Public Health Major (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program provides students with a multi-disciplinary understanding of public health and its determinants.  It does this through both core and elective courses examining epidemiology, statistics and data visualization, environmental health, health policy, health communication, and social and behavioral health. The program is designed to prepare students to address public health challenges by examining health equity, disease monitoring and prevention, environmental/planetary health, health policy and promotion and integrative health systems broadly defined.

Throughout the program, students will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to analyze health data, understand the social determinants of health, develop health interventions, and influence health policy and practice. They will engage in coursework that integrates scientific principles with real-world applications in areas such as public health ethics, infectious disease control, and health communication. Coursework will support the core functions of public health: assessment, policy development, and assurance.

Graduates of the BSPH program will be equipped for diverse career opportunities in government agencies, non-profit organizations, healthcare systems, and private industry, or for advanced studies in public health, medicine, or related fields. The program emphasizes experiential learning through the capstone project and fosters a hands-on approach to solving multi-sectoral public health issues at local, national, and global levels.

Students have the opportunity to become student members in the American Public Health Association (APHA), and the New Hampshire Public Health Association (NHPHA) to establish a professional network and be informed on current issues within the field.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Students begin the curriculum with preprofessional courses, which include courses in health care systems, public health, health communication epidemiology and statistics. In addition to meeting the University Discovery and Writing Program requirements, students must complete both the core and courses and select electives from each of the interdisciplinary foci in Health Assessment, Policy Development, Health Assurance and Spatial Mapping.

Required Core Courses
HMP 401United States Health Care Systems4
HMP 403Introduction to Public Health4
HMP 501Epidemiology and Community Medicine4
HMP 512Using Data to Improve Human Health4
HMP 540Statistics for Health and Human Service Professionals4
HMP 642Health Economics4
HMP 669Human Behavior and the Public Health4
HMP 703Translation of Health Data4
HMP 715Environmental Health4
HMP 744Law and Ethics in Healthcare4
HMP 746Health Policy4
Policy Development
Select two courses from the following:8
Community Development Perspectives
Family Programs and Policies
Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
Youth Culture and Programs
Class, Status and Power
Honors/Healthy Communities: Environmental Justice and Social Change
Social Welfare Policy: History of Social and Economic Justice
Social Welfare Policy: Analysis, Activism, and Advocacy
Aging and Society
Child and Adolescent Risks and Resiliency: Program, Policy and Practice
Introduction to Coastal and Marine Policy: Understanding US Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Policy
Assurance
Select two courses from the following:8
Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context
Making Change: Social and Environmental Justice in Practice
Climate and Society
Environmental Justice
Race, Class, Gender, and Families
Exploring Sustainability
Sustainability in Action
I'm Old, So What! An introduction to aging in the United States
Race Equity in Health and Human Services
Exploring Issues in Housing and Homelessness
Understanding Developmental Disabilities
Current Issues in Teaching Health
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for Recreation Services
GIS
Select one course from the following:4
Making Maps: GIS Fundamentals
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Methods
Select one course from the following:4
Data Analysis for Life Science
Methods of Social Research
Social Demography
Communication
Select two courses from the following:8
Special Topics in Communication
Public Dialogue and Deliberation
Civil Discourse Lab: Public Dialogue, Equity, & Authenticity
and Civil Discourse Lab: Public Deliberation and Issue Framing
Healthcare Marketing
Capstone
HMP 749Public Health Capstone: Integrative Experience4
Total Credits80

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
HMP 401
United States Health Care Systems
or Introduction to Public Health
4
Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
HMP 401
United States Health Care Systems
or Introduction to Public Health
4
Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
HMP 512 Using Data to Improve Human Health 4
HMP 540 Statistics for Health and Human Service Professionals 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
HMP 501 Epidemiology and Community Medicine 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
HMP 642 Health Economics 4
HMP 703 Translation of Health Data 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
HMP 669 Human Behavior and the Public Health 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
HMP 744 Law and Ethics in Healthcare 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
HMP 746 Health Policy 4
HMP 715 Environmental Health 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
Elective/Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits128

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Apply Core Public Health Principles: Demonstrate a foundational understanding of public health concepts such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, environmental health, and disease prevention to address population health challenges. Knowledge and skills will support the core functions of public health: assessment, policy development, and assurance.
  • Analyze Public Health Data: Use quantitative and qualitative research methods to analyze public health data, identify health trends, and assess the effectiveness of public health interventions.
  • Understand Social Determinants and Vital Conditions of Health: Analyze how social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors impact health outcomes and contribute to health disparities within populations.
  • Develop and Implement Public Health Interventions: Design and apply evidence-based strategies and interventions that promote health, prevent disease, and improve the well-being of communities.
  • Communicate Public Health Information: Effectively communicate public health concepts, research findings, and health policies to diverse audiences, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the general public.
  • Evaluate Public Health Policies: Critically assess existing public health policies, programs, and laws, and advocate for policy changes that improve population health and health equity.
  • Practice Ethical Public Health Leadership: Demonstrate ethical decision-making, both fiduciary and practical, and overall leadership, in public health practice, considering the diverse needs of populations while advocating for justice, equity, and inclusion.
  • Collaborate in Multidisciplinary Teams: Work effectively within interdisciplinary teams to address complex public health issues through collaborative problem-solving and community engagement.