principles of Toxicology Units: 3
GEN S 340 - Confronting HIV/AIDS Units: 3

Three Units from One of the Following Categories During the Junior or Senior Year:

(Area B Culminating Experience)

Peer Health Education

P H 480 - Peer Health Education Units: 2-3 (must be taken for 3 units)

Practice

P H 497 - Supervised Specialization in Public Health Units: 1-6
Internship from a list of selected public health agencies

Preprofessional

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

Research

Must receive approval from the undergraduate public health adviser. Junior or Senior standing in public health.

P H 485 - Applied Public Health Research Units: 3
(May satisfy the Area A Public Health Elective or the Area B Public Health/BSPH graduation requirement; cannot be used to satisfy both.)
or
P H 499 - Special Study Units: 1-3
(Participation in a public health-related research project or series of research projects under the guidance of a faculty member.)

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.