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Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Health

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Health provides students with advanced training and expertise in core areas of the field. It enables students to develop expert knowledge and experience with population-level challenges to health and well-being, and prepares them to enter professions in Public Health research and service. Students interested in the social sciences may prefer the BA degree program.

Program Learning Outcomes (BA)

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

  1. Explain the concept, history, philosophy, and value of population and public health.
  2. Recognize the structures and functions of public health systems and policies.
  3. Discuss biological, behavioral, social, environmental, and structural determinants of health.
  4. Locate, interpret, and use quantitative and qualitative data and methods to understand patterns and causation of health and disease.
  5. Apply fundamental prevention and/or health promotion concepts, approaches, and processes using evidence-based methods.
  6. Synthesize and communicate public health information through a variety of media - in oral and written formats - to diverse audiences.

Degree Requirements

In addition to adhering to General Education and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Requirements, the Public Health BA major requires at least 56 units. Courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade, and specifically may not be taken on a pass/no pass basis unless the course is only offered on a pass/no pass basis.

Required Courses

Lower Division

  • PH 001: Introduction to Public Health (4 units)

  • PH 005: Global and International Public Health (4 units)

  • PH 010: Introduction to Biostatistics (4 units)

  • BIO 003: To Know Ourselves: Molecular Basis of Health and Disease (4 units)

Upper Division

  • PH 100: Introduction to Epidemiology (4 units)

  • PH 102: Health Promotion (4 units)

  • PH 103: Health Communication (4 units)

  • PH 105: Introduction to US Health Care System (4 units)

  • PH 110: Environmental Health (4 units)

  • PH 112: Research Methods: Health Services Research and Public Health (4 units)

  • PH 181: Public Health Research (4 units)

For current BA students completing taking the PreMed track, required courses can be found in [link].

Electives

At least two of the following electives must be taken:

Please consult a SSHA Advisor, the SSHA Advising website (ssha-advising.ucmerced.edu) or MyAudit for the most updated list.

Transfer Students

Transfer students who wish to major in Public Health should complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) at their community college. Transfer students may not be admitted to the Public Health major without specific major preparation. Please contact the Office of Admissions for current information.