Purpose of Program

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Public Health is offered with an interdisciplinary curriculum designed for students who are interested in gaining knowledge and developing skills needed in a variety of health care related areas, including biostatistics, environmental science, health and public administration, epidemiology, and health behavior. The degree requirements consist of the University Core Curriculum, major core requirements, elective courses in areas of specializations, a foreign language, and an internship. The major core is multidisciplinary introducing students to the fundamental subjects and the essential knowledge necessary for working in any field related to public health. The elective courses allow students to concentrate in one of the areas of specialization.

The degree program prepares students for health care related careers in government, private, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, graduates of this program will be competent in pursuing graduate studies in a variety of academic fields, including public health, allied health, public policy, nutrition, business, and law. It can also provide students with a pathway to advanced studies in medicine or dentistry, if the students use the electives to fulfill the additional admission requirements for medical and dental schools.

Program Options

The degree program is offered in two concentrations: (1) Epidemiology and Disease Control and (2) Health Promotion and Behavioral Science.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health majors will be advised by the Life and Health Sciences Advising Center.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree, including Core Curriculum requirements, is 120. Thirty-nine of the total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level. All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed in the UTSA Undergraduate Catalog.

Career Opportunities

The degree program prepares students for health care related careers in government, private, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, graduates of this program will be competent in pursuing graduate studies in a variety of academic fields, including public health, allied health, public policy, nutrition, business, and law. It can also provide students with a pathway to advanced studies in medicine or dentistry if the students use the electives to fulfill the additional admission requirements for medical and dental schools.

Job Outlook/Earnings

How much will you make? Will there be jobs when you graduate? How much will you owe after graduation?

Admission Requirements

The goal of admission requirements for the Public Health degree  is to provide undergraduate students with a program of study with the highest possible standards. To achieve this goal, the admission policy is designed to identify those students most likely to succeed in health education.

Applicants admitted to UTSA under this catalog beginning Fall 2019 will be directly admitted to the Public Health major (Health Promotion and Behavioral Science concentration) if they:

• meet all UTSA undergraduate admission requirements, and
• are ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class, or
• are ranked in the top 15 percent of their high school class and have a minimum 1350 SAT* or 29 ACT score.

* New SAT scores combine Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math.

Freshmen who do not meet the above requirements, but meet UTSA’s general admission requirements will be part of “Life and Health Science Studies” where students will be able to work towards meeting the prerequisites needed to declare Public Health as their major.

Students must meet all UTSA undergraduate admission requirements.

Master of Public Health: 4+1 Program for Public Health Majors