Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) with Concentration in Biostatistics

^{(Major Code: PB26 - Effective Fall 2020)}

^{*Students who entered UCSD in FA24 and later should see BSPH Concentration in Biostatistics (Admitted FA24 and Later)}

Biostatistics involves statistical processes and methods applied to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data relating to human biology, health, and medicine. The Concentration in Biostatistics provides students the opportunity to receive foundational training in statistical methods and data analysis related to public health issues. In addition, this concentration enables students interested in pursuing a career in biostatistics to explore the field and complete courses required for admission to graduate school, including statistical analyses, computer programming, and mathematical methods.

For a sample academic plan for the B.S. in Public Health with Concentration in Biostatistics Major, please choose from the following:

SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH BIOSTATISTICS ACADEMIC PLAN (Entered UC San Diego as a First Year Student)
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH BIOSTATISTICS ACADEMIC PLAN (Entered UC San Diego as a Junior Transfer Student)

Entry to the Major

Every Public Health Major has their own Major Entry Criteria. Please see Public Health Major Entry Requirement on our website for more details.

Lower-Division Requirements (53 units)

Public Health Sciences (2 courses, 8 units)

FMPH 40: Introduction to Public Health
FMPH 50: Primary Care and Public Health

Biology (3 courses, 12 units)

BILD 1, BILD 2, BILD 3

Computer Programming (1 course, 4 units)

CSE 6, CSE 6R, CSE 8A, CSE 8B, CSE 11, CSE 180, CSE 180R, ECE 15

Formal Skills and Quantitative Methods (5 courses, 21 units)

MATH 11, MATH 18, MATH 20A, MATH 20B, MATH 20C

Social and Behavioral Science Electives (2 courses, 8 units)

ANTH 1, ANTH 2, ANTH 23, CGS 2B, COGS 14A/PSYC 70/SOCI 60, COMM 10, ECON 1, ECON 2, ENVR 30, ESYS 10, HDS 1, HILD 30, LTCS 50, POLI 10/10D, POLI 11/11D, POLI 30/30D, PSYC 1, PSYC 2, PSYC 3, PSYC 4, PSYC 6, PSYC 7, SOCI 1, SOCI 2, SOCI 10, SOCI 30, SOCI 40, SOCI 70, USP 2

Students may request through the VAC to use ECON 3 and/or GLBH 20 towards their SBE area.

Upper-Division Requirements (52 units)

Public Health Core Disciplines (6 courses, 24 units)

FMPH 101: Epidemiology
FMPH 102: Biostatistics
FMPH 110: Health Behavior and Chronic Diseases
FMPH 120: Health Policies for Healthy Lifestyles
FMPH 130: Environmental and Occupational Health
USP 143: The US Health Care System

Public Health Electives (5 courses, 20 units)

A minimum of one course from the following:

FMPH 140-179, FMPH 180A, FMPH 191, FMPH 195, FMPH 196A, FMPH 198, FMPH 199

Students may petition to use AIP 197, UCCS, or a Study Abroad Experience (must be an upper-division 4-unit course and have been pre-approved by the department).

FMPH 180A and FMPH 196A have been discontinued and will no longer be offered.

Two statistical analysis courses from the following:

MATH 102, MATH 109, MATH 111A, MATH 111B, MATH 140A, MATH 140B, MATH 140C, MATH 170A, MATH 170B, MATH 170B, MATH 180A, MATH 180B, MATH 180C, MATH 181A, MATH 181B, MATH 181C, MATH 181E, MATH 183, MATH 185, MATH 186, MATH 189

NOTE: Our MS in Biostatistics strongly recommends the following UD courses: MATH 180A, 181A, 181B.

Two additional courses from either those listed above or those listed below:

ANBI 130, ANSC 101, ANSC 105, ANSC 105GS, ANSC 106, ANSC 143, ANSC 144, ANSC 146, ANSC 147, ANSC 148, ANSC 150, ANSC 164, ANSC 190GS, BIBC 100, BIBC 102, BIBC 103, BIBC 120, BICD 100, BICD 110, BICD 136, BICD 140, BIEB 152, BIMM 100, BIMM 110, BIMM 120, BIMM 124, BIMM 134, BIPN 100, BIPN 108, BIPN 134, COGS 174, COGS 174GS, COMM 102C, COMM 114J, ECON 125, ECON 130, ECON 131, ECON 140, ECON 141, ENVR 110, ESYS 101, ESYS 103, ETHN 103, ETHN 142, ETHN 157, ETHN 190, GLBH 100, GLBH 101, GLBH 105, GLBH 110, GLBH 111, GLBH 113, GLBH 142, GLBH 146, GLBH 147, GLBH 148, GLBH 181, HISC 115, HISC 116, HISC 180, LTCS 165, MGT 173, PHIL 163, POLI 125B, POLI 160AA, POLI 168, PSYC 101, PSYC 104, PSYC 134, PSYC 155, PSYC 168, PSYC 173, PSYC 179, PSYC 181, PSYC 181GS, PSYC 188, REV 160GS, REV 165GS, SIO 116, SIO 116GS, SIO 118GS, SIO 187, SIO 189, SOCI 102, SOCI 104Q, SOCI 107, SOCI 108, SOCI 113, SOCI 134, SOCI 135, SOCI 136F, SOCI 137, SOCI 152, USP 101, USP 129, USP 133, USP 136, USP 141A, USP 141B, USP 144, USP 145, USP 146, USP 147, USP 149, USP 171

