Department of Public Health

Professor:听Craig M. Stephens

Associate Professors: 听Paul A. Gilbert, Sonja Mackenzie (Department Chair), Katherine B. Saxton

Assistant Professors:听Natasha Glendening, Vanessa Errisuriz, Micah Lattaner, Alice P. Villatoro

The Department of Public Health in the College of Arts and Sciences offers the bachelor of science degree in public health. The program also offers a minor degree in public health, and manages the Global Health Pathway of the University Core.

The public health major is an interdisciplinary degree focused on the health of human populations and individuals. The major explores the influences of structural, social, environmental and biological factors on human health through required and elective public health courses, as well as relevant courses in the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. Through the senior capstone and mandatory internship, PHSC majors engage in health-focused service and research projects that apply their education to real-world public health problems, and integrate learning across disciplines. Students are encouraged to study abroad to gain perspective on global health issues.听The Department of Public Health offers two emphases within the major鈥擧ealth Science, and Health and Society.

Public health majors will be well-prepared for careers, graduate education, or professional training in public health or health-related professions, including medicine and nursing. There are many career options in the field of public health, including health care administration, planning, and public policy; epidemiology and disease surveillance; clinical research and clinical trials management; health-related education and social work; health and science communication; and basic research.

Students intending to pursue a medical degree, or postgraduate training in other health-related professions, should contact the University pre-health advisor to discuss prerequisites for admission to such programs. Many require a full year of physics coursework (e.g., PHYS 11-13 or 31-33) and a full year of organic chemistry (e.g. CHEM 31, 32, 33) in addition to the requirements for the public health science major.

Requirements for the Major in Public Health Science: Health Science Emphasis

In addition to fulfilling the Undergraduate Core Curriculum requirements for the bachelor of science degree, students 听must complete the following courses:

PHSC 1, 2, 3, 100, 139, 151, 190, 197
BIOL 1A, 1B, 1C
CHEM 11, 12, 31听
Two approved introductory social science courses
MATH 35, 36 (recommended) or MATH 11, 12
One statistics course chosen from PHSC 50 (recommended), MATH 8, ANTH 112, BIOL 160/ENVS听110, COMM 110, OMIS 40, PSYC 51, SOCI 120
One public health elective: Any PHSC course other than the required courses listed above
Two approved upper-division biomedical electives, at least one with a lab component
Two approved upper-division social science or humanities electives
An approved 100 hour internship (*)听

Requirements for the Major in Public Health Science: Health and Society Emphasis

In addition to fulfilling the Undergraduate Core Curriculum requirements for the bachelor of science degree, students 听must complete the following courses:

PHSC 1, 2, 3, 50, 100, 125, 139, 151, 175, 190, 197
BIOL 2 or BIOL 1A or BIOL 11
A total of six approved introductory social science courses, chosen from two departments
MATH 35 (recommended) or MATH 11
One public health elective: Any PHSC course other than the required courses listed above
Three approved upper-division social science electives
An approved 100 hour internship (*)

(*)100+ Hour Internship Requirement (required for all majors)

The PHSC听major requires students to complete at least 100 hours of public health-related internship work. Internships must be approved in advance by a faculty member听in听the Department of Public Health. Internships can be done on a part-time or full-time basis, during the academic year or summer. Students may receive course credit for volunteer internships. For guidance on, and approval of,听internships, students should contact one of the Public Health faculty.

Requirements for the Minor

The interdisciplinary public health minor provides an introduction to the field of public health and is particularly useful for students interested in careers related to medicine, health care, community health, social work, education, or public policy. The minor establishes a sound scientific foundation to understand the functioning of the human body in health and disease and to appreciate the mechanisms by which diseases arise and spread in populations. Students also develop a foundation in the social sciences and statistical methods. Upper-division courses address the influences of biological, environmental, cultural, economic, and historical factors on human health. Students are encouraged to study abroad, if possible, to gain perspective on global health issues. The Department of Public Health is evolving and students are encouraged to petition the Chair听of the听Department听to consider new relevant courses developed at 黑料不打烊 and partner institutions abroad in addition to the approved electives.

