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Courses | B.S. in Public Health

Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.

GPA Requirements

All major requirements must be completed with a C- or better grade.

Curriculum Requirements

The number of credits required to graduate with a Public Health, B.S is the university minimum of 120, and the degree offers two concentrations, Global Health or Pre-Health Professions, as well as a track to the MPH, all of which are detailed below.

Concentrations

Global Health

Public Health majors meet the Core Curriculum requirement of 9 credits in behavioral science, science, and mathematics within the major. The foreign language requirement is met by two years of high school study in the same language or four credits of college foreign language. PHIL 215 is the recommended Philosophy Core Curriculum course.
Concentration Core Courses
KNES 200Public Health Principles and Practice3
KNES 300Health Education and Health Promotion3
KNES 310Community and Global Health3
KNES 330Global Health Leadership3
KNES 340Health Policy and Ethics3
KNES 355Health Care Systems3
KNES 475Public Health Capstone Practicum3
Concentration Elective Courses (select 6 credits)6
Introduction to Development
Intercultural Communication
Intercultural Communication
Seminar: Topics in Intercultural Health Care 1
Principles of Epidemiology
Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology
Principles of Biostatistics
Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Applied Public Health Research Methods
Current Issues in Global Health
Global Health Ethics and Human Rights
Global Communicable Disease Control
Topics in Kinesiology and Public Health
Internship
Introduction to Psychopathology
Cross-Cultural/Ethnic Issues in Psychology
Developmental Psychology: Lifespan
Biology Requirements
BIOS 236Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology4
or BIOS 254 Human Anatomy
or BIOS 281 Physiology
BIOS 305Global Development and Ecological Sustainability3
or BIOS 353 Environmental Ethics
KNES 325Environmental Health3
Math Requirement 2
MATH 318Biostatistics3
or MATH 210 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Psychology Requirement
PSYC 200Introduction to Psychology 33
Concentration Course Requirements: 43 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 454-58
General Electives 519-23
Total Credits120
1

Select from the following topics: Global Health Perspectives, Global Health Priorities, Global Health Begins with Personal Health, Communication in the Context of Culture.

2

Either course fulfills the Mathematics Core Curriculum requirement.

3

Fulfills the Behavioral Science Core Curriculum requirement.

4

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

5

May be taken as additional Concentration Elective courses. May also be counted as prerequisites required for Concentration Elective courses.

Pre-Health Professions

The Pre-Health Professions concentration helps prepare students for seven different Health Profession graduate/professional programs: (1) Pre-Medicine, (2) Pre-Veterinary Medicine, (3) Pre-Dental, (4)  Pre-Optometry, (5) Pre-Pharmacy, (6) Pre-Physician Assistant, and (7) Pre-Podiatry. Each Health Profession graduate/professional program has slightly different prerequisite courses that students in the Pre-Health Professions concentration may take. Students are guided toward graduate/professional requirements during individual academic advising with their faculty advisor.

Public Health majors meet the Core Curriculum requirement of 9 credits in behavioral science, science, and mathematics within the major. The foreign language requirement is met by two years of high school study in the same language or four credits of college foreign language. PHIL 215 is the recommended Philosophy Core Curriculum course.
Concentration Core Courses
KNES 200Public Health Principles and Practice3
KNES 300Health Education and Health Promotion3
KNES 340Health Policy and Ethics3
or KNES 355 Health Care Systems
KNES 475Public Health Capstone Practicum3
Concentration Elective Courses (select 3 credits) 13
Microbiology
Nutrition and Metabolism
Genetics
General Biochemistry I
General Biochemistry I
General Biochemistry II
General Biochemistry II
Principles of Epidemiology
Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology
Community and Global Health
Principles of Biostatistics
Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Environmental Health
Applied Public Health Research Methods
Global Communicable Disease Control
Current Issues in Epidemiology
Molecular Epidemiology
Epidemiology of Chronic Disease
Outbreak and Emergency Preparedness
Cancer Epidemiology
Public Health Policy and Practice
Topics in Kinesiology and Public Health
Internship
Introduction to Psychopathology
Developmental Psychology: Lifespan
Chemistry Requirements
CHEM 107Introduction to Chemistry 23
CHEM 105General Chemistry I3
CHEM 115General Chemistry I Lab1
CHEM 106General Chemistry II3
CHEM 116General Chemistry II Lab1
CHEM 301Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 311Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I1
CHEM 302Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 312Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II1
Physics Requirements 3
PHSC 111Physics I 43
or PHSC 100 Physics I with Foundations
PHSC 117Physics I Laboratory1
PHSC 112Physics II3
PHSC 118Physics II Laboratory1
Biology Requirements
BIOS 111Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Biology3
BIOS 113Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory1
BIOS 112Fundamentals of Organismal Biology3
BIOS 114Fundamentals of Organismal Biology Laboratory1
BIOS 236Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology4
or BIOS 254 Human Anatomy
or BIOS 281 Physiology
BIOS 312Cell and Molecular Biology3
Math Requirement 5
MATH 318Biostatistics3
or MATH 150 Calculus I
or MATH 210 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Psychology Requirement
PSYC 200Introduction to Psychology 63
Concentration Course Requirements: 60-63 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 754-58
General Electives 82-6
Total Credits120-121
1

Approved transfer coursework may also fulfill this requirement.

2

CHEM 107 is waived for students who meet the qualifications to enter CHEM 105. See the current Placement Options for CHEM 105 for more information.

3

The recommended Physics sequence is PHSC 111 or 100/117 and PHSC 112/118, but it can be substituted with the PHSC 132/134 and PHSC 233/237 course sequence.

4

All students who do not meet one of the Physics 111 Placement Options must enroll in PHSC 100.