Students may request through the VAC to use ANTH 128A, ANTH 128B, BIPN 105 (FA21 or later), GLBH 141, GLBH 143, GLBH 150, GLBH 160, MGT 119 (WI22) "Topics in Business: Managing Healthcare & Life Sciences", SOCI 138, SOCI 173, USP 128A, USP 128B, USP 142A and/or USP 142B towards their additional UDE area.

Capstone Experience (2 courses, 8 units)

FMPH 193: Public Health Capstone I or FMPH 196B: Public Health Honors Practicum II
FMPH 194: Public Health Capstone II or FMPH 196C: Public Health Honors Practicum III

Additional Requirements

Students who want to declare a major in public health must first complete FMPH 40 with a grade of B- or higher before declaring the major.
FMPH 40 and FMPH 50 must be completed at UC San Diego.
All LD and UD major courses must be taken for a letter grade, with the exception of AIP 197, FMPH 195, FMPH 198, and FMPH 199, which may only be taken P/NP.
A minimum grade of C- is required in any course to be counted towards fulfillment of LD and UD major requirements.
No more than 4 units of FMPH 195 may be used to meet UD major requirements.
No more than 8 units between AIP 197, FMPH 195, and FMPH 198 may be used to meet UD major requirements.
No more than 8 units of FMPH 199 may be used to meet UD major requirements.
No more than 4 units of GLBH 111 may be used to meet UD major requirements.
No more than 6 units of COMM 102C may be used to meet UD major requirements.

Stay on Track: Time-To-Degree

Many FMPH courses and some UDEs for the Public Health Major have prerequisites that need to be completed prior to enrollment (Core Public Health Prerequisites ). It is recommended that students meet regularly with the Public Health Advisors to ensure that they are on track with completing their Public Health Major requirements. Please see the Advising Calendar for walk-in and appointment availability.

To assist students in planning their courses, we have also provided guidelines below on when specific major courses must completed by to stay on track to graduate in their desired year. Please talk to a Public Health Advisor for any time-to-degree questions you may have.

MATH 20A – Course MUST be completed by spring quarter of sophomore (2nd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
MATH 20B – Course MUST be completed by fall quarter of junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
FMPH 40 – Course MUST be completed by fall quarter of junior (3rd) year. Students need at least four quarters in the major (not including summer) to complete the Public Health Major requirements in time for the two-quarter Capstone sequence offered in the winter (FMPH 193) and spring quarters (FMPH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
MATH 11 – Course MUST be completed by fall quarter of junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements in time for the two-quarter Capstone sequence offered in the winter (FMPH 193) and spring quarters (FMPH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
MATH 18 – Course MUST be completed by winter quarter of junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
FMPH 50 – Course MUST be completed by spring quarter of the junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements in time for the two-quarter Capstone sequence offered in the winter (FMPH 193) and spring quarters (FMPH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
FMPH 101 and FMPH 102 – One course MUST be completed by spring quarter of the junior (3rd) year and both courses MUST be completed by fall quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements in time for the two-quarter Capstone sequence offered in the winter (FMPH 193) and spring quarters (FMPH 194) of their senior (4th) year. Please note: It is strongly recommended that students do not complete FMPH 101 and FMPH 102 in the same quarter, and either course be taken before the other.
MATH 20C – Course MUST be completed by spring quarter of junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
FMPH 110 – Course MUST be completed by fall quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements in time for the two-quarter Capstone sequence offered in the winter quarter (FMPH 193) and spring quarters (FMPH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
FMPH 120 – Course MUST be completed by fall quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements in time for the two-quarter Capstone sequence offered in the winter quarter (FMPH 193) and spring quarters (FMPH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
FMPH 193 – Course MUST be completed by winter quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
USP 143 – Course MUST be completed by winter quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements in time for the 2-quarter Capstone sequence offered in the winter quarter (FMPH 193) and spring quarters (FMPH 194) of their senior (4th) year. Please note: USP 143 is only offered in winter quarters.
FMPH 130 – Course MUST be completed by spring quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
FMPH 194 – Course MUST be completed by spring quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.