Undergraduate Major in Public Health
To qualify for the Public Health major, students must first have received a B- minimum grade in Bio 1B. However, all students interested in the major or the field of Public Health in general are encouraged to consult with Academic Adviser Tony Soyka concerning possible entry into this very popular program, including alternatives.
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Introduction
Course Requirements
Sample Courses of Study
Opportunities for Graduates
Declaring Your Major
Further Information
Public health seeks to improve human health through the development and application of knowledge that prevents disease, protects the public from harm, and promotes health throughout the state, the nation, and the world.
Under the public health major, undergraduates will develop and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines for the promotion and protection of the health of the human population, giving due consideration to principles of human rights and cultural perspectives that abound in our multicultural country and world.
The undergraduate major in public health is offered through the College of Letters and Science.
All course work is to be taken for a letter grade (with the exception of possible elective PH 116, which is offered as Pass/No Pass only).
University of California Requirements
- Subject A, American History and Institutions
- American Cultures
- Reading/Composition
- Quantitative Reasoning and Breadth
Biological Science Requirements
- General Biology 1B (4) (F, SP)
(A minimum grade of B- is required for all new students.)
- General Biology 1A (4) (F, SP)*
OR
two courses:- NST 10: Introduction to Human Nutrition (3) (F, SP)
- MCB 11: Molecular Biology of Molecules and Man (3) (SP)
- MCB 32: Introduction to Human Physiology (3) (F)
- MCB 41: Genetics: Genetics and Society (3) (SP)
- MCB 50: Immunology: The Immune System and Disease (3) (SP)
- MCB 61: Neurobiology: Brain, Mind, and Behavior (3) (SP)
*requires Chemistry 1A (3) (F, SP) and Chemistry 3A and 3B (9) (F, SP)
Mathematics Requirements
A minimum of two courses or equivalent:
- MATH 1A: Calculus (4) (F, SP)
- MATH 1B (F) or H1B (F, SP): (4)
- MATH 16A: Calculus (3) (F, SP)
- MATH 16B or H16B: Calculus (3) (F, SP)
- MATH 32: Precalculus (4) (F, SP)
Social Sciences Requirements
Three courses in at least two areas:
Psychology
- PSYCH 2: Principles of Psychology 2 (3) (F, SP)
(PSYCH1 also acceptable)
Sociology
- SOCIOL 1: Introduction of Sociology (4)
- SOCIOL 3 or 3AC or 5: Principles of Sociology (4)
Economics
- ECON 1 (F, SP), 2 (F), or 3 (F, SP): Introduction to Economics (4)
Anthropology
- ANTHRO 3 or 3AC: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (4) (F, SP)
Political Science
- POLI SCI 2: Introduction to Comparative Politics (4) (F, SP)
- POLI SCI 4: Introduction to Political Theory (4)
Public Health Requirements
Students are required to complete four core courses.
- PH 142: Introduction of Probability and Statistics in Public Health (4) (F)
(Alternatively, PH 141 [Summer] or Stat 131A [F, SP] can be used to meet this requirement.) - PH 150A: Introduction to Epidemiology (3) (SP)
- PH 150B: Introduction to Environmental Health (3) (SP)
- PH 150D: Introduction to Health Policy & Management (3) (F)
- PH 150E: Community Health and Human Development (3) (SP) to be offered Spring 2007
- PH 162A: Public Health Microbiology (3) (F, Su)
Electives
Twelve units of elective courses are required. Students who plan to continue to graduate school are strongly advised to concentrate elective units in only one or two areas of study.
