Public Health, BS
Do you want to be a change agent for the public’s health? Public health at UWM is your home to learn, connect, and make a difference.
Public health improves the health of people and the communities where they grow, live, work, play, and age. Instead of treating individual patients, public health practitioners work in and with communities to prevent disease before it starts. We strive to ensure that every person and community can reach their highest level of health and well-being.
Find yourself in public health! When you choose the Public Health major at UWM, you will:
- Learn and live public health in Milwaukee’s diverse and dynamic communities.
- Jumpstart your career with 120 hours of field placement with our community partners.
- Learn from top instructors at Wisconsin’s only accredited school dedicated to public health.
- Create a world that is socially just and a healthy place for all.
The BS in Public Health at UWM provides students with real-world knowledge, skills, and experiences – both in the classroom and the community – to be a positive force for change. With the Public Health major, you will learn how to diagnose, analyze, and solve a range of public health challenges.
Job prospects for public health graduates are excellent. Trained public health professionals are needed in Wisconsin and nationally to address a shortage of skilled public health workers.
Our graduates are equipped to enter public health and related careers in a wide variety of settings, including local and state government agencies, healthcare organizations, for-profit organizations, academic institutions, and non-profits.
What's your passion? There is a public health career for you!
- Sociology and psychology? You’ll excel in community health and health promotion.
- Political science and government? Pursue a career in policy and advocacy.
- Math and numbers? You’ll find your niche in data analysis and biostatistics.
- Discovering causes of disease? Your perfect career path could be epidemiology and disease prevention.
- Biology and ecology? Make an impact in environmental health.
Our 120-credit program includes general education foundations, Public Health major courses, and 27-33 elective credits tailored to your interests and career goals. The electives allow you to combine the BS in Public Health degree with specialization in one of UWM’s many certificates or minors of your choice.
We welcome transfer students! To learn how to transfer credits from another university to UWM and the BS in Public Health program, reach out to the Zilber College of Public Health undergraduate advising.
We also offer an accelerated Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with four areas of specialization. This program allows high achieving undergraduates to save time and money by completing their bachelor’s and master’s degree in public health in only 5 years!
We want to hear from you! Email bs-ph@uwm.edu to learn more about the BS in Public Health degree.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements (GER) * | 30 | |
| BSPH Foundations | 27-28 | |
| Public Health Major Requirements | 54 | |
| Electives, including certificate or minor (will vary) | 8-9 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- *
Many degree requirements fulfill GERs. See below for details related to the BSPH Foundations and Public Health Major Requirements. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor as this can increase the number of electives required to reach 120 credits.
Preparatory Coursework
Based on individual placement results, some students may be required to complete preparatory coursework before enrolling in the courses listed here. This may include English language or composition preparation, developmental math, introductory chemistry, and/or student support courses for students participating in the First Year Bridge program.
General Education Requirements (GER)
UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s or associate degree. They include at minimum 30 credits (10 courses) in six categories that are designed to assure basic student competencies and provide a broad body of knowledge as a context for specialization.
Some degree requirements may fulfill GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Categories and Credits | ||
| Civics and Perspectives (CP) | 6 | |
| Communication and Literacy (CL) | 6 | |
| Humanities and Arts (HA) | 6 | |
| Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (MQR) | 3 | |
| Natural Science and Wellness (NSW/NSWL) | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science (SBS) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Major Requirements
To fulfill the 120-credit requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health, in addition to Electives and General Education Requirements, students are required to earn credit in the following: BSPH Foundation Courses and Public Health Major Requirements.
