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Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)

(Major Code: PB25 - Effective Fall 2024)

*Students who entered UCSD prior to FA24 should see B.S. in Public Health (BSPH) (Admitted prior to FA24)

Public health seeks to improve human health through the development and application of scientific knowledge that helps prevent disease, protects the public from exposure to potential harm, and promotes health throughout communities at the local, national, and global levels. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health prepares students to develop and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines for the promotion and protection of the health of the human population in a context of human rights and cultural understanding. 

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

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 (32 or 33 units)

Public Health Sciences (1 course, 4 units)

  • PH 40: Introduction to Public Health

Biology (3 courses, 12 units)

  • BILD 3 PLUS two of the following:
    • BILD 1 or BILD  10, BILD 2, BILD 12, BILD 18, BILD 20*, BILD 22*, BILD 26*, BILD 28*, BILD 30*, BILD 32*, BILD 36*, BILD 38, BILD 44, BILD 60, BILD 61

BILD 1, BILD 2, and BILD 3 is recommended for students going into traditional health professions (medical school, physician assistant school, nursing), epidemiology, or other fields that value a hard science background.

*Please note: 1) Credit can not be earned for BILD 20 after completing BICD 100 at UCSD; 2) Credit can not be earned for BILD 22 after completing BIBC 120 at UCSD; 3) Credit can not be earned for BILD 26 after completing BIPN 100 at UCSD; 4) Credit can not be earned for BILD 28 after completing BICD 140 at UCSD;  5) Credit can not be earned for BILD 30 after completing BIMM 120 at UCSD; 6) Credit can not be earned for BILD 32 after completing BIMM 134 at UCSD; 7) Credit can not be earned for BILD 36 after completing BICD 136 at UCSD.

Students may request through the VAC to use COGS 17 in place of BILD 12 towards their Biology area.

Quantitative Methods (1 course, 4 or 5 units)

  • Option 1: MATH 11
  • Option 2: PSYC 60
  • Option 3: COGS 14B
  • Option 4: HDS 60

Option 1 is recommended for students going into epidemiology, biostatistics, or other fields that value statistics and data analysis.

Public Health Research Methods (1 course, 4 units)

  • PH 45

Public Health Trending Topics (1 course, 4 units)

  • PH 70-85

Lower Division Public Health Elective (total of 4 units required)

  • PH 50-95, PH 98, PH 99 

Upper-Division Requirements (52 or 56 units)

Public Health Core Disciplines (6 courses, 24 units)

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

Upper Division Public Health Electives (total of 8 units required)

  • PH 140-191, PH 195, PH 198, PH 199

Additional Upper Division Public Health Electives (total of 12 units required)

  • ANBI 130, ANSC 101, ANSC 105, ANSC 105GS, ANSC 106, ANSC 106GS, ANSC 143, ANSC 144, ANSC 146, ANSC 147, ANSC 148, ANSC 150, ANSC 164, ANSC 190GS, ANTH 128A, ANTH 128B, BIBC 100, BIBC 102, 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 105, BIPN 108, BIPN 134, CCS 123, CGS 123, COGS 174, COGS 174GS, COMM 102C, ECON 125, ECON 130, ECON 131, ECON 138, 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 150, GLBH 181, HISC 115, HISC 116, HISC 180, LTCS 165, MATH 102, MATH 109, MATH 111A, MATH 111B, MATH 140A, MATH 180A, MATH 180B, MATH 180C, MATH 181A, MATH 181B, MATH 181C, MATH 181E, MATH 183, MGT 108R, MGT 173, PHIL 163, POLI 117, POLI 117R, POLI 125B, POLI 160AA, POLI 168, PSYC 101, PSYC 104, PSYC 134, PSYC 155, PSYC 168, PSYC 179, PSYC 181, PSYC 181GS, PSYC 188, REV 160GS, REV 165GS, SIO 109, SIO 109R, 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 138, SOCI 152, SOCI 173, USP 101, USP 128A, USP 128B, USP 129, USP 133, USP 136, USP 141A, USP 141B, USP 142A, USP 142B, USP 144, USP 145,USP 146, USP 147, USP 149, USP 171

    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).

    Students may request through the VAC to use GLBH 141, GLBH 143, GLBH 160 and/or USP 165C towards their UDE area.

Capstone Experience (2 courses, 8 or 12 units)

  • Option 1: PH 193/193R, PH 194/194R
  • Option 2: PH 196AH, PH 196BH

Additional Requirements

Additional Requirements

  • Students who want to declare a major in public health must first meet all Public Health Entry Requirements.
  • PH 40 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, PH 95, PH 98, PH 99, PH 195, PH 198, and PH 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 8 units of PH 91 may be used to meet lower-division major requirements. Topics must be different for each class.
  • No more than 8 units of PH 191 may be used to meet upper-division major requirements. Topics must be different for each class.
  • No more than 12 units of PH 191 or GLBH 100 may be used to meet upper division major requirements.
  • No more than 4 units of PH 195 may be used to meet UD major requirements.
  • No more than 4 units of AIP 197 may be used to meet UD major requirements.
  • No more than 8 units of PH 198 and PH 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 PH 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.

  • PH 40 – Course MUST be completed by fall quarter of junior (3rd) year. Students need at least five 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 (PH 193) and spring quarters (PH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
  • PSYC 60 or HDS 60 or COGS 14B or 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 (PH 193) and spring quarters (PH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
  • PH 45 – Course MUST be completed by winter 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 (PH 193) and spring quarters (PH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
  • PH 101 and PH 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 (PH 193) and spring quarters (PH 194) of their senior (4th) year. Please note: It is strongly recommended that students do not complete PH 101 and PH 102 in the same quarter, and either course be taken before the other. 
  • PH 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 (PH 193) and spring quarters (PH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
  • PH 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 (PH 193) and spring quarters (PH 194) of their senior (4th) year.
  • PH 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 on time. Please note: USP 143 is only offered in winter quarters.
  • PH 130 – Course MUST be completed by spring quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
  • PH 194 – Course MUST be completed by spring quarter of the senior (4th) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.