Biostatistics
- PH 143: Introduction to Methods in Computational Biology (4) (SP)
- PH 145: Statistical Analysis of Continuous-Outcome Data (4) (SP)
- STAT 101: Introduction to the Theory of Probability (4) (F, SP)
- STAT 102: Introduction to the Theory of Statistics (4) (SP)
- STAT 150: Stochastic Processes (3) (SP)
- STAT 151AB: Linear Modeling: Theory and Application (8) (F, SP)
- DEMOG 110: Introduction to Population Analysis (3) (F)
- MATH 53: Multivariable Calculus (4) (F, SP)
- MATH 54: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (4) (F, SP)
- STAT 152: Introduction to Time Series (4)
- PH 162A: Public Health Microbiology (3) (F)
- MCB 102: Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (4) (F, SP)
- MCB 140: General genetics (4) or MCB 142: Survey of General Genetics (4) (F, SP)
- MCB 150: Molecular Immunology (4) (F, SP)
- MCB 130: Cell Biology (4) (F, SP)
- MCB 114: Introduction to Comparative Virology (4) (SP)
- PMB 110: Biology of Fungi (4) (F)
- ESPM 145: Arthropod-borne Zoonotic Diseases (2) (SP)
- ESPM 146: Medical/Veterinary Entomology (3) (SP)
- MCB 142: Survey of General Genetics (4) (SP)
- MCB 160: Introduction to Neurobiology (4)
- IB 131: General Anatomy (3) (F)
- IB 132: Survey of Human Physiology (3) (SP)
- IB 137: General Endocrinology (4) (F)
- CHEM 112A (F) B (SP): Organic Chemistry (10)
- DEMOG 110: Introduction to Population Analysis (3) (F)
- GEOG 130: Natural Resources and Populations (3)
- IB 131: General Human Anatomy (3) (F)
- IB 132: Survey of Human Physiology (3) (SP)
- MCB 135E: Physiology of Human Development (3) (F)
- MCB 135K: Physiology of the Aging Process (3) (SP)
- MCB 152: The Immune System (4) (F, SP)
- PHC 172: Pharmacology and Toxicology (3) (F)
- ENR 102: Quantitative Aspects of Global Environmental Problems (4)
- CHEM 112A (F) B (SP): Organic Chemistry (10)
- CE 108: Air Pollution Emission and Controls (3) (SP)
- CE 109: Indoor Air Quality (3) (F)
- CE 110: Water Pollution Control and Treatment (3) (F)
- CE 111: Environmental Engineering (3) (F, SP)
- CE 114: Environmental Microbiology (3) (F)
- ERG 100: Energy and Society (4) (F)
- ERG 102: Quantitative Aspects of Global Environment Problems (4) (SP)
- ERG 130: Analysis of Environmental Data (3) (F)
- ESPM 167: Environmental Health and Development (3) (F)
- GEOG 130: Natural Resources and Populations (4)
- PH 180: Topics in Human Sexuality (2) (SP)
- ECON 157: Health Economics (3)
- PH 116: Social, Political and Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine (2) (SP)
- PP 156: Program and Policy Design (4) (SP)
- CY PLAN 112A: The Idea of Planning (3) (F, SP)
- CY PLAN 120: Community Planning and Public Policy for Disability (3)
- ESPM 102D: Resource and Environmental Policy (4) (SP)
- LS 103: Theories of Law and Society (4)
- LS 107: Theories of Justice (4)
- LS 165: Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Policy (cross-listed with PP 162C) (3) (F)
- LS 168: Sex, Reproduction and the Law (4)
- MASS COMM 102: The Effects of Mass Media (4) (F)
- PP 101: Introduction to Public Policy Analysis (4) (F, SP)
- PP 117AC: Race, Ethnicity and Public Policy (4) (SP)
- PP 179: Public Budgeting (4) (SP)
- PS 103: Congress (4)
- PS 150: The American Legal System (3) (F)
- PS 171: California Politics (4)
- SW 112: Social Welfare Policy (3) (SP)
- PH 14: Introduction to Public Health (4) (F)
- PH 103: Drugs, Health, and Society (2) (SP)
- PH 104 A/B: Health Promotion in a College Setting (2/2) (F)
- PH 105: Policy, Planning and Evaluation of Health Promotion in a College Setting (3) (F, SP)
- PH 113: Campus/Community Health Impact Program (3) (F)
- PH 114: Issues in Personal and Community Health Promotion (3) (SP)
- PH 130AC: Aging and Health (3) (SP)
- PH 131AC: Race, Ethnicity, and Health in America (3) (SP)
The programs outlined below are strictly examples for six areas of emphasis in public health. The purpose is to illustrate possible in depth programs that fulfill the requirements of the public health major. There are many possibilities and the choices made to construct these sample programs may or may not fit any particular student needs. These samples can serve as a guideline to the creation of individual programs.
