Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) with Concentration in Medicine Sciences

^{(Major Code: PB31 - Effective Fall 2024)}

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

The Concentration in Medicine Sciences seeks to provide Pre-Health and Pre-Med students with well-rounded foundational training in both public health and health sciences fields of study. This concentration will allow students the opportunity to utilize some of their Pre-Health and/or Pre-Med courses as part of their academic experience in public health.

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

All information listed below references Healthbeat Pre-Med and Pre-Health Track resources from UC San Diego's Career Center. The Healthbeat advisors assists students interested in applying to health professional schools (Healtbeat Advising). These are general guidelines for specific health professions, students should check individual program requirements as admission requirements can slightly differ between programs.

Students on a Pre-Med or another Pre-Health Track, please choose from the following:

4-Year Plans - Entered UCSD as a Freshman Student

SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-MED) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-DENTAL) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-PHARM) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-OPTOMETRY) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-PA) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-NURSING) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-PT/OT) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 4-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-NUTRITION) ACADEMIC PLAN

2-Year Plans - Entered UCSD as a Junior Transfer Student

SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-MED) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-DENTAL) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-PHARM) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-OPTOMETRY) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-PA) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-NURSING) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-PT/OT) ACADEMIC PLAN
SAMPLE 2-YEAR BSPH MEDICINE SCIENCES (PRE-NUTRITION) 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 (68 or 69 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

Chemistry (4 courses, 16 units)

CHEM 6A, CHEM 6B, CHEM 6C, CHEM 7L

Natural Science (3 courses, 12 units)

BILD 20*, BILD 22*, BILD 26*, CHEM 40A, CHEM 40B, CHEM 43A, PHYS 1A + PHYS 1AL, PHYS 1B + PHYS 1BL, PHYS 1C + PHYS 1CL

Students who have completed a LD Anatomy w/ Lab and/or Microbiology w/ Lab at a Community College or another University may petition to use the course(s) towards their natural science area (must be UC transferable and be listed for units on academic history).

*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.

Students may request through the VAC to use BILD 12^, BILD 28^, BILD 30^, BILD 32^, BILD 36^, BILD 38, and/or BILD 60 towards their Natural Science area.

^Please note: 1) Credit can not be earned for BILD 12 after completing COGS 17 at UCSD; 2) Credit can not be earned for BILD 28 after completing BICD 140 at UCSD; 3) Credit can not be earned for BILD 30 after completing BIMM 120 at UCSD; 4) Credit can not be earned for BILD 32 after completing BIMM 134 at UCSD; 5) Credit can not be earned for BILD 36 after completing BICD 136 at UCSD.

Formal Skills and Quantitative Methods (3 courses, 12 or 13 units)

MATH 10A/20A, MATH 10B/20B, PLUS one statistics course from the following:
- Option 1: MATH 11
- Option 2: PSYC 60
- Option 3: COGS 14B
- Option 4: HDS 60

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

Medicine Sciences Electives (total of 12 units required)

ANBI 130, ANSC 164, 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, GLBH 113, GLBH 141, GLBH 143, HISC 116, LTCS 165, PH 151, PH 161, PHIL 163, PSYC 134, PSYC 155, PSYC 168, PSYC 179, PSYC 181, PSYC 181GS, PSYC 188, SOCI 107, SOCI 138, SOCI 173
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).

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.
BILD 1, BILD 2, and BILD 3 – Courses MUST be completed by fall quarter of junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
CHEM 6A, CHEM 6B, CHEM 6C, and CHEM 7L – Courses MUST be completed by fall quarter of junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
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.
MATH 10A/20A and MATH 10B/20B – Courses MUST be completed by fall quarter of junior (3rd) year in order to complete the Public Health Major requirements on time.
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.