Public Health Courses

PHSC 1, 2 or 3, and at least two听additional PHSC courses
One statistics course chosen from PHSC 50, ANTH 112, BIOL 160/ENVS 110, COMM 110, MATH 8, OMIS 40, PSYC 40, SOCI 120

Natural Science Courses

BIOL 1A or BIOL 2 or BIOL 11

Upper-Division Elective Courses

At least three approved courses, including courses from at least two departments

Lower-Division Courses

1. Introduction to Public Health

As an introduction to public health, this course examines health at the population level. Topics include common infectious and chronic diseases, how diseases arise in individuals and populations, how diseases are studied, and how health is promoted at the individual and community levels.听(4 units)

2. Introduction to the American Health System

This course examines the fundamental aspects of the U.S. health system including organization, delivery, financing, cost, access, and quality. The focus will be on the current system, but significant attention will be given to its historical roots and to alternative approaches implemented in other developed countries. Potential policy reforms and the interface of the health care system with public health will also be discussed. Prerequisite: PHSC 1. (4 units)

3. Introduction to Community Health

This course is an introduction to community health designed for public health majors and minors. Students will investigate health from a community perspective at multiple levels鈥攇overnmental, nonprofit organization, and activist/member. Students will learn how to define 鈥渃ommunities鈥� for public health practice and research, establish foundational understanding of community health theories and frameworks, and acquire skills for engaging in community health work. 听Students will apply course concepts in their investigation of community-based organizations and actions working towards solving pressing local community health issues. Prerequisite: PHSC 1. (4 units)

7. Public Health and Ethics

Examination of the ethical and conceptual foundations of public health. Topics studied may include ethical theory and ethical justifications of public health interventions, genetic screening of newborns conducted by the state, prenatal genetic diagnosis, genomic medicine, mandatory vaccinations for children and others, parental responsibility for their children鈥檚 health and welfare, public policy and law regarding the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, the allocation of vital organs for transplantation, health disparities related to race and other social categories, the legal and administrative regulation of pain management, harm reduction (such as needle exchange), health promotion and behavior modification, and defensive medicine. (4 units)

11. Women鈥檚 Health

This course examines how women鈥檚 health over the life course is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and cultural experiences. Topics include menarche and pubertal development, reproductive health and rights, menopausal transition, mental health, and violence. Current, historical, and cross-cultural examples are discussed. Also listed as GNSX听32. (4 units)

21. Health and Aging

Analysis of the human aging process, and the biological, medical, social, and ethical issues associated with aging. Topics include theories of aging, diseases and various health care issues associated with aging, and end-of-life issues. Contains an ELSJ component.听(4 units)

28. Human Sexuality

Integrates the biological foundations of human sexuality with psychological and social aspects of sexuality. Topics include the anatomy, physiology, and neurobiology of sex, gender and sexual orientation, sexually transmitted diseases, conception and pregnancy, contraception and abortion, and sexual dysfunctions. Also listed as GNSX 33. (4 units)

50. Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health

This introductory course uses case studies to present the principles and methods of biostatistics with application to public health, focused on interpretation and communication. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, probability distributions, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, chi-square, analysis of variance, correlation, and regression. Through the combination of lectures, readings, critical review of papers, and problem sets, students without prior coursework in biostatistics will acquire the core competencies in biostatistics expected of all public health undergraduates. Prerequisite: PHSC 1. (4 units)

Upper-Division Courses

100. Epidemiology

This course provides an introductory overview of epidemiological principles and methods. The course examines distribution of determinants of health, morbidity, and mortality in human populations, as well as application of epidemiologic study designs and analytical methods, focusing on topics of public health importance and questions of health equity. Laboratory 30 hours. The laboratory (computer lab) will provide students with hands-on experience with epidemiologic methods, study design, and data analysis using statistical software. Also listed as BIOL 117. Prerequisite: BIOL 1C or [PHSC 1 & 50]. (5 units)