Biostatistics
Lower Division:
- CHEM 1A: General Chemistry (3) (F, SP)
- CHEM 3A: Chemical Structures and Reactivity (9) (F, SP)
- BIO 1A: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- BIO 1B: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- ECON 1: Introduction to Economics (4) (F, SP)
- ANTHRO 3: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (4) (F, SP)
- POLI SCI 2: Intro to Comparative Politics (4)
- MATH 16AB: Calculus (8) (F, SP)
- MATH 53: Multivariate Calculus (4) (F, SP)
- MATH 54: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (4) (F, SP)
Upper Division Requirements:
- PH 142: Introduction of Probability and Statistics in Public Health (4) (F)
- PH 150A: Introduction to Epidemiology (3) (SP)
- PH 150B: Introduction to Environmental Health (3) (SP)
- PH 150D: Introduction to Health Policy & Management (3) (F)
Upper Division Electives:
- STAT 101: Introduction to the Theory of Probability (4) (F, SP)
- STAT 102: Introduction to the Theory of Statistics (4) (SP)
- STAT 151AB: Linear Modeling: Theory and Application (8) (F, SP)
Infectious Diseases
Lower Division:
- CHEM 1A: General Chemistry (3) (F, SP)
- CHEM 3AB: Chemical Structures and Reactivity (9) (F, SP)
- BIOLOGY 1A: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- BIOLOGY 1B: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- PSYCH 2: Principles of Psychology (3) (F, SP)
- ANTHRO 3: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (4) (F, SP)
- POLI SCI 2: Intro to Comparative Politics (4)
- MATH 1AB: Calculus (8) (F, SP)
- PH 142: Introduction of Probability and Statistics in Public Health (4) (F)
- PH 150A: Introduction to Epidemiology (3) (SP)
- PH 150B: Introduction to Environmental Health, (3) (SP)
- PH 150D: Introduction to Health Policy & Management (3) (F)
- PH 162A: Public Health Microbiology (3) (F)
- MCB 102: Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (4) (F, SP)
- MCB 150: Molecular Immunology (4) (F, SP)
- MCB 114: Introduction to Comparative Virology (4) (SP)
Epidemiology
Lower Division:
- CHEM 1A: General Chemistry (3) (F, SP)
- CHEM 3AB: Chemical Structures and Reactivity (9) (F, SP)
- PHYSICS 8AB: Introductory Physics (8) (F, SP)
- BIOLOGY 1A: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- BIOLOGY 1B: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- PSYCH 2: Principles of Psychology (4) (F, SP)
- ANTHRO 3: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (4) (F, SP)
- POLI SCI 2: Intro to Comparative Politics (4)
- MATH 1AB: Calculus (8) (F, SP)
- PH 142: Introduction of Probability and Statistics in Public Health (4) (F)
- PH 150A: Introduction to Epidemiology (3) (SP)
- PH 150B: Introduction to Environmental Health (3) (SP)
- PH 150D: Introduction to Health Policy & Management (3) (F)
- PH 143: Introduction to Methods in Computational Biology (4) (SP)
- PH 145: Statistical Analysis of Continuous-Outcome Data (4) (SP)
- DEMOG 110: Introduction to Population Analysis (3) (F)
- INTEG 131: General Human Anatomy (3) (F)
Environmental Health Sciences
Lower Division Requirements:
- CHEM 1A: General Chemistry (3) (F, SP)
- CHEM 3AB: Chemical Structures and Reactivity (9) (F, SP)
- BIOLOGY 1A: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- BIOLOGY 1B: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- MATH 1AB: Calculus (8) (F, SP)
- ECON 1: Introduction to Economics (4) (F, SP)
- ECON 3: Intro to Environmental Economics and Policy (2) (F, SP)
- POLI SCI 2: Intro to Comparative Politics (4) ( )
