Public Health, Public Health Nutrition Concentration, B.S.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health prepares students for careers across a broad spectrum of health-related careers, as well as for those who seek quality preparation for advanced study. Through required coursework, students develop skills and knowledge in environmental health, epidemiology, health systems, program planning, and data analysis and research. 

In addition to the requirements for the major, students must meet all other university requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Please consult the Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree  section in this catalog for complete information. All courses applied toward the major must be completed with a “C-” (1.7) or better and must be taken for a letter grade. The exception is PUBH 349L , which is offered credit/no credit.

Public Health Nutrition Concentration (18 units)

The Public Health Nutrition (PHN) concentration focuses on applying nutrition concepts while integrating social context and structural factors to improve population health and reduce disease. Students will be trained to identify the social, cultural, economic, environmental, and structural factors that lead to nutrition-related health problems including undernutrition and overnutrition among diverse populations. Students will also learn to design, implement, and evaluate global, national, state, and local programs that can improve the nutritional status of the population as a whole and of vulnerable populations. Students are required to take nine concentration units and nine elective units. All elective units need to be 300- and 400-level courses. Six to nine elective units must be from the Department of Public Health list of electives, and up to three units of electives courses from other departments. The nine concentration units include HESC 350 – Nutrition: Vital Link to Better Health (3 units), HESC 470 – Childhood Obesity, Nutrition, and Social Context (3 units), and HESC 472 – Nutritional Assessment (3 units).

**This concentration does not include a dietetic internship and does not prepare students to sit for the Registered Dietitian Exam.

Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 units)

In order to satisfy the upper-division writing requirement of the university, Public Health majors must pass ENGL 301  or ENGL 360  with a “C” (2.0) or better. Please see additional information provided in this catalog on the writing requirement.

Graduation Requirement (3 units)

• HONR 201B - Honors Seminar: American Institutions and Values since 1900 (3)
• POSC 100 - American Government (3)

Total (120 units)