What is Public Health?
Public health is an interdisciplinary field drawing on the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to promote health, prevent disease, prolong life, and improve quality of life through organized efforts by society. It focuses on the health and well-being of populations, which complements medicine’s focus on the individual. Through activities ranging from vaccination programs, promotion of health lifestyles and environments, disease control, and leadership on health policy formation, the field of public health makes diverse, far-reaching contributions to societal well-being.
About our Programs
At UC Merced, a key mission in Public Health is to identify and address the needs of the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most economically important yet underprivileged regions of the United States, and home to our institution. Our proximity to this underserved population emphasizes the need to address community problems through research and service. Undergraduates in Public Health learn and participate in these activities both inside and outside the classroom.
UC Merced offers both major (BA and BSc) and minor degree programs in Public Health, which aim to provide students with broad knowledge through rigorous coursework in an intellectually challenging environment, hands-on experience in Public Health research, and ample opportunity to work directly with faculty with a variety of expertise.
Major Degrees (BA & BSc)
The major degree programs in Public Health provides students with extensive training and expertise across multiple disciplines encompassed by the field. Students interested in the social sciences may prefer the BA degree program, while those interested in the natural sciences may prefer the BS degree program, with an option for Pre-Med emphasis. Students graduating from the program are prepared to enter professions in the science and policy of population health, or move on to advanced training in graduate or medical school.
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Minor Degree
The minor degree in Public Health provides 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.
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A Message from the Undergraduate Chair
The Public Health majors at University of California, Merced, provides undergraduate students with broad training in many areas of Public Health including Epidemiology, Health Promotion, Community Engagement, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health. The UC Merced is a vibrant diverse learning community. We offer both B.A. and B.S. degrees, as well as a minor, with a wide range of course offerings. Majors take PH 181, a capstone course for seniors which can involve an internship or final project. UC Merced has an excellent advising staff for undergraduate students to help guide them through their academic career towards their degree.
We strive to involve our undergraduate Public Health students in both on- and off-campus activities. Our students are involved in Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center (UROC) programs which engages students in research. These programs offer paid fellowships to conduct research and for professional training. Students also participate in faculty-led research and work with their research teams as undergraduate research assistants. UC Merced also has an active Undergraduate Public Health Society, a student-led club which brings together passionate individuals, encourages netwroking with Public Health professionals, promotes community service, and has lots of fun in the process!
Andrea Joyce, PhD, MS
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Chair in Public Health
ajoyce2@ucmerced.edu
Updated February 2025
