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BS of Public Health

Amber Olney

Welcome

The BS Public Health degree, accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), prepares graduates for professional positions in public health agencies, community-based organizations, health care, tribal health, and international organizations. The curriculum is competency based in compliance with standards set by the Council on Education for Public Health and by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) national examination administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.

Program Coordinator: Amber Olney, MPH

Email: AOlney@csusb.edu

Mission

We are committed to the broad mission of public health, defined by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) as “enhancing health in human populations through organized community effort.”

Our mission is to develop public health professionals who are prepared to assume leadership roles in population-based settings in order to promote, preserve, and restore health of local and global communities as a result of working to reduce health disparities and generate health equity. Preparation includes development of knowledge and skill to assess community resources and needs; to plan, implement, and evaluate health programs; and to organize and coordinate activities in diverse populations as they pursue improved health.

Vision and Values

Our vision is to serve as a community resource for promoting public health and to be recognized as a leader in creating health equity and social justice through health education and promotion programs and services in our diverse communities.

Our values serve as a guide in the work we do in the pursuit of effectiveness and excellence in the work of public health.

We value:

Diversity

A respect for all people in global and local communities and to appreciate diverse cultures’ perspectives, and beliefs as we promote population health.

Equity

Fairness and social justice in addressing population health.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Using an ecological framework and reasoned debate in collaborative approaches across disciplines to advance scientific knowledge, and improve population health.

Student centered learning

A dynamic learning community that fosters engaged learning where students have a voice in the process of their education including practical opportunities for problem solving.

Advocacy

Actions to achieve equitable access to public health, health resources, and public policies.

Innovation

Innovative approaches to educate and inspire faculty and students in teaching, learning, and addressing public health matters.

Professionalism

Honesty and mutual respect in teaching, learning, and public service as we engage students in activities to advance a sense of profession as they assume duties and responsibilities in public health.

Scholarship

Engagement by faculty and students in methods that foster comprehension of the extent of current public health knowledge and the role of research to contribute to future public health knowledge and solutions.

   

Admissions Criteria

Admissions

How to Apply

How to Apply

Program Goals & Outcomes

Instructional Goals


Goal 1.1: Sustain an environment of academic rigor by ensuring faculty are teaching effectively.

Goal 1.2: Design, implement, and evaluate a competency and practice-based academically rigorous program to ensure all program students are prepared to assume public health related jobs.

Research Goals

Goal 2: Foster an environment for faculty exploration of public health research in order to prepare students to conduct ethically-based public health research.

Service Goals

Goal 3: Promote active involvement and strengthen relationships between the program faculty, students, and public health workforce in the service area.
 

Degree requirements

This program consists of lower division courses that many complete in community college.  If you have not completed those and transfer in you will need to get those out of the way right away. 

Lower division courses should be completed before signing up for the pre-field experience.

Lower division courses should be completed prior to taking upper division courses to the extent possible.  See the university bulletin for prerequisites.

A grade of 'C' or better is required in all upper division courses for this major including approved substitute courses.

To complete your degree in two years you:

  1. must take courses when they are offered (day, time, quarter) and
  2. must have the 2000 level sciences completed prior to transferring here or to taking upper division, or
  3. take summer courses

Requirements for the B.S. in Public Health

(Program Code: PBHL)

 

Lower-division requirements - includes 4 GE units: (13)
CourseTitleUnits
HSCI 1200Health and Society: An Ecological and Societal Approach3
HSCI 1200LHealth and Society: An Ecological and Societal Approach Lab1
HSCI 2200Introduction to Public Health3
HSCI 2202Software Applications in the Health Sciences3
HSCI 2203Introduction to Statistics in Health Sciences3
Upper-division requirements: (40)
CourseTitleUnits
HSCI 3201Health Behavior3
HSCI 3202Topics in Environmental and Occupational Health3
HSCI 3203Global Health3
HSCI 3204Public Health Nutrition3
HSCI 3205Biostatistics for Health Science3
HSCI 3206Public Health Law and Ethics3
HSCI 3207Social Determinants of Health3
HSCI 3208Introduction to Professional Development and Communication3
HSCI 4200Health Administration3
HSCI 4202Epidemiology3
HSCI 4203Public Health Program Planning and Implementation3
HSCI 4204Research Methods and Evaluation in Public Health3
HSCI 4205Advanced Professional Writing in Public Health3
HSCI 4999Preparation for Public Health Capstone1
Capstone Experience - 3 units chosen from:
CourseTitle
HSCI 5213Community Service Project in Public Health
HSCI 5753Field Experience in Health Science
HSCI 5970Honors Thesis for Public Health
Electives - 9 units chosen from:
CourseTitle
HSCI 3010Health and Human Sexuality
HSCI 4206Infectious Disease Burden in U.S.
HSCI 4207Chronic Disease Burden in U.S.
HSCI 4208Drug and Alcohol Issues
HSCI 4209Complementary and Alternative Medicine
HSCI 4210Cultural Competency
HSCI 4211Mental Health Issues in Public Health
HSCI 4212Topics about Special Populations
HSCI 4550Health Aspects of Death and Dying
HSCI 4552Special Topics: International Perspectives on Stress Management
HSCI 5531Bioterrorism and Emergency Response
HSCI 5951PHIndependent Study for Public Health
HSCI 5952PHIndependent Study for Public Health
HSCI 5953PHIndependent Study for Public Health
BIOL 2200Microbiology for Allied Health Majors
BIOL 2230Human Anatomy and Physiology I for Allied Health Majors
BIOL 2240Human Anatomy and Physiology II for Allied Health Majors
CHEM 2070Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biochemistry
Capstone Experience Guidelines 3 units chosen from

