Bachelor of Science in Public Health

The Tulane Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree is an academic degree which addresses the health of populations and communities through instruction, service, and community based research.  The degree is firmly grounded in a background of humanities, social science and the liberal arts.  The degree fulfills Tulane University’s campus-wide undergraduate core proficiency through this background while stressing an additional commitment to quantitative and scientific skills.

Academic Competencies:

• Recognize the public health problems of vulnerable populations on a social and community scale
• Describe multidisciplinary and ecological public health issues and concerns
• Explain and compare health promotion and disease prevention
• Recognize the role of quantitative methods in addressing Public Health issues
• Apply cultural competencies to public health problems

BSPH Degree Requirements:

Students will complete the Newcomb-Tulane College Core Curriculum, BSPH Proficiency Requirements, additional Public Health Core Course Requirements, as well as the Public Health Focus Area Requirements.  A total of 120 credit hours are required for a BSPH degree.

Newcomb-Tulane Core Requirements and Proficiencies: Go to the Newcomb-Tulane Catalog.

BSPH Proficiency Requirements:

• Writing Intensive Requirement: (4 credits); taken AFTER Writing 101/119 has been completed; students can satisfy this requirement with a course in their major, such as an upper-level seminar, a qualifying capstone course, or a senior honors thesis
• Foreign Language: Must complete the 203-level or above (4 credits); students who already meet the proficiency upon matriculation are still required to complete at least one foreign language course at Tulane
• Mathematics:  At least one additional 3-4 credit course that meets the guidelines for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree
• Public Health Communication: (3 credits) - SPHU 430 Public Health Communication

BSPH Core Course Requirements:

   Public Health Basic Core:

• SPHU 101: Introduction to Public Health (3 credits)
• SPHU 102: The Cell, The Individual, and The Community (3 credits)
• SPHU 201: Disease Ecology and Public Health Concepts (3 credits)
• SPHU 301: Public Health Systems Design and Decision Analysis (3 credits)
• SPHU 302: Knowledge and Information in the Practice of Public Health (3 credits)
• SPHU 401: Foundation and Formulation of Public Health Policy (3 credits)

   Advanced Curriculum Core:

• ENHS 603: Survey of Environmental Health Sciences (3 credits)
• HSMG 603: Principles of Health Systems Administration and Management (3 credits)
• SPHL 603: Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health (3 credits)
• BIOS 603: Introductory Biostatistics (3 credits)
• EPID 603: Epidemiologic Methods 1 (3 credits)

   Capstone:

• The Capstone experience is designed to integrate, synthesize and apply knowledge as developed through a student's academic program.  (3 or 7 credits)

BSPH Focus Areas:

Students must entirely complete at least one of the following BSPH focus areas.

Environmental Health Sciences Focus
Preparing students for positions with local, national, and international public health/environmental health agencies and industry.

Global and Community Health Focus
Educating students in the biologic and behavioral determinants of public health problems in developed and developing countries.

Health Informatics Focus
Preparing students for careers where quantitative skills are necessary. The major appeals to students who enjoy mathematics and computer applications. 

For a complete overview of the Undergraduate Public Health Program and its requirements, download the 2009-2010 Handbook here.