Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences: Public Health  

This degree broadly prepares graduates in basic public health concepts and processes that can be applied within multiple health-related disciplines and in graduate study.

You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this program.

This program is a good fit for you if you:

  •  are a Flagstaff Mountain Campus student
  •  want to learn more about health promotion/disease prevention
  •  are considering graduate school 
  •  are interested in a degree program with flexible health-related course options

Your degree will consist of at least 120 total credit hours:

  • 35 credit hours of liberal studies
  • 70 credit hours of major requirements which include:
    • 17 credit hours of health sciences core course, which consist of any nutrition course (3 units), BIO 201 (4 units), HS 200 (3 units), FW 343 (previously HS 303) (4 units), and HS 390W (3 units) which meets Northern Arizona University’s junior writing requirement
    • 53 credit hours of public health program requirements, which consist of BIO 202 (4 units); PSY 230 (4 units); HS 205, 250, 300, 305, 306, 313, 317, 402, 403, and 404 (30 units); 6 additional units of health sciences approved electives; and HS 408C (9 units) which meets Northern Arizona University’s senior capstone requirement
  • Additional elective courses, if needed, to reach the 120 credit hours
  • Meet the public health milestone requirements

View the academic catalog for the most current degree information.

Requirements

If you are transferring credit from a community college, a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA in your associate degree plan is required. Also, to graduate from Northern Arizona University with this degree, you must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Outcomes

Be prepared for the workforce with these skills:

  1. comprehension of basic public health content related to injury prevention, disease, mental health, drugs, environmental health, public health, nutrition, current issues, theories, physical activity, and maternal, child and sexual health
  2. process and skill demonstration necessary for working within multiple health-related disciplines
  3. professional dispositions like legal and ethical conduct, professional practice, communication, collaboration, respect, and commitment

Degree progression plan

See the Four-Year Progression Plan for details of what classes are required.

Courses

Liberal studies (minimum of 35 units)

You need to: 

  • complete 35 units of the university’s liberal studies courses
  • meet the university’s US ethnic and global diversity requirements

*If you have completed the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) you meet all of the university’s liberal studies requirements.

Health sciences support courses (14-15 units)

  • any Nutrition course
  • BIO 201
  • BIO 202
  • PSY 230/STA 270

Health sciences core (55 units)

Take the following: 

  • HS 200-Healthy lifestyles
  • HS 205-Foundations of public health
  • HS 250-Prevention concepts for risky health behaviors
  • HS 300-Human diseases
  • FW 343 (previously HS 303)-Facilitating active lifestyles
  • HS 305-Theories of health behaviors
  • HS 306-Methods for community health promotion
  • HS 313-Environmental health
  • HS 317-Maternal, child, and sexual health
  • HS 390W-Current health issues (junior writing requirement)
  • HS 402-Organization of coordinated school health programs
  • HS 403-Planning, implementing, and evaluating health programs
  • HS 404-Principles of epidemiology
  • HS 408C-Fieldwork experience (capstone requirement)
  • Your choice of two electives with the HS prefix

Electives

You may need to take additional coursework to reach the 120-minimum-unit requirement for the bachelor's degree and/or meet other university requirements not already met. You can choose your elective courses from any academic area that meets your specific interests and goals.

View the academic catalog for the most current degree information.