- PH 145: Introduction of Probability and Statistics in Public Health (4) (F)
- PH 150A: Introduction to Epidemiology (3) (SP)
- PH 150B: Introduction to Environmental Health (3) (SP)
- PH 150D: Introduction to Health Policy & Management (3) (F)
- PH 145: Statistical Analysis of Continuous-Outcome Data (4) (SP)
- PH 170B: Toxicology (3) (F)
- PH 162A: Public Health Microbiology (3) (F)
- ESPM 167: Environmental Health and Development (3) (F)
Health Policy & Management
Lower Division Requirements:
- BIOLOGY 1B: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- PH 14: Introduction to Public Health (3) (F)
- NST 10: Introduction to Human Nutrition (3) (F, SP)
- MCB 41: Genetics and Society (3) (SP)
- MATH 16A: Calculus (4) (F, SP)
- MATH 16B Calculus (4) (F, SP)
- PS 4: Introduction to Political Theory (4) ( )
- ECON 1: Introduction to Economics (4) (F, SP)
- SOCIOL 3AC: Principles of Sociology (4) (F, SP)
- PH 142: Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Public Health (4) (F)
- PH 150A: Introduction to Epidemiology (3) (SP)
- PH 150B: Introduction to Environmental Health (3) (SP)
- PH 150D: Introduction to Health Policy & Management (3) (F)
- PH 145: Statistical Analysis of Continuous-Outcome Data (4) (SP)
- PP101: Introduction to Public Policy Analysis (4) (F, SP)
- ECON 157: Health Economics (3) ( )
- PH 116: Social, Political and Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine (2) (F)(SP)
Community Health & Human Development
Lower Division Requirements:
- BIO 1B: General Biology (4) (F, SP)
- NST 10: Introduction to Human Nutrition (3) (F, SP)
- MCB 41: Genetics and Society (3) (SP)
- MATH 16A: Calculus (4) (F, SP)
- MATH 16B Calculus (4) (F, SP)
- PS 4: Introduction to Political Theory (4) ( )
- ECON 1: Introduction to Economics (4) (F, SP)
- SOCIOL 3AC: Principles of Sociology (4) (F, SP)
- PH 142: Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Public Health (4) (F)
- PH 150A: Introduction to Epidemiology (3) (SP)
- PH 150B: Introduction to Environmental Health (3) (SP)
- PH 150D: Introduction to Health Policy & Management (3) (F)
- PH 105: Policy, Planning and Evaluation of Health Promotion in a College Setting (3) (F, SP)
- PH 113: Campus/Community Health Impact Program (3) (F)
- PH 114: Issues in Personal and Community Health Promotion (3) (SP)
- PH 131AC: Race, Ethnicity, and Health in America (3) (SP)
- PH 130AC: Aging and Health (3) (SP)
Depending on emphasis, the bachelor of arts degree in public health prepares students for graduate study in a variety of fields including public health, public policy, and nutrition. Those who choose to work after obtaining their B.A. are employed by government, private, and nonprofit organizations as survey workers, educators, and research project associates.
Internships and other public health career services are offered through the Center for Public Health Practice. Additional career assistance can be found at the UC Berkeley Career Center.
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Major declaration forms are available from the undergraduate adviser, Tony Soyka, in 285 University Hall. Students should declare their major in public health after completion of lower division requirements (mathematics, biology, and social sciences), generally at the end of their sophmore year.
For further information on the undergraduate major in public health contact the undergraduate student adviser, Tony Soyka, at sphug@berkeley.edu, 285 University Hall, (510) 643-0874.