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Minor Degree Program

About the Minor Degree

The minor degree in Public Health is designed to provide students with basic training and expertise in core areas of the field. It is an ideal compliment for students majoring in other fields who seek to broaden their knowledge and experience with population-level challenges to health and well-being.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students who minor in Public Health will be able to:

  • Define Public Health and describe the roles and responsibilities of government, non-governmental organizations, and private citizens in maintaining Public Health.
  • Use the theories and principles of Public Health to explain a Public Health problem.
  • Apply Public Health research methods to conduct rigorous research on Public Health issues.
  • Describe causes and risk factors in the major areas of focus in Public Health including but not limited to determinants of mortality and morbidity; leading causes of health disparities among regional, national, and global populations; and transmission for infectious and chronic diseases.
  • Identify and analyze scientific data and other information to assess complex Public Health challenges, with special consideration of strategies for health promotion at the individual, community, and policy levels, as appropriate.
  • Communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing, particularly to convey complex concepts and information in a clear and concise manner.

Degree Requirements

To complete the Public Health minor, students must complete a minimum of six courses, at least four of which must be upper division. All courses must be taken for a letter grade. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) in upper division courses is required.

At least four of the six required courses must be taken at UC Merced. Only one course may be used simultaneously to satisfy requirements for two minors. Only one course may be used to satisfy both a minor and a major requirement. Students must consult the UC Merced General Catalog for prerequisites to required courses.

Course options can be found on the SSHA Advising web site.

Please consult a SSHA advisor or MyAudit for the most updated list.

Updated October 2023