Public Health Sciences, B.S.

Degree Offered

• Bachelor of Science

Nature of the Program

Public health covers the five core public health disciplines: biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences.

The public health major emphasizes problem solving skills, critical thinking, practical application, career exploration and an understanding of both clinical- and population-based ethics. Early in the program, students will build a strong foundation of knowledge in the natural and social sciences and become familiar with cultural and socioeconomic differences among populations. Further study will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to identify evidence-based techniques for disease prevention and promotion of health, both in the US and from a global perspective.

Graduates of the public health program are prepared for entry-level public health positions in a wide array of agencies involved in public and private health, including local, regional and state health departments, consulting and advocacy organizations, healthcare organizations, and government agencies. Students can elect to take courses that will prepare them for graduate and professional programs such as public health sciences (specifically epidemiology, environmental and occupational health and biostatics), or other health sciences professional programs [with additional math/science courses].

The public health program allows students the flexibility to choose electives based on their professional goals or public health issues they’re most interested in solving. Students can elect to take courses that will prepare them to sit for the Community Health Education Certification (CHES) exam and for entry level positions in program management and community health education, or courses to prepare them to become members of health care teams assisting individuals in reducing and eliminating barriers to health care access and in negotiating complex health delivery systems. The public health program will also prepare students for entry into graduate programs in the social sciences, policy and administration, and public health graduate programs. 

Admissions for 2025-2026

Guidelines for the School of Public Health's Undergraduate Program 

The WVU School of Public Health (SPH) admits students into the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences program for fall and spring semesters. 

First time student who meet University requirements are directly admitted to the Public Health Sciences major.

Students admitted from other majors within WVU must be in good academic standing (2.0 GPA)

Students transferring from another institution must be in good academic standing (2.0 GPA).

Once in the program, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA 

Major Code: 8422

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric		3-6
ENGL 101 & ENGL 102	Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103	Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology		4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning		3-4
F4 - Society & Connections		3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past		3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity		3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity		3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)		9
Total Hours		31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
A cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
University Requirements		63
School Core Requirements		25
Public Health Sciences Major Requirements		32
Total Hours		120

University Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8		28
PUBH 191	First-Year Seminar	1
General Electives		34
Total Hours		63

School Core Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PUBH 101	Introduction to Public and Community Health (GEF 4)	3
PUBH 200	Introduction to Public Health Careers and Information	1
PUBH 201	Global Perspectives of Public Health (GEF 7)	3
PUBH 202	Social Determinants of Health	3
PUBH 205	Writing for Public Health Audiences	3
PUBH 211	Biostatistics	3
PUBH 222	Epidemiology	3
PUBH 233	The US Healthcare System: Structures and Incentives	3
PUBH 243	Issues in Environmental Health	3
Total Hours		25

Public Health Sciences Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in all Public Health Sciences Major Requirements.
PUBH 311	Health Data Management and Visualization	3
PUBH 331	Introduction to Health Policy	3
PUBH 338	Public Health Project Management	3
PUBH 352	Social and Behavioral Science and Practice	3
PUBH 454	Public Health Research Methods	3
SBHS 521	Grant Writing for Public Health Practice	1
PUBH 493	Special Topics (Public Health in Action)	3
Upper-Division PUBH or Approved Electives		6
Culminating Experience Coursework
PUBH 400	Field Placement Preparation Seminar	1
PUBH 489	School of Public Health Undergraduate Capstone (minimum grade of C-)	2
PUBH 481	Public Health Field Experience	4
Community Service Requirement **
Total Hours		32

*

A maximum 3-credits of PUBH 491 and PUBH 497 can be used to fulfill this requirement.

**

Undergraduate Public Health majors are required to complete a minimum of 25 hours of community service, documented through iServe in the WVU Office of Service and Learning.

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
PUBH 191	1	PUBH 200	1
PUBH 101	3	PUBH 201	3
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)	3	PUBH 243	3
BIOL 101 & 101L (GEF 2)	4	GEF 3	3
General Elective	3	General Electives	6
	14		16
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
PUBH 202	3	PUBH 205	3
PUBH 211	3	PUBH 222	3
PUBH 233	3	PUBH 331	3
ENGL 102 (GEF 1)	3	GEF 6	3
GEF 5	3	GEF 8	3
	15		15
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
PUBH 352	3	PUBH 311	3
PUBH 338	3	PUBH 454	3
PUBH Elective	3	GEF 8	3
GEF 8	3	General Electives	6
General Elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
PUBH 400	1	PUBH 481	4
PUBH Elective	3	PUBH 489	2
PUBH 493	3	SBHS 521	1
General Electives	9	General Electives	7
	16		14
Total credit hours: 120

Accelerated Program

In order to be admitted to this ABM program, applicants must:

• be enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program.
• have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
• complete a minimum of 60 credit-hours, but not more than 75 credit-hours, as prescribed in the BSPH Plan of Study.
• Transfer students must have completed 24 credit hours as degree-seeking students at WVU before applying. 
• earn a minimum grade of "A" in PUBH 205: Writing for Public Health Audiences.
• not be enrolled in a dual degree or certificate program.
• not have any documented infractions with the WVU Office of Student Conduct or any external law enforcement agencies.

Students will apply using a Qualtrics application form that requires a resume, personal statement, and two recommendations. The Qualtrics application will open from October 1-March 1 each academic year. Applications are due March 1, with program admission decisions communicated by the end of the spring semester. 

Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
A cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
University Requirements		51
School Core Requirements		25
Public Health Major Requirements		44
MPH Public Health Program Requirements		25
Total Hours		145

University Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8		28
PUBH 191	First-Year Seminar	1
General Electives		22
Total Hours		51

School Core Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PUBH 101	Introduction to Public and Community Health (GEF 4)	3
PUBH 200	Introduction to Public Health Careers and Information	1
PUBH 201	Global Perspectives of Public Health (GEF 7)	3
PUBH 202	Social Determinants of Health	3
PUBH 205	Writing for Public Health Audiences	3
PUBH 211	Biostatistics	3
PUBH 222	Epidemiology	3
PUBH 233	The US Healthcare System: Structures and Incentives	3
PUBH 243	Issues in Environmental Health	3
Total Hours		25

Public Health Sciences Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in all Public Health Major Requirements.
Discipline-Specific Requirements
PUBH 311	Health Data Management and Visualization	3
PUBH 331	Introduction to Health Policy	3
PUBH 338	Public Health Project Management	3
PUBH 352	Social and Behavioral Science and Practice	3
PUBH 454	Public Health Research Methods	3
PUBH 493	Special Topics (Public Health in Action)	3
SBHS 521	Grant Writing for Public Health Practice	1
BIOS 501 & BIOS 502	Applied Biostatistics 1 and Applied Biostatistics Lab	4
PUBH 520	Building and Sustaining Public Health Capacity	2
PUBH 521	Public Health Prevention and Intervention	3
PUBH 540	Leading and Managing Health Organizations	3
PUBH 541	Systems Thinking in Public Health Practice	2
PUBH 596	Graduate Seminar	1
500-Level Elective		3
Culminating Experience Coursework
A minimum grade of C- is required.
PUBH 400	Field Placement Preparation Seminar	1
PUBH 489	School of Public Health Undergraduate Capstone (minimum grade of C-)	2
PUBH 481	Public Health Field Experience	4
Total Hours		44

MPH Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.
EPID 501	Epidemiology for Public Health	3
PUBH 613	Public Health Program Evaluation	3
PUBH 629	MPH Capstone	1
PUBH 630	MPH Field Practicum	3
Required Area of Emphasis		15
Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Public Health Practice and Leadership
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Total Hours		25

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
PUBH 191	1	PUBH 200	1
PUBH 101	3	PUBH 201	3
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)	3	PUBH 243	3
GEF 2	4	GEF 3	3
General Elective	3	GEF 8	3
		General Elective	3
	14		16
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
PUBH 202	3	PUBH 205	3
PUBH 211	3	PUBH 222	3
PUBH 233	3	PUBH 331	3
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)	3	PUBH 311	3
GEF 5	3	GEF 6	3
	15		15
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
PUBH 352	3	PUBH 454	3
PUBH 338	3	PUBH 481	4
PUBH 493	3	PUBH 489	2
PUBH 400	1	GEF 8	3
GEF 8	3	General Elective	3
General Electives	3
	16		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
PUBH 521	3	SBHS 521	1	PUBH 630	3
PUBH 541	2	PUBH 520	2
BIOS 501 & BIOS 502	4	PUBH 596	1
General Elective	3	PUBH 540	3
General Elective	3	500-Level Elective	3
		General Elective	4
	15		14		3
Fifth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
AOE Course	3	PUBH 613	3
AOE Course	3	PUBH 629	1
AOE Course	3	AOE Course	3
EPID 501	3	AOE Course	3
	12		10
Total credit hours: 145

Major Learning Outcomes

Public Health Sciences Major