BA in Public Health

Degree Requirements

To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Public Health degree from UIC, students need to complete the university and school degree requirements. University and school degree requirements for all Bachelor of Arts in Public Health students are outlined below. Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for more information on completing the General Education requirements.

Summary of Requirements
Prerequisite Courses24-26
Additional General Education Requirements27
Major Course Requirements in Public Health35
Selectives and Electives32-34
Total Hours120

Prerequisite Courses

Required Courses
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Quantitative Reasoning course a3-5
PUBH 100Health and the Public b,c3
PUBH 105Foundations for Public Health d2
PUBH 110Public Health and Global Societies b,e3
PUBH 120Public Health and the Study of Disease and Epidemics f3
Analyzing the Natural World - Life Science course with a lab. Select one of the following:4
Human Evolution
Biology for Non-majors
Biology of Cells and Organisms
Biology of Populations and Communities
Total Hours24-26
a

See Quantitative Reasoning in the School of Public Health section. STAT 101 or STAT 130 is recommended to fulfill this requirement. 

b

This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category. Courses approved for more than one General Education category may only be applied to one General Education category. 

c

This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category. Courses approved for more than one General Education category may only be applied to one General Education category. 

d

Required for new first year students in the School of Public Health as well as transfer students who enter the School of Public Health with less than 24 semester hours earned. Others may enroll with permission of instructor if space permits.

e

This course is approved for the Exploring World Cultures General Education category. Courses approved for more than one General Education category may only be applied to one General Education category. 

f

This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category (nonlaboratory course). 

Additional General Education and School Requirements

Required Courses
Understanding the Past course3
Understanding the Creative Arts course3
Select an additional course in at least one of these General Education categories (depending on how PUBH 100 and PUBH 110 are used to satisfy General Education Requirements) a3
Exploring World Cultures
Understanding U.S. Society
Understanding the Individual and Society
Additional General Education course(s) from any category, as necessary to total 24 hours of General Education credit2
Foreign language (16 hours in a single language or equivalent) b16
Total Hours27
a

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category. All students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of General Education coursework with at least one course from each of the six General Education categories. 

b

If a student has a background in a foreign language, proficiency in that language will be determined by testing. Should a student be deemed proficient, other coursework is chosen for this requirement. See the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement for further explanation. 

Major Course Requirements in Public Health

Required Major Courses
PUBH 300Critical Thinking in Public Health4
PUBH 301Critical Thinking in Public Health II2
PUBH 310Public Health and Global Citizenship3
PUBH 320Ecologies of Health and Modern Life3
PUBH 330Health Equity and Health Disparities3
PUBH 340Health Literacy3
PUBH 350Health Systems, Health Policy3
PUBH 360Local Citizenship and Community Health Initiatives4
PUBH 370Using the Public Health Toolbox3
PUBH 410Historical and Contemporary Public Health Challenges I2
PUBH 411Historical and Contemporary Public Health Challenges II2
PUBH 397Baccalaureate Project in Public Health3
PUBH 395Professional Topics Seminar0
Total Hours35

Selectives and Electives

Courses
Public Health Selectives and Electives a18
Free Electives b16-18
Total Hours34-36
a

In consultation with their Advisor, students develop an area of focus and choose 18 hours from a list of courses including PUBH electives and graduate-level PUBH courses. Students can use these electives for minors, prerequisites for professional programs (Medical School, Dental School, etc.) and baccalaureate certificates. Students are highly encouraged to consider PUBH 393 and PUBH 420 for their selective options.  

b

Students can use these electives for minors, prerequisites for professional programs (Medical School, Dental School, etc.) baccalaureate certificates and other free electives.

Sample Course Schedule

Note that students in specific preprofessional tracks (e.g., pre-medicine) will likely need additional semester hours in order to obtain all admission requirements for professional programs.

Plan of Study Grid
Junior Year
Fall SemesterHours
PUBH 300 Critical Thinking in Public Health 4
PUBH 330 Health Equity and Health Disparities 3
PUBH 350 Health Systems, Health Policy 3
PUBH 395 Professional Topics Seminar 0
Elective(s) 4
 Hours14
Spring Semester
PUBH 301 Critical Thinking in Public Health II 2
PUBH 320 Ecologies of Health and Modern Life 3
PUBH 340 Health Literacy 3
PUBH 360 Local Citizenship and Community Health Initiatives 4
PUBH 395 Professional Topics Seminar 0
One elective/selective course 3
 Hours15
Summer Semester
PUBH 393 Public Health Fieldwork (may be taken as a selective option any time from this point forward) 3
 Hours3
Senior Year
Fall Semester
PUBH 370 Using the Public Health Toolbox 3
PUBH 410 Historical and Contemporary Public Health Challenges I 2
Three elective/selective courses 9
 Hours14
Spring Semester
PUBH 310 Public Health and Global Citizenship 3
PUBH 397 Baccalaureate Project in Public Health 3
PUBH 411 Historical and Contemporary Public Health Challenges II 2
Two elective/selective courses 6
 Hours14
 Total Hours60