5

Fulfills the Mathematics Core Curriculum requirement.

6

Fulfills the Behavioral Science Core Curriculum requirement.

7

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

8

May be taken as additional Concentration Elective courses. Not required for students who take CHEM 107.

MPH Grad Track

Students will earn a Public Health, B.S. and advance to the Master of Public Health in one of two specializations offered by completing a minimum of 150 credits for both degrees.

The mission of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program is to provide rigorous academic and practical experiences to equip public health agents of change: dedicated to improving population health, establishing preventative measures, and promoting health equality, with careers in government health agencies, healthcare systems, and non-profit organizations.

The MPH program at Biola University is focused on preparing public health professionals who are ethical leaders equipped to serve local and global communities. Our MPH program allows students to focus on one of two public health specializations:

1. Master of Public Health in Global Health
2. Master of Public Health in Epidemiology

The Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for the Undergraduate portion of the MPH Grad Track are located on the tab of this program page. The PLOs and Admission/Graduation Requirements for the Graduate (MPH) degree can be found on the program pages for the Master of Public Health in Global Health and the Master of Public Health in Epidemiology.

CEPH Accreditation Status

The MPH program at Biola University is a pre-candidate for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Biola University is working with CEPH towards obtaining Public Health Program (PHP) CEPH accreditation.

Undergraduate Level Requirements
Public Health majors meet the Core Curriculum requirement of 9 credits in behavioral science, science, and mathematics within the major. The foreign language requirement is met by two years of high school study in the same language or four credits of college foreign language. PHIL 215 is the recommended Philosophy Core Curriculum course.
Public Health Requirements
KNES 200Public Health Principles and Practice3
KNES 300Health Education and Health Promotion3
KNES 340Health Policy and Ethics3
KNES 355Health Care Systems3
Concentration Elective Courses (Select 9 credits)9
Introduction to Development
Intercultural Communication
Intercultural Communication
Seminar: Topics in Intercultural Health Care 1
Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology
Applied Public Health Research Methods
Topics in Kinesiology and Public Health
Internship
Introduction to Psychopathology
Cross-Cultural/Ethnic Issues in Psychology
Developmental Psychology: Lifespan
Biology Requirements
BIOS 236Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology4
or BIOS 254 Human Anatomy
or BIOS 281 Physiology
BIOS 305Global Development and Ecological Sustainability3
or BIOS 353 Environmental Ethics
Math Requirement 2
MATH 210Introduction to Probability and Statistics3
or MATH 318 Biostatistics
Psychology Requirement
PSYC 200Introduction to Psychology 33
Graduate Level MPH Requirements
PHLT 505Principles of Epidemiology3
PHLT 510Community and Global Health3
PHLT 515Principles of Biostatistics3
PHLT 535Public Health Policy and Practice3
Concentration Course Requirements: 46 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 454-58
General Electives 516-20
Total Credits120
1

Select from the following topics: Global Health Perspectives, Global Health Priorities, Global Health Begins with Personal Health, Communication in the Context of Culture.

2

Fulfills the Mathematics Core Curriculum requirement.

3

Fulfills the Behavioral Science Core Curriculum requirement.

4

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

5

May be taken as additional Concentration Elective courses. May also be counted as prerequisites required for Public Health Elective courses.

Graduate Level (MPH) Requirements

Public Health BS/MPH Advancement Requirements

In order to advance from the Public Health, B.S. to the MPH degree, students need to fulfill the following requirements prior to starting graduate coursework (by the beginning of their last year).

  • Complete Biola University’s Graduate Education application
  • Interview with an MPH graduate faculty
  • Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
  • Students with a 2.8 cumulative GPA or higher will be considered but the decision is highly weighted on their graduate faculty interview
  • Write a statement of purpose and objectives

MPH, Global Health Specialization

Below are the detailed requirements for the MPH, Global Health specialization. Four 500-level PHLT courses are taken in the MPH Grad Track students’ last undergraduate year.

Global Health Core Requirements
Principles of Epidemiology 1
Community and Global Health 1
Principles of Biostatistics 1
PHLT 520Health Behavior and Health Promotion3
PHLT 525Environmental Health3
PHLT 530Global Health Leadership3
Public Health Policy and Practice 1
PHLT 605Research Methods3
PHLT 610Public Health Integrative Experience2
PHLT 615Graduate Project4
PHLT 620Public Health Practicum3
Global Health Elective courses (select 9 credits from the following)9
Current Issues in Global Health
Global Health Ethics and Human Rights
Grant Writing
Integration of Global Health and Missions
International Program Design
Global Communicable Disease Control
Community Health Assessment, Planning and Evaluation
Total Credits30
1

Graduate MPH course taken in students' last undergraduate year.

MPH, Epidemiology Specialization

Below are the detailed requirements for the MPH, Epidemiology specialization. Four 500-level PHLT courses are taken in the MPH Grad Track students’ last undergraduate year.

Epidemiology Core Requirements
Principles of Epidemiology 1
Community and Global Health 1
Principles of Biostatistics 1
PHLT 520Health Behavior and Health Promotion3
PHLT 525Environmental Health3
PHLT 530Global Health Leadership3
Public Health Policy and Practice 1
PHLT 605Research Methods3
PHLT 610Public Health Integrative Experience2
PHLT 615Graduate Project4
PHLT 620Public Health Practicum3
Epidemiology Elective courses (select 9 credits from the following)9
Global Communicable Disease Control
Current Issues in Epidemiology
Molecular Epidemiology
Epidemiology of Chronic Disease
Outbreak and Emergency Preparedness
Cancer Epidemiology
Applied Methods in Epidemiology
Total Credits30
1

Graduate MPH course taken in students' last undergraduate year.

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