Economics and Public Health BS

Major: Economics and Public Health
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 180.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.0603
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 15-2041; 19-4061

About the Program

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health and well-being of populations of people. Critical to that well-being are many factors, including a clean environment, public safety, a healthy diet, adequate housing, and access to health care. Economics is the study of how people organize themselves to produce the goods and services they desire, including those necessary for a healthy life. Through the study of both economics and public health, students in this major gain a unique understanding of the factors underlying our health and well-being. The curriculum is interdisciplinary, drawing from the physical sciences, economics, and the four areas of public health: epidemiology, community health and prevention, environmental and occupational health, and health management and policy.

The Economics faculty have created a curriculum that connects economics directly to the needs of society. Their expertise spans a variety of areas, including health economics, non-profits, and the methods of causal analysis that underpin sound public policy. Faculty in the Dornsife School of Public Health have integrated human rights and social justice into the curriculum and are dedicated to community impact through civic engagement. Students in this major thus have access to a broad set of faculty engaged in health and health policy.

Upon completion of this STEM-designated major, students will be prepared to enter the workforce with employers such as health services organizations, health insurers, non-profits, and governments. They will also be well equipped for graduate study in public health, health sciences, public policy, economics, or other social sciences.

Additional Information

For more information please contact our Undergraduate Advising department at lebowadv@drexel.edu. 

Degree Requirements

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For the MATH 121 & MATH 122 & MATH 239 sequence, MATH 123 can be used as a substitute for MATH 239.

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Students who elect the BIO 131, BIO 132,BIO 134, BIO 135 sequence will have two fewer free elective credits.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

5 Year, 3 COOP

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ECON 270 recommended

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

ECON 203 [WI] recommended

4 Year, One COOP

*

ECON 270 recommended

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

ECON 203 [WI] recommended

Program Level Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the relationship between human rights, social justice, and public health.
• Students can perform basic policy analysis.
• Students understand the implications of economic policy for population health.
• Students can critique and design policies that aim to improve population health.