BSPH Foundations
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Literacy * | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra 1 | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II 1 | ||
| Academic and Professional Writing | ||
| Select one of the following (GER CL): | 3 | |
| Strategies for Academic Writing | ||
| Health Science Writing | ||
| Communication/Public Speaking | ||
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Natural Science | ||
| Select one of the following (GER NSWL): | 3-4 | |
| How Life Works | ||
| Foundations of Biological Sciences I | ||
Other biology course approved by Zilber College academic advisor | ||
| Interdisciplinary Health Foundations ** | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Health Aspects of Exercise and Nutrition | ||
| Health Aspects of Exercise and Nutrition | ||
| Psychological Aspects of Sport and Exercise | ||
| Sociological Aspects of Health and Human Movement | ||
| Introduction to Nutrition for the Health Professions | ||
| Why We Eat What We Eat: A Social Ecological Approach | ||
| Life Cycle Nutrition | ||
| Nutrition Communication and Education | ||
| Public Health Nutrition and Food Politics | ||
| Obesity and Weight Management | ||
| Introductory Ethics | ||
| Ethical Issues in Health Care: | ||
| Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Adolescent Health & Development | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Social Psychology | ||
| Human Life Cycle | ||
| Human Growth and Development Across the Life Span | ||
| Global Maternal and Child Health: From Evidence to Action | ||
| Introduction to Global Health | ||
| Global Health: Ethics and Human Rights | ||
| Justice and Equity Foundations *** | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Hunger at Home: Food and Nutrition Security in Milwaukee County | ||
| Geography of Race in the United States | ||
| History of Race, Science, and Medicine in the United States | ||
| American Art and Culture | ||
| Multicultural America | ||
| African Dance & Diaspora Technique I | ||
| Multicultural America | ||
| Philosophical Aspects of Feminism | ||
| Moral Problems: (Must take 3, 1 cr topics; topics include Abortion, Bioethics, Contemporary Problems, Drugs and Addiction, Euthanasia, Immigration and Citizenship) | ||
| Multicultural America: | ||
| Black Reality: Survey of African-American Society | ||
| Survey of African-American Literature | ||
| Multicultural America | ||
| The Multi-Racial Origins of American Cultures | ||
| Queer Migrations | ||
| Multicultural America | ||
| Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | ||
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities and Arts | ||
| Introduction to African-American History, 1865 to the Present | ||
| Western Great Lakes American Indian Community Life of the Past | ||
| North American Indian History to 1887 | ||
| North American Indian History Since 1887 | ||
| World History Since 1500 | ||
| American History: 1607 to 1877 | ||
| American History: 1877 to the Present | ||
| East Asian Civilization Since 1600 | ||
| History of Race, Science, and Medicine in the United States | ||
| The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | ||
| Hmong Americans: History, Culture, and Contemporary Life | ||
| Introduction to American Indian Studies | ||
| Introduction to Latino Studies | ||
| Solving Social Problems | ||
| Race and Ethnicity in the United States | ||
| Social Inequality in the United States | ||
| Sex and Gender | ||
| Sociology of Sexuality | ||
| Urban Planning Solutions to Contemporary Urban Problems | ||
| Multicultural America | ||
| Social Justice, Urban Planning and the New Urban America | ||
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: Civics and Perspectives | ||
| Personal Health and Wellness | ||
| Complete 3 credits of FITWELL, Recommended Selection Below: | 3 | |
| Mindfulness and Wellness: 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 27-28 | |
- 1
Recommended selection.
- *
BSPH Quantitative Literacy Foundation Waived with a Math Placement Level 30, or Grade of B or Better in any 200 Level Statistics Course
- **
Many BSPH Interdisciplinary Health Foundations courses also fulfil GER SBS.
- ***
Many BSPH Justice and Equity Foundations courses also fulfil GER HA or GER CP Options.
Public Health Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PH 101 | Introduction to Public Health (GER NSW) | 3 |
| PH 142 | Exploring Global Environmental Health | 3 |
| PH 201 | Public Health from Cells to Society I | 3 |
| PH 202 | Public Health from Cells to Society II | 3 |
| PH 210 | Climate Change, the Environment and Human Health (GER CP) | 3 |
| Select one of the following (GER MQR): 2 | 3 | |
| Statistics in the Health Professions: Theory and Practice | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology | ||
| PH 302 | Health and Disease: Concepts and Contexts | 3 |
| PH 304 | Foundations of Epidemiology | 3 |
| PH 319 | Introduction to Health Disparities | 3 |
| PH 327 | Foundations for Action in Public Health | 3 |
| PH 346 | Environmental Health and Disease | 3 |
| PH 355 | Public Health Research Methods I | 3 |
| PH 408 | Comparative Health Systems: A Social Determinants Approach | 3 |
| PH 410 | True Lies: Consuming and Communicating Quantitative Information | 3 |
| PH 427 | Strategies for Action in Public Health | 3 |
| PH 428 | Program Implementation & Evaluation for a Healthy Society | 3 |
| PH 455 | Public Health Research Methods II | 3 |
| PH 600 | Public Health Integrative Experience (Service Learning) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
- 2
Select MQR course substitutions allowed - please see your public health academic advisor.
Electives
With the help of their academic advisor, students will select electives to complete the 120 total credits required for the degree. Electives are tailored to each student’s interests and career goals. Students may choose a related area of specialization outside of the Zilber College by completing any minor or interdisciplinary certificate offered by UWM, typically comprised of 18-22 credits. In some cases, students may choose to study two related areas, or they may complement a certificate or minor with other courses of interest.
Certificates or Minors
Certificates of potential interest to public health students include, but are not limited to: Community Arts, Community Engagement Strategies, Community Leadership, Comparative Ethnic Studies, Cultures and Communities, Food Studies, Global Health, Healthy Aging, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Studies, Quantitative Social Data Analysis, Spanish for Health Professionals, Urban Planning, and Urban Studies.
Minors of potential interest to public health students include, but are not limited to: Community Engagement, Geographic Information Science, Geography, Global Studies, Health Care Administration, International Studies, Mathematics (Statistics), Nutritional Sciences, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
Degree and Graduation Requirements
A minimum of 120 semester credits is required to complete the BS in Public Health degