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

^{(Effective Fall 2026 - for all students who entered UCSD in FA26 and later)}

IMPORTANT: This major is not accepting new students at this time

The aim of Community Health is to understand the foundational components of a shared geographical area and role of community structures in promoting healthy lifestyles. Students completing the Concentration in Community Health Sciences will build upon their knowledge in public health to focus on how best to reach vulnerable community members and better allocate resources to underserved populations. This concentration allows students the opportunity to gain foundational learning in determinants of health within a community, as well as practices and strategies to identify and address areas where conditions in a community setting can be changed or improved. In addition, this concentration is well suited for students interested in pursuing a career or graduate work that involves working directly with populations to improve health behaviors.

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 or PH 40R

Biology (3 courses, 12 units)

Select three of the following: BILD 1 or BILD 10, BILD 2, BILD 3, BILD 12, BILD 20, BILD 22, BILD 26, BILD 28, BILD 30, BILD 32, BILD 36, BILD 38, BILD 60 or BILD 61
- 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 biology area (must be UC transferable and be listed for units on academic history).

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.

Quantitative Methods (STATS) (1 course, 4 or 5 units)

Select one from the following: MATH 11, PSYC 60, COGS 14B, or HDS 60
MATH 11 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 or PH 45R

Public Health Trending Topics (PH TT) (1 course, 4 units)

Select from the following: PH 70-85

Public Health Elements (PH LDE) (total of 4 units required)

Select from the following: PH 50-95, PH 98-99

Upper-Division Requirements (48 or 52 units)

Public Health Core Disciplines (5 courses, 20 units)

PH 101 or PH 101R, PH 102 or PH 102R, PH 110 or PH 110R, PH 120 or PH 120R, PH 130

Public Health Perspectives (total of 12 units required)

PH 151 or PH 151R or PH 151GS
PH 155
PH 162

Community Health Sciences Electives (total of 8 units required)

Select from the following: ANSC 101, ANSC 105, ANSC 105GS, ANSC 143, ANSC 144, ANSC 146, ANSC 147, ANSC 148, ANSC 150, ANSC 190GS, ANTH 128A, ANTH 128B, BICD 136, COMM 102C, ETHN 103, ETHN 142, ETHN 157, ETHN 190, GLBH 101, GLBH 105, GLBH 110, GLBH 111, GLBH 113, GLBH 146, GLBH 147, GLBH 148, GLBH 150, GLBH 181, LTCS 165, PH 156, PH 161, PH 172, SOCI 104Q, SOCI 108, SOCI 113, SOCI 135, SOCI 136F, SOCI 137, SOCI 173, USP 128A, USP 128B, USP 129, USP 136, USP 141A, USP 141B, USP 142A, USP 142B, USP 144, USP 147, USP 149

Capstone Experience (2 courses, 8 or 12 units)

Option 1: PH 193 or PH 193R, PH 194 or PH 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 or PH 40R 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 88, PH 90, PH 98, PH 99, PH 195P, 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 4 units of AIP 197 may be used to meet UD major requirements.
No more than 4 units of GLBH 111 may be used to meet UD major requirements.