University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Community Health Sciences (Public Health Specialization), B.S.


The Community Health Sciences, Public Health degree offers an integrated program of study in the multidimensional aspects of population health, health promotion, and disease/disability prevention. It is suited for students who are interested in epidemiology, social & behavioral health, environmental health, health administration, health policy, and/or biostatistics. A degree in public health is appropriate for students who are interested in working in a wide range of settings including universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and health care settings.

People interested in specific health careers or in teaching credentials will need to take additional courses designed specifically for their field.

Student Learning Outcomes


  1. Overview of Public Health: Describe the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.
  2. Role and Importance of Data in Public Health: Apply the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice.
  3. Identifying and Addressing Population Health Challenges: Distinguish the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
  4. Human Health: Recognize the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.
  5. Determinants of Health: Compare the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
  6. Project Implementation: Demonstrate the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation.
  7. Overview of the Health System: Evaluate the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as to the differences in systems in other countries.
  8. Health Policy, Law, Ethics, and Economics: Discuss the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy, and the roles, influences and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government.

Contact Information


School of Public Health
203 Lombardi (775) 784-4041, Ext. 223
DHS Student Center, OB 104,
askDHS@unr.edu

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno


Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking  at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Graduation Requirements


  • Total Units | 120
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.0
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.0
  • Residency Requirement | 30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 40 Upper-Division Units
  • Half Program Units/4 Year Institution | 60 Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (25-28 units)


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy  .”

Students in this major must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course description.

A. Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3


D. Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) - CO6


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO6  courses.

E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) - CO7


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO7 courses .

F. History & Culture; Constitution (6 units) - CO5, CO8


Refer to the Core Curriculum   chapter in this catalog.

II. Additional Silver Core Requirements (9 units maximum)


Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV). Refer to the Core Curriculum   chapter in this catalog.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9


B. Diversity & Equity - CO10


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO10  courses.

C. Global Context - CO11


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO11  courses.

D. Ethics - CO12


F. Application - CO14


Choose one course:

III. Additional Division Requirements (0 units)


IV. Major Requirements (66 units)


B. Additional Science & Math (18 units)


Please check with your advisor for guidance on selecting courses in this section (Part IV. B). Most of the courses listed have pre-requisites and proper sequencing is required.

  • Units used to meet the Core Physical & Natural Phenomena CO4/CO4L or the Related Disciplines requirements may not be reused here.
  • At least 3 of the required 18 units must be earned in courses numbered 300-499.
  • It is recommended that students select one of the following suggested tracks:
    • chronic disease and nutrition;
    • environmental health;
    • infectious disease and biology;
    • pre-professional and laboratory sciences;
    • data science;
    • behavioral health sciences
  • Health Sciences advisors can provide students with details on suggested tracks.

ii. Additional Science & Math (15 units)


Earn at least 15 units in courses with the following prefixes APST, BCH, BIOL, CHEM, MATH, MICR, PHYS, STAT, AND/OR the specific courses included in the list below.

C. Public Health Electives (6 units)


Units used to meet the Core Capstone Integration & Synthesis CO13 requirement above may not be reused here.

D. Related Disciplines (12 units)


Earn at least 12 units in courses with the following prefixes:

ANTH, APST, ATMS, BCH, BIOL, BME, BUS, CAS, CHEM, COM, ECON, EPY, ENV, ETS, GEOG, GERO, HDFS, JOUR, KIN, MATH, MICR, NRES, NUTR, PED, PHAR, PHIL, PHYS, PSC, PSY, SW, SOC, SPA, STAT, WMST. 

  • at least 6 of the required 12 units must be earned in courses numbered 300-499.
  • units used to meet the Physical & Natural Phenomena CO4/CO4L or Additional Science & Math requirements above may not be reused here.

Please check prerequisites for specific courses.

V. Minor Requirements (0 units)


VI. General Electives (17-20 units)


 Contact your advisor for a list of recommended electives.

VII. Recommended Schedule


Use the Planner in MyNEVADA to build a custom graduation plan. Review and adjust the plan in each academic advisement session.

A. First Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (16 units)


B. Second Year


Spring Semester (15 units)


C. Third Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


D. Fourth Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (14 units)


  • Public Health Elective (3 units)
  • 300-400 Level Additional Science & Math (3 units)
  • General Elective (2 units)
  • 300-400 Level General Elective (3 units)
  • 300-400 Level Related Disciplines Elective (3 units)