Public Health
http://www.pacificu.edu/future-undergraduates/academics/areas-study/public-health
The field of public health is dedicated to understanding and improving the health and well-being of
communities. Pacific University’s public health program is designed to develop students’ abilities to
analyze and solve problems and communicate effectively in a diverse, complex, and rapidly changing
world. Rooted in the liberal arts, the program integrates natural and social sciences with humanistic
approaches to addressing global health challenges. The program is housed in the School of Social
Sciences, in the Department of Social Work and Public Health.
Academic programs
The Department offers the following opportunities in public health:
B.A. in Public Health
B.S. in Public Health
Minor in Public Health
Students interested in pursuing medical school or health professions after Pacific should consider the
B.S. Students interested in public health more broadly or in pursuing the social sciences after Pacific
might consider the B.A.
A key feature of the major is the Senior Capstone, which includes a 100-hour community engagement
field experience under the supervision of a public health professional.
Grade requirements
Students must complete the proscribed coursework with a grade of C- or better and maintain a minimum
2.0 grade point average in the major or minor.
Sequencing
Students interested in public health should take Public Health 101 as soon as their schedule permits; this
course has no prerequisites. Other foundational courses should be taken as soon as possible. These
include courses in biology or chemistry (relevant to both the B.A. and B.S. in public health) and PH 200
Epidemiology. A statistics course (MATH 207 or SOC 301) is a pre- or co-requisite for PH 200
Epidemiology.
Upper division coursework consists of one core course, the research-and-practice sequence, and
thematic clusters of electives. Students choose one of three core courses: PH 320 Environmental Health,
PH 325 Global Health, or PH 330 Promoting Community Health. Additional core courses may be
counted as cluster electives, but “double-dipping” is not permitted – each single course may be
considered only a core course or a cluster elective.
The standard research-and-practice sequence entails PH 352 Program Development & Evaluation during
the junior year, followed by PH 490 Capstone I in the fall of senior year and PH 492 Capstone II in the
spring. PH 490 Capstone I is a six-credit course that includes the community engagement field
experience and the first phase of the student’s Senior Project. Students should make contact with the
Social Sciences Practicum Coordinator by spring of their junior year in order to begin the
placement process. The two-credit Capstone II entails the completion of the Senior Project.
Electives are organized into five clusters:
• Communication and Advocacy builds skills necessary to communicate complex health
information to the public.
• Diverse Populations explores impacts and consequences of group identity on health and wellbeing.
• Ethics grapples with philosophical and moral dimensions of health, health care, and health
policy.
• Health and Society examines linkages between physical health and social context.
• Health Sciences/Natural Sciences teaches the tenets of basic science that underlie public health.
B.S. students take four specific science courses while B.A. students have more latitude in
selecting courses.
Minoring
Public health minors complete foundational and core courses but do not participate in the research-topractice sequence. They take 10 elective credits, with each course drawn from a different cluster.
Substitutions and transfer credits
Students having completed a course not listed below but which addressed the theme of an elective
cluster should contact a Public Health faculty member for consideration of approval/substitution for that
course. Transfer students are encouraged to work with the Advising Center and/or a Public Health
faculty member to review previous related coursework. The Public Health Program does not give
academic credit for life or previous work experience.
