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

^{(Effective Fall 2024 - for all students who entered UCSD in FA24-SP26)}

IMPORTANT: This major is not accepting continuing students beginning winter 2027

Epidemiology is the study and evaluation of trends, patterns, and causes related to infectious and chronic disease in populations. Students completing the Concentration in Epidemiology acquire advanced epidemiological coursework beyond the UD epidemiology core course (PH 101) and from a variety of disciplines, such as anthropology, biology, global health, and psychology. As epidemiology can be a broad field of study, this concentration will allow students the opportunity to explore and gain insight into the different areas of epidemiologic study and prepare them well for pursuing a particular path in graduate school or in their careers. In addition, this concentration assists students in pursuing advanced epidemiology training following graduation.

Please see plans.ucsd.edu for a sample academic plan.

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 1, BILD 2, BILD 3

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

Epidemiology Electives (total of 12 units required)

ANBI 130, ANSC 148, ANSC 150, BICD 100, BICD 136, BICD 140, BIEB 152, BIMM 124, BIMM 134, GLBH 113, GLBH 146, GLBH 148, GLBH 181, HISC 116, MATH 111A, MATH 181A, MATH 181B, MATH 181C, MATH 183, PH 151, PH 171, PHIL 163, PSYC 168, PSYC 179, REV 160GS, REV 165GS, SOCI 108, USP 144

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 or PH 172 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

Students who want to declare a major in public health must first meet all Public Health Entry criteria.
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 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 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.