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Mission and Learning Objectives

The following information below is a presentation of the mission, values, goals, and learning objectives for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program at UC San Diego.

Accreditation

UC San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). You can view the Inventory of Educational Effectiveness Indicators to learn more about how the Public Health curriculum was created. More information regarding accreditation and WASC can be found at UC San Diego Accreditation.

BSPH Program Oversight Committees

The BSPH faculty participate in a number of committees that serve to guide and constantly improve the program and meet the School’s education mission. 

  • BSPH Steering Committee: Provides oversight of the entire program.
    • Curriculum Committee: Continuous review of overall curriculum. Ensuring a high-quality set of courses that complement each other and are adaptive to the evolving trends within the field.
      • FMPH Course Oversight Committees:  Ensure that each course consistently covers the relevant core principles, and that student learning objectives and learning activities are consistent and of high-quality.
    • Effectiveness and Evaluation Committee: Provides continuous evaluation of all aspects of the BSPH, including overall quality and surveys of students, faculty, and alumni.

HWSPH Oversight Committees

The HWSPH faculty participate in a number of committees that serve to guide and constantly improve the program and meet the Department’s education mission. 

  • Accreditation Committee: As part of the School's plans to secure CEPH accreditation, this committee ensures that accreditation standards are strictly met across all Public Health Education Programs.
  • Outreach, Events, and Awards Committee: Lead efforts to ensure that the BSPH and other Public Health Education Programs are actively engaged with the community, campus, and students, by organizing events such as career panels, student-faculty mixers, awards ceremonies, and graduation celebrations.

Mission Statement

To prepare students for careers in public health and related fields by providing a high-quality and diverse learning environment in which students gain essential knowledge and skills in the science of public health and understand the link between public health and clinical medicine.

Values

We value teaching excellence; nurturing meaningful connections among students, faculty, and the community; integrating the disciplines of public health and clinical medicine; promoting diversity, integrity and respect for others; and professionalism.

Program Goals

Goal 1

Provide a high-quality academic experience that prepares public health majors to compete favorably for positions in the workforce or further study; and prepares non-majors to become public health educated citizens who can play important roles in building a healthy society.

  • Objective 1: Offer relevant and rigorous public health courses that use scientifically-rigorous teaching methods and provide experiential learning opportunities to develop essential public health competencies.
  • Objective 2: Incorporate high ethical standards for academic courses and experiential learning experiences.  
  • Objective 3: Engage experienced and qualified HWSPH faculty in the teaching of, and support for, core courses and other learning opportunities, such as practica, across a broad range of public health disciplines.  

Goal 2

Establish and maintain a diverse and supportive community of students. 

  • Objective 1: Recruit and retain a diverse student body into the public health major.
  • Objective 2: Provide individualized academic and career counseling to public health majors.
  • Objective 3: Create opportunities for peer and faculty support and interaction.
  • Objective 4: Recognize the importance of diversity and practice mutual respect towards individuals, groups, and communities, both in the classroom and through service and other experiential learning opportunities.

Goal 3

Provide a rewarding experience for faculty that includes opportunities for professional growth and satisfaction. 

  • Objective 1: Provide opportunities for faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to develop, monitor, and improve undergraduate teaching skills. 
  • Objective 2: Retain quality teaching faculty in the BSPH degree by ensuring that faculty efforts are adequately rewarded during merit and promotion.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health curriculum, students should possess proficiency in the following areas:

1. Overview of Public Health

Address the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.

  1. Public Health History
  2. Public Health Philosophy
  3. Core PH Values
  4. Core PH Concepts
  5. Global Functions of Public Health
  6. Societal Functions of Public Health

2. Role and Importance of Data in Public Health

Address the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice.

  1. Basic Concepts of Data Collection
  2. Basic Methods of Data Collection
  3. Basic Tools of Data Collection
  4. Data Usage
  5. Data Analysis
  6. Evidence-based Approaches

3. Identifying and Addressing Population Health Challenges

Address the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.

  1. Population Health Concepts
  2. Introduction to Processes and Approaches to Identify Needs and Concerns of Populations
  3. Introduction to Approaches and Interventions to Address Needs and Concerns of Population

4. Human Health

Address the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.

  1. Science of Human Health and Disease
  2. Health Promotion
  3. Health Protection

5. Determinants of Health

Address the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.

  1. Socio-economic Impacts on Human Health and Health Disparities
  2. Behavioral Factors Impacts on Human Health and Health Disparities
  3. Biological Factors Impacts on Human Health and Health Disparities
  4. Environmental Factors Impacts on Human Health and Health Disparities

6. Project Implementation

Address the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation.

  1. Introduction to Planning Concepts and Features
  2. Introduction to Assessment of Concepts and Features
  3. Introduction to Evaluating Concepts and Features

7. Overview of the Health System

Address the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as to the differences in systems in other countries.

  1. Characteristics and Structures of the U.S. Health System
  2. Comparative Health Systems

8. Health Policy, Law, Ethics, and Economics

Address the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy, and the roles, influences and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government.

  1. Legal Dimensions of Health Care and Public Health Policy
  2. Ethical Dimensions of Health Care and Public Health Policy
  3. Economic Dimensions of Health Care and Public Health Policy
  4. Regulatory Dimensions of Health Care and Public Health Policy
  5. Government Agencies Roles in Health Care and Public Health Policy

9. Health Communications

Address the basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology.

  1. Technical Writing
  2. Professional Writing
  3. Use of Mass Media
  4. Use of Electronic Technology