FOUNDATION
REQUIRED COURSES
BA/BS - 28 credits
Minor - 12 credits
PH 101
Public Health
PH 200
Epidemiology
Pre- or co-requisite
SOC 301
Social Statistics
OR
MATH 207
General Elementary Statistics
4
4
4
REQUIRED
4
RESEARCH-to-PRACTICE+
CORE
FOR
One of:
PH 320
OR
PH 325
OR
PH 330
PH 352
PH 490
PH 492
Environmental Health
4
Global Health
4
Promoting Community Health
4
Program Development & Evaluation (junior year)
Senior Practicum & Capstone I (fall of senior year – includes field experience)
Capstone II: Senior Project (spring of senior year)
4
6
2
+
MINOR
In special cases and with careful planning, students may pursue a field placement and senior project abroad or out of
the usual sequence of coursework. In such cases, students consult with their PH Advisor and substitute the following
alternative series for the 400-level coursework by instructor permission:
PH 480
PH 481
PH 491
PH 492
Independent PH Practicum Fieldwork
Independent PH Practicum Seminar
Capstone I: Senior Project
Capstone II: Senior Project
2
2
2
2
ELECTIVES
BA - 28 credits
BS - 32 credits
minor - 10 credits (each from a different cluster)
Health Science BA - at least 8 credits BS - at least 16 credits including four specific required Natural Science classes
BIOL 202
General Bio I
OR
BIOL 200 Intro to Biology: Flow of Energy
4
NATURAL
BIOL 204
General Bio II
OR
BIOL 200 Intro to Biology: Flow of Biol Information
SCIENCE
4
CHEM 220
General Chem I
4 REQUIRED
FOR BS
CHEM 230
General Chem II
4
BIOL 224
Human Anatomy
4
BIOL 170
Human Genetics
4
EXIP 281
Nutrition
4
EXMB 303
Medical Terminology
1
ENV 301
Environmental Toxicology
4
Health & Society (at least 4 credits for BA/BS)
PH/ANTH 311
Medicine, Body & Culture
PH/ANTH 303
Food, Fat & Fitness
PH/ECON 334
Health Economics
HIST 413
History of Medicines in the Modern World
PH/HIST 248
Public Health, Private Bodies
PH 320
Environmental Health*
PH 325
Global Health*
PSY 208
Addictions and Society
SOCWK 320
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
SOC 319
Sociology of Medicine
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Communication & Advocacy (at least 4 credits for BA/BS)
MEDA 101
Fundamentals of Speaking
MEDA 109
Introduction to Communication Design
MEDA 110
Introduction to Communication
MEDA 201
Interpersonal Communication
ENGW 202
Writing About Disability
MEDA 122
Introduction to Digital Media
PH 330
Promoting Community Health*
PSJ 101
Introduction to Peace and Social Justice
PSJ 215
Conflict Resolution
POLS 301
Politics and the Media
POLS 304
Community Politics
POLS 209
Ideas in Action: Pol Phil & Modern Soc
SOCWK 351
Social Policy & Social Justice
2
4
4
4
4
2
4
4
2
4
4
4
4
Diverse Populations (at least 4 credits for BA/BS)
DS 204
Working with People with Disabilities
ENGL 221
Disability and Literature
GSS 201
Intro to Gender and Sexuality Studies
HIST 245
Race in Modern America
HUM 204
Chinese Cultural Studies
HUM 205
Japanese Culture
HUM 206
Latin America
HUM 305
West Meets East: Developing Intercultural Competency
HUM 352
Hispanics in the US
PH/SOCWK 305 Contemporary Issues in Aging
PSY 358
Psychology of Ethnic Diversity in US
SOC 208
Race: Inequality and Identity
SOC 217
Gender and Sexuality
SPAN 325
Mexican American Cultural Exploration
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Ethics (at least 4 credits for BA/BS)
PHIL 202
Ethics and Society
PHIL 240
Human Rights
PHIL 307
Ethics, Medicine & Health Care
4
2
4
TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS
BA: 56
BS: 60
minor: 22
* No double dipping between categories. A public health core course cannot be taken to also fulfill an elective cluster requirement. However,
core courses can be taken with one fulfilling the core and others fulfilling elective clusters.
Sample 4-year schedule for B.A. student
Students pursuing a public health major over four years have some flexibility in scheduling. The
following outline is intended as a guide and lists only courses for the major. Students must, of course,
take courses to fulfill all College and core requirements.
First year
General Bio I
General Bio II
Public Health 101
or
or
Intro to Biology: Flow of Energy
Intro to Biology: Flow of Biol Information
Sophomore year
Social Statistics
or General Elementary Statistics
Epidemiology
Environmental Health or Global Health or Promoting Community Health
One elective (chosen from clusters)
Junior year
Program Development and Evaluation
Three electives (chosen from clusters)
Senior year
Capstone I and II (fall and spring, with field experience occurring in the fall semester)
One elective (chosen from clusters)
Sample 2-year schedule
The courses that transfer students need to take in order to complete the public health major in 2 years
will depend upon each student’s previous coursework. Typically, transfer students will transfer in some
lower-division course work.
Junior year
Public Health 101
Epidemiology
Environmental Health or Global Health
Program Development and Evaluation
Two electives (chosen from clusters)
or
Promoting Community Health
Senior year
Capstone I and II (fall and spring, with field experience occurring in the fall semester)
Two electives (chosen from clusters)