HSCI 5213. Community Service Project in Public Health

Academically related tasks in such agencies as governmental, social service, and educational institutions. Instructor consent required. Students may earn up to a total of 6 units from HSCI 3291, 3292, and 4213.

 

HSCI 5753. Field Experience in Health Science

A minimum of 120 hours will be spent in a guided, structured, practical, educational experience in sites that may include public health offices, community health centers, clinical sites, nonprofit health agencies, worksite health promotion programs, or health care organizations, under the direct supervision of a preceptor at the site and guidance of the department. Letter of approval signed by site preceptor and faculty advisor to be filed in the department office prior to beginning the field experience. Graded credit/no credit. Departmental consent is required. Formerly HSCI 689D; students may not earn credit for both courses.

 

HSCI 5970 Honors Thesis for Public Health

Honors thesis conducted under the supervision of two public health faculty. The project must include independent research focused on a relevant public health research question. Students must have a major GPA of 3.5 and an overall GPA of 3.0. Formal presentation may be required. May be repeated for a total of 8 units, a total of 4 units may be applied to the upper division requirements for the BS in Public Health. Department consent required.

Career Opportunities

A degree in public health offers a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors. Public health professionals work to improve the health and well-being of communities and populations, focusing on preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviors, and addressing health disparities. Here are some career paths you can consider with a degree in public health:

  1. Epidemiologist: Epidemiologists study the patterns and causes of diseases and injuries in populations. They collect and analyze data, conduct research, and help develop strategies to prevent and control diseases.
  2. Health Educator: Health educators work to educate individuals and communities about healthy behaviors and lifestyles. They develop and implement programs, workshops, and campaigns to promote health and prevent diseases.
  3. Health Policy Analyst: Health policy analysts assess public health policies and make recommendations for improvements. They analyze the impact of policies on communities and populations, advocate for change, and contribute to the development of effective health policies.
  4. Public Health Administrator: Public health administrators manage and oversee the operations of public health organizations and agencies. They develop and implement policies, allocate resources, and ensure the efficient delivery of public health services.
  5. Global Health Specialist: Global health specialists work on public health issues at an international level. They may be involved in addressing infectious diseases, health disparities, and healthcare system strengthening in developing countries or during global health emergencies.
  6. Health Promotion Specialist: Health promotion specialists design and implement programs and initiatives to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles. They may focus on specific areas such as tobacco control, nutrition, physical activity, or mental health.
  7. Public Health Researcher: Public health researchers conduct scientific studies and research to generate new knowledge in the field. They may work in academia, research institutions, or government agencies, contributing to the evidence base for public health interventions and policies.
  8. Community Health Worker: Community health workers provide direct support and assistance to individuals and communities. They serve as a link between healthcare providers and the community, helping to improve access to healthcare services and providing health education.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other career paths within public health. Additionally, public health professionals can work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, healthcare institutions, research institutions, and consulting firms. The specific career opportunities available to you will depend on your interests, skills, and specialization within public health.

 

Accreditation

CEPH

 

The BS Public Health and Master of Public Health programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).  The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting agency for schools and programs in public health, acted on September 5, 2025 to confer probationary accreditation on our unit extending to September 30, 2026.

CEPH guarantees that your degree will be recognized as being from an accredited unit, if you complete all requirements of your degree by September 30, 2026. However, students who anticipate completing the requirements after this date are not guaranteed that their degree with be recognized as being from an accredited unit.

Please be assured that this does not affect our accreditation—we remain fully accredited, and your degree will continue to hold its value. Probation simply means that we have been asked to make improvements in uncertain areas, and we are committed to addressing these promptly and effectively. Our faculty and leadership are working hard to implement positive changes that will strengthen the program and enhance your educational experience. We appreciate your dedication to your studies and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns to Prof. Amber Olney at Aolney@csusb.edu.

Parts of our programs’ evaluation process and reporting to our accrediting agency relies on the yearly surveys we send out to students, alumni, and faculty. We take this opportunity to highlight the importance of completing these surveys in a timely manner so that we can both use your feedback to continue to improve the program, as well as meet our accreditation requirements each year. Thank you for taking the time to complete these surveys and continue to give back to our program.”

 

Roadmaps

Students majoring in BS Public Health before Fall 2024

BS - Public Health - First Time Freshman - Roadmap_0.pdf

BS - Public Health - Transfer_0.pdf

Students majoring in BS Public Health starting Fall 2024