Public Health (BS)
Creating healthy people and communities
Grounded in the basic sciences with an emphasis on population health, the B.S. in Public Health (BSPH) degree prepares students for positions in fields such as health education, epidemiology, and environmental health, across nonprofit, industry, and government sectors. Pre-health students who seek a medical or health professions degree can broaden their experience with a multidisciplinary public health major.
Accreditation
Loyola University Chicago Public Health Programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). In March 2021, CEPH Board of Councilors acted to renew our BSPH and MPH programs' accreditation for a seven-year period. For questions on accreditation, please email Dr. Ruth Kafensztok.
Related Programs
Combined
Curriculum
The BSPH program draws on courses in ethics, environmental sciences, biology, mathematics, healthcare administration, social sciences, and the humanities alongside epidemiology, biostatistics, health behavior and promotion, health communication, policy, and global health.
The program requires 71 credit hours towards the 120 credits needed for graduation. Students complete remaining credits in the University Core, minors, and general electives. Several Knowledge Areas within the University Core are waived for BSPH students as they are already included in the major (Quantitative, Scientific Literacy, etc.).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSM 230 | Fundamentals of Health Equity | 3 |
| HSM 310 | Healthcare Project Management | 3 |
| PUBH 300 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| PUBH 301 | Health and the Environment | 3 |
| PUBH 303 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| PUBH 304 | Health Behavior and Health Promotion | 3 |
| PUBH 306 | Critical Thinking in Public Health | 3 |
| PUBH 307 | Foundations of Public Health Policy | 3 |
| PUBH 314 / HSM 210 | Global Public Health | 3 |
| PUBH 399 | Public Health Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Public Health Elective Courses | 6 | |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
BS in Public Health Sample Academic Plan
Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health
BSPH majors must complete this list of University Core areas:
Artistic Knowledge (1 course/3 credit hours)
Ethics (1 course/3 credit hours)
Historical Knowledge (2 courses/6 credit hours)
Literary Knowledge (2 courses/6 credit hours)
Philosophical Knowledge - Foundational (1 course/3 credit hours)
Societal Knowledge - Foundational (1 course/3 credit hours)
Theological Knowledge (2 courses/6 credit hours)
Writing Seminar (1 course/3 credit hours)
120 Total Credit Hours (71 BSPH, 34 Core/UNIV 101 First Year Seminar, 15 General Electives)
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 & BIOL 111 |
General Biology I and General Biology I Lab |
4 |
| MATH 131 | Applied Calculus I | 3 |
| UCLR 100 | Interpreting Literature (C/E/M) 1 | 3 |
| UCWR 110 | Writing Responsibly 1 | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Globalization and Local Cultures (CORE) 1 | ||
Substitute |
||
| BIOL 102 & BIOL 112 |
General Biology II and General Biology II Lab |
4 |
| HIST CORE (Tier 1) | Historical Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| MATH 132 | Applied Calculus II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ethics (CORE) 1 | ||
Substitute |
||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEO CORE (Tier 1) | Theological Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| HSM 110 | Healthcare in America | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PUBH 300 | Introduction to Public Health (may take when offered in fall or spring terms) | 3 |
| PUBH 301 | Health and the Environment (fall or spring term when offered) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Evolution of Human Disease | ||
| Epidemics and Pandemics | ||
| Paleopathology | ||
| ART CORE | Artistic Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| HIST CORE (Tier 2) | Historical Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 130 | Philosophy & Persons (CORE) 1 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| PUBH 304 | Health Behavior and Health Promotion | 3 |
| PUBH 306 | Critical Thinking in Public Health | 3 |
| STAT 335 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| Select one THEO CORE (Tier 2) course of the following: 1 | 3 | |
Substitute |
||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| HSM 230 | Fundamentals of Health Equity | 3 |
| PHIL 284 or PHIL 287 |
Health Care Ethics or Environmental Ethics |
3 |
| LIT CORE (Tier 2) | Literary Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| Select one Public Health Elective of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Public Health Internship | ||
Public Health Internships |
||
Other options for BSPH electives |
||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| PUBH 303 | Introduction to Epidemiology 3 | 3 |
| PUBH 307 | Foundations of Public Health Policy 3 | 3 |
| PUBH 314 / HSM 210 | Global Public Health 3 | 3 |
| STAT 303 | SAS Programming & Applied Statistics | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 380 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 3 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| HSM 310 | Healthcare Project Management | 3 |
| PUBH 399 | Public Health Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Select one Public Health Elective of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Public Health Internship | ||
Public Health Internships |
||
Other options for BSPH electives |
||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
- 2
Public Health electives will represent a cross-section of interdisciplinary academic options from which students may choose (6 credits needed)
- 3
If interested in the BSPH/MPH five-year, dual-degree program, contact Keith Kramer, kkramer4@luc.edu first before taking PUBH 303 Introduction to Epidemiology, PUBH 307 Foundations of Public Health Policy, PUBH 314 Global Public Health/HSM 210 Introduction to Global Healthcare Delivery, or ENVS 380 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. Each course above is three credits except where noted.
