SDSU School of Public Health

San Diego, California

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Curriculum

SPH Undergraduate Advising/Schedule Planning Sheet – Catalog Year 2021/22
SPH Undergraduate Advising/Schedule Planning Sheet – Catalog Year 2022/23
SPH Undergraduate Advising/Schedule Planning Sheet – Catalog Year 2024/25
SPH Undergraduate Advising/Schedule Planning Sheet Environmental Health Emphasis – Catalog Year 2024/25

Advising Questions?
E-mail your friendly Public Health Advisors at PHundergrad@sdsu.edu

*Please note that there will be NO SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS or OFFICE HOURS during holidays, spring break, winter break, and summer break. Questions during this time will be addressed via e-mail only, so please plan ahead!

 

Public Health Major Requirements Years 1 & 2: Major Prerequisites: PH 101 PH 292, BIOL 100, BIOL 100L, CHEM 100, CHEM 100L, BIOL 211, BIOL 212, PSY 101, SOC 101, PSY 280/SOC 201, Year 3 & 4+: PH 300*, PH 302, PH 304, PH 305, PH 306, PH 307, PH 401, PH490A, PH 480B, PH 450, PH 402, PH 490C Requirements for Declaring the Major: B or higher in PH 101 and PH 292, C or higher in BIOL 100/Lab; BIOL 211/Lab BIOL 211, CHEM 100, PSY 101, SOC 101, SOC 201/PSY 280, Cumulative GPA of 2.9 or higher

See also…

  • SDSU MyMap! – assists SDSU undergrads in navigating course requirements for their majors

Curriculum – Preparation for the Major

students develop competencies in public health concepts
Students develop competencies in public health concepts.

All candidates for a degree in applied arts and sciences must complete the requirements listed in the “Graduation Requirements” section of the SDSU General Catalog.

Preparation for the Major

  • PH 101 – Introduction to Public Health (3) 
  • PH 292 – History of Public Health (3) 
  • BIOL 100 – General Biology (3)
  • BIOL 100L – General Biology Laboratory (1)
  • BIOL 211 – Fundamentals of Microbiology (2)
  • BIOL 212 – Human Anatomy (4)
  • CHEM 100 – Introduction to General Chemistry with Laboratory (4)
  • PSY 101 – Introductory Psychology (3)
  • SOC 101 – Introductory Sociology: The Study of Society (3)
  • STAT 119 – Elementary Statistics for Business (3) or SOC 201 – Elementary Social Statistics (3) or PSY 201 – Statistical Methods in Psychology (4)

Requirements for Declaring the Major:

 (1) Grade of “B” or higher in PH 101 and PH 292

 (2) Grade of “C” or higher in BIOL 100/Lab; BIOL 212/Lab; BIOL 211; CHEM 100; PSY 101; SOC 101; SOC 201/PSY 280/STAT 119

 (3) Cumulative GPA of 2.9 or higher.

 

Curriculum – Major

sp4h students
Participate in student organizations such as Students 4 Public Health!

A minimum of 51 upper division units

 

Required Courses (36 units):

  • PH 300 – Professionalism & Public Health (3)
  • PH 302 – Communicable and Chronic Disease (3)
  • PH 304 – Environment and Public Health (3)
  • PH 305 – Medical Care Organization and Delivery (3)
  • PH 306 – Public Health Research (3)
  • PH 307 – Applied Math in Public health/Biostatistics (3)
  • PH 401 – Biological Basis of Diseases (3)
  • PH 402 – Public Health Communications (3)
  • *PH 450 – Public Health Policy (3) (*For catalog year 2020/21 and later only)
  • PH 490A – Health Data Analysis (3)
  • PH 490B – Planning Public Health Programs (3)
  • PH 490C – Public Health Program Evaluation (3)
  • *BIOL 336 – Principles of Human Physiology (3) (*For catalog year 2019/20 and prior only)

 

Area A Electives  – Select 4 courses (12 units):