103. Advanced Global Health

Interdisciplinary investigation of topics in public health in a global context, with particular attention to major issues in low and middle-income countries, and the relationships between health status, education, and poverty. Prerequisite: PHSC 1. PHSC 100 or 151recommended. (5 units)

105. Nutrition and Public Health

This course explores the nutritional status of communities and populations, with emphasis on the role that public health professionals may take to improve nutrition-related health outcomes. Students will gain a foundational understanding of nutrition principles, including macronutrients and micronutrients, while examining connections between nutrition, social justice, and policy and their impacts on food access and health disparities. Additionally, students will learn how public health theories and research are applied in the nutrition context and how cultural factors influence nutrition. Also listed as BIOL 105. (5 units)

111. Health Education and Promotion

This course examines the fundamental concepts of health education and promotion in a variety of public health contexts. Major theoretical approaches and models related to behavior change, social influence, communication strategies, and community-based change are discussed, as well as multifactorial determinants of health and health-related behaviors. An overview of different research methodologies for health program design, implementation, and evaluation is provided. (5 units)

124. Health Consequences of a Western Lifestyle

This course explores the impact of living in a developed country on human health. Topics such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer will be discussed at the molecular, cellular, physiological, and population levels. Also listed as BIOL 106. Prerequisite: BIOL 1C. (5 units)

125. Race, Class, Gender and Public Health

This course introduces students to key theories for studying social difference and health, and examines the ways that categories of social difference鈥攊ncluding but not limited to race, class, and gender鈥攁re socially constructed and serve as key determinants of health and health inequities. Students will consider how privilege and oppression are patterned by race, class, and gender and study contemporary and historical debates of health inequities perpetuated in institutional and interpersonal contexts, including the state, the labor force, neighborhood, the family, and the criminal justice system. Enrollment during second, junior, or senior year strongly听advised. Also listed as GNSX 131. (5 units)

130. Public Health Leadership Seminar

This course is a required component of the Valeriote Goldman Public Health Leadership Program. Enrollment is by permission of instructor. (2 units).

131. Community Health

This course examines key health indicators and patterns seen in individuals, families, neighborhoods, schools, and communities. Students will explore social, environmental, political, cultural, and behavioral factors that contribute to health disparities linked to racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic differences. The course will also examine the design, implementation, and evaluation of social and behavioral interventions and health policies to improve community health. (5 units)

NEW PHSC 133: Public Health Approaches to Decriminalization of Homelessness

This class will partner with the Decriminalization of Homelessness Practice at the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center to examine legal responses to homelessness and its criminalization in the Bay Area. Students will have the opportunity to work with people experiencing homelessness and to assist legal staff with public health research into the health impacts of criminalization, policy research and memo drafting, community education and presentations including Know Your Rights presentations and public comment at government meetings, preparation with legal cases and coordination with health and supportive services. Through student contributions with community members and engagement around the homelessness crisis, this class includes a community-based learning component and is designed as an Experiential Learning for Social Justice course (pending Core approval). Prerequisite: PHSC 1 or permission of instructor. (5 units)

134. Public Health Law & Policy

This class will examine the public health consequences of domestic law and policy, with a particular emphasis on homelessness and the unhoused. Students will be introduced to federal, state and local laws, as well as government policies and orders that implicate or impact various areas of public health, and will examine how these areas relate to the current homelessness crisis. Topics will be presented through a health equity lens, and students will be challenged to think about how different subpopulations experience varying outcomes of public health governance. This class is an ELSJ course and includes a community-based learning component where students will have the opportunity to work with a local organization that serves people experiencing homelessness. Prerequisite: PHSC 1. (5 units)

135. Human Development and Sexuality

Examination of evolutionary, biocultural aspects of human growth, development, and sexuality throughout the life cycle. Special emphasis on how various cultural, economic, and political factors influence norms of sexual behavior in different societies. Fulfills the Science, Technology & Society requirement. Also listed as ANTH 135. (5 units)

139. 听Public Health Internship

This two-unit course is required for all Public Healt