Global Public Health

Major: Global Public Health
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 180.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2201
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 21-1091

About the Program

The Bachelor of Arts in Global Public Health is an innovative undergraduate major that utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to expose students to global public health. Students will take a myriad of required courses within the Dornsife School of Public Health as well as courses in Global Studies and Modern Languages to fulfill degree requirements. The Global Public Health degree is a four-year, one co-op cycle program. Students are encouraged to explore global experiences for added breath and depth.

Upon completion of the major, students can choose to use this degree program as a precursor to an MPH or an MS in a related topic area or as an active candidate for medical school or other schools of health-related professions. If students look to enter the workforce post BA, a variety of settings are applicable to this degree ranging from positions in public service (local, city, and state government), to NGO (local and international), and to healthcare settings.

Commonly found job titles for students seeking employment with the BA in Global Public Health are public health analysts, health educators, health coordinators, education specialists, health promotion assistant, behavioral health workers, site prevention specialists, and site community health workers.

Public Health Foundational Domains 

  • The concepts and applications of basic statistics
  • The foundations of biological and life sciences
  • The history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society
  • The basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice
  • The concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations
  • The underlying science of human health and disease, including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course
  • The socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities
  • The fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation
  • The fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as the differences between systems in other countries
  • Basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy and the roles, influences, and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government
  • Basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please contact:

DSPH Academic Advising Team
Office of Education
dsphadvising@drexel.edu

Additional information can be found on the Dornsife School of Public Health website including admissions criteria and how to apply.

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COM 230Techniques of Speaking3.0
COM 320 [WI] Science Writing3.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ECON 240Economics of Health Care Systems4.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
GST 100Introduction to Cultural Diversity3.0
UNIV PH101The Drexel Experience1.0
PSY 101General Psychology I3.0
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3.0
Two mathematics courses (MATH)8.0
Two science courses (BIO, CHEM, ENVS, GEO, NFS, PHEV, PHYS)8.0
Global Studies Electives (GST)24.0
Language Minor (ARBC, CHIN, FREN, GER, JAPN, KOR, SPAN 104:499) **36.0
Public Health Core Course Requirements
PBHL 101Public Health 1013.0
PBHL 301Epidemiology in Public Health3.0
PBHL 302Introduction to the History of Public Health3.0
PBHL 303Overview of Issues in Global Health3.0
PBHL 304Introduction to Health & Human Rights3.0
PBHL 308The U.S. Public Health System3.0
PBHL 314Environmental and Occupational Health3.0
PBHL 497Capstone Experience I2.0
PBHL 498Capstone Experience II3.0
PBHL 499Capstone Experience III3.0
Public Health Electives12.0
Complete four of the following courses:
Women and Children: Health & Society
Introduction to Community Health
Injury Prevention and Control
Public Health Biology
Public Health Data Analysis
The Social Determinants of Health and Well-Being
Public Health Leadership
Drugs, Society, and Public Health
The World's Water
Violence and Trauma in Public Health
Nature Prescription: Trees, Green Space, and Your Health
Disease Outbreak Investigations
Free Electives ***32.0
Total Credits180.0
*

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.

**

Students must complete at least 24.0 credits above the 103 language level to earn a language minor. If students only need to complete 24.0 credits of a language, then the remaining credits will be taken as free electives.

***

Additional language credits can be made up using free electives.

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

4 year, 1 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 1013.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 1033.0VACATION
GST 1003.0ENGL 1023.0Free electives6.0 
PBHL 1013.0PSY 1013.0GST course3.0 
UNIV PH1011.0SOC 1013.0Language course4.0 
Language course4.0Language course4.0  
Math course4.0Math course4.0  
 18 18 16 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PBHL 3033.0PBHL 3013.0COM 2303.0COOP 101*1.0
PBHL 3043.0PBHL 3023.0PBHL 3143.0Free electives6.0
GST course3.0Language course4.0Free elective3.0Language course3.0
Language course4.0Public Health elective3.0Language course4.0Public Health elective3.0
Science course4.0Science course4.0Public Health elective3.0 
 17 17 16 13
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ECON 2404.0COM 3203.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
PBHL 3083.0GST courses6.0  
GST course3.0Public Health elective3.0  
Language course3.0   
 13 12 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
PBHL 4972.0PBHL 4983.0PBHL 4993.0 
Free electives8.0Free electives8.0Free electives7.0 
GST course3.0GST course3.0GST course3.0 
 13 14 13 
Total Credits 180
*

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.

  • Schedule of Classes
  • All Course Descriptions
  • Co-op
  • Academic Advising
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Fees
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