Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) with Concentration in Health Policy and Management Sciences

^{(Major Code: PB30 - Effective Fall 2024)}

^{*Students who entered UCSD prior to FA24 should see BSPH Concentration in Health Policy and Management Sciences (Admitted prior to FA24)}

Health Policy and Management is a multidisciplinary field of public health that is concerned with both policy and legislation related to health, as well as the delivery, quality, and costs of health care for individuals and populations. Health Policy and Management is a main pillar of public health study, and a growing field of study among younger public health professionals. In recent years, the Masters of Health Administration has grown rapidly as a popular public health graduate degree for students particularly passionate about the business and administration components of health. The Concentration in Health Policy and Management Sciences provides students the opportunity to receive foundational training in healthcare delivery, policy, legislation, and business administration. This concentration will also enable students interested in pursuing a career in health policy and/or management to explore this area of study and decide whether they may be more interested in one or both fields (policy/legislation vs. business/management).

For a sample academic plan for the B.S. in Public Health with Concentration in Health Policy and Management Sciences 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

Health Policy and Management Sciences Electives (total of 12 units required)

ANSC 105, ANSC 105GS, CCS 123, CGS 123, ECON 130, ECON 131, ECON 138, ECON 140, ECON 141, ENVR 110, GLBH 105, HISC 180, MGT 108R, MGT 173, POLI 117, POLI 117R, POLI 160AA, POLI 168, SIO 109, SOCI 109R, SOCI 152, USP 101, USP 133, USP 142A, USP 142B, USP 147
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 160 towards their Health Policy and Management Sciences Electives area.

NOTE: Many courses above have Economics and/or Political Sciences prerequisistes that must be completed prior to enrollment. Students should plan out Concentration courses early to avoid time-to-degree delays.

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 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 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.