  • PH 330 – Plagues Through the Ages (3)
  • PH 331 – Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response (3)
  • PH 332 – Public Health Nutrition (3)
  • PH 333 – Health Equity (3)
  • PH 353 – Human Sexuality and Disease (3)
  • PH 362 – International Health (3)
  • PH 395 – Emerging Topics in Public Health (3)
  • PH 451 – Public Health and Food Safety (3)
  • PH 452 – Health Impacts of Climate Change
  • PH 496 – Experimental/Special Topics (varies by semester; 3)
  • GEN S 340 – Confronting AIDS (3)

 

Area B Culminating Experience – Select 1 course/experience (3 units):

  • PH 497 (Internship/Field Practice) – students complete 144 hours of internship with an approved public health agency/organization
  • PH 499 (Research) – students complete 144 hours of applied research under the guidance of a faculty member
  • PH 480 (Peer Health Educator) – students assist the SDSU Well-being & Health Promotion Department with outreach events and present dynamic workshops to students and the campus community on a variety of topics that affect the everyday lives of our students. Application and 2-semester commitment required.
  • Pre-Professional Upper Division Science Course (with advisor approval)
  • For additional options, speak with your advisor

International Experience

our HHS 350 students in Costa Rica
our HHS 350 students in Costa Rica

All public health/health science undergraduate majors are required to participate in a pre-approved international experience to increase awareness of cross-cultural issues, global health, economic, political, cultural, social services, and health challenges experienced  by local populations in international environments. Students participate in residence for two or more weeks (exemption  from the study abroad portion of the requirement must be approved by the dean of the college based on serious and compelling life events or physical limitations; a relevant course will be substituted). Specific details can be found on the CHHS Undergraduate International Experience web site.

To meet the international experience requirement, majors must complete one of the following:

  1. A CSU Study Abroad Program;
  2. An SDSU Exchange Program;
  3. An SDSU Study Abroad Program;
  4. An SDSU Study Travel Program; 
  5. OR one course selected from:
    • Health and Human Services 290 or 350;
    • Asian Studies 490;
    • Education 450;
    • General Studies 450;
    • Honor 450;
    • International Security and Conflict Resolution 450;
    • Latin American Studies 320, 450, or 550;
    • Political Science 450;
    • Science 350

Student Experiences Abroad – Real World Examples

 

See:

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Passing the Writing Placement Assessment with a score of 10, or Rhetoric and Writing Studies 305W or Linguistics 305W with a grade of C (2.0) or better

Publi Health students at Health Policy ConferenceAnnual CSU Health Policy Conference

Every year,  SDSU’s School of Public Health sends 10-12 juniors and seniors to the CSU Health Policy Conference at the State Capitol in Sacramento! This event is designed to provide students with first-hand experience and education on how health policy is created and moved through the legislative process. Students will join their peers from participating CSU campuses to hear from guest speakers and participate in workshops.

Each year, students will receive correspondence on the conference details including information on how to apply via the Canvas Undergraduate Homeroom In February or March. The 2023 conference will take place from April 17th to 19th in Sacramento.

Please direct any questions to PHUndergrad@sdsu.edu.

 

 

 

Curriculum – Online Summer Courses

  • PH 101 – Introduction to Public Health – 3 units (Pre-major Requirement & GE)
  • PH 292 – History of Public Health – 3 units (Pre-major Requirement )
  • PH 353 – Human Sexuality and Disease – 3 units (Area A elective )
  • PH 362 – International Health – 3 units (Area A elective )

 

Didn’t do so well in a course and need to retake: CHECK OUT Course Repeat & Course Forgiveness

We all make mistakes sometimes or don’t do as well as we would like in a certain subject, but don’t worry, help is here! If you did not do as well as you would have liked in a class, Course Repeat and Course Forgiveness may be an option for you. Please check out the SDSU General Advising website on Course Repeat and Course Forgiveness for more information.