BS in Public Health with Pre-Med Requirements
Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health
BSPH majors must complete this list of University Core areas:
Artistic Knowledge (1 course/3 credit hours)
Ethics (1 course/3 credit hours)
Historical Knowledge (2 courses/6 credit hours)
Literary Knowledge (2 courses/6 credit hours)
Philosophical Knowledge - Foundational (1 course/3 credit hours)
Societal Knowledge - Foundational (1 course/3 credit hours)
Theological Knowledge (2 courses/6 credit hours)
Writing Seminar (1 course/3 credit hours)
132 Total Credit Hours
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 & BIOL 111 |
General Biology I and General Biology I Lab |
4 |
| CHEM 160 & CHEM 161 |
Chemical Structure and Properties and Chemical Structure and Properties Laboratory |
4 |
| MATH 131 | Applied Calculus I | 3 |
| UCLR 100 | Interpreting Literature (C/E/M) 1 | 3 |
| UCWR 110 | Writing Responsibly 1 | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 102 & BIOL 112 |
General Biology II and General Biology II Lab |
4 |
| CHEM 180 & CHEM 181 |
Chemical Reactivity I and Chemical Reactivity I Lab |
4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ethics (CORE) 1 | ||
Core Ethics Substitute 1 |
||
| MATH 132 | Applied Calculus II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Society in a Global Age | ||
Societal Knowledge Substitute 1 |
||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 251 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 240 & CHEM 241 |
Chemical Reactivity II and Chemical Reactivity II Laboratory |
4 |
| HIST CORE (Tier 1) | Historical Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| PUBH 300 | Introduction to Public Health (may take when offered in fall or spring terms) | 3 |
| PUBH 301 | Health and the Environment (fall or spring term when offered) | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 282 | Genetics | 3 |
| THEO CORE | Theological Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 260 & CHEM 261 |
Quantitative Methods in Chemistry and Quantitative Methods in Chemistry Laboratory |
4 |
| HSM 110 | Healthcare in America | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 366 / CHEM 361 | Cell Physiology & Biochemistry | 3 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L |
College Physics I Lec / Dis and College Physics Laboratory I |
4 |
| PUBH 304 | Health Behavior and Health Promotion | 3 |
| PUBH 306 | Critical Thinking in Public Health | 3 |
| STAT 335 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Evolution of Human Disease | ||
| Epidemics and Pandemics | ||
| Paleopathology | ||
| HSM 230 | Fundamentals of Health Equity | 3 |
| PHIL 130 | Philosophy & Persons 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L |
College Physics II Lec/Disc and College Physics Lab II |
4 |
| STAT 303 | SAS Programming & Applied Statistics | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST CORE (Tier 2) | Historical Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| LIT CORE (Tier 2) | Literary Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 284 or PHIL 287 |
Health Care Ethics or Environmental Ethics |
3 |
| PUBH 303 | Introduction to Epidemiology 2 | 3 |
| PUBH 307 | Foundations of Public Health Policy 2 | 3 |
| PUBH 314 / HSM 210 | Global Public Health 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART CORE | Artistic Knowledge 1 | 3 |
| ENVS 380 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 2 | 3 |
| HSM 310 | Healthcare Project Management | 3 |
| PUBH 399 | Public Health Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
THEO CORE (Tier 2) 1 |
||
| Social Justice and Injustice | ||
| Religious Ethics and the Ecological Crisis | ||
Substitute |
||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 132 | |
- 1
- 2
If interested in the BSPH/MPH five-year, dual-degree program, contact Keith Kramer, kkramer4@luc.edu first before taking PUBH 303 Introduction to Epidemiology, PUBH 307 Foundations of Public Health Policy, PUBH 314 Global Public Health/HSM 210 Introduction to Global Healthcare Delivery, or ENVS 380 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. Each course above is three credits except where noted. PUBH 310 Public Health Internship, Public Health Internship, is a great elective option.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the BS in Public Health program will be able to:
- Discuss the history, characteristics, roles, functions, structures, and core concepts of public health and the U.S. health system
- Debate the socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, and environmental factors that influence human health and disease and perpetuate health disparities
- Describe the legal, regulatory, ethical, and economic dimensions shaping public health policy and practice
- Locate, use, evaluate, and synthesize public health information
- Use basic statistics and perform statistical analysis in SAS, a widely-used statistical software program, to identify and describe populations’ health concerns
- Communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms, through a variety of media and to diverse audiences
- Identify the basic tools for project management as well as population health assessment, planning, and evaluation
- Advocate for health equity, especially on behalf of vulnerable and marginalized populations
- Take a stand on a controversial public health issue and support it with evidence
- Craft evidence-based solutions that take account of the community dynamics and cultural contexts in which public health practitioners work
- Engage in sound ethical practice while exhibiting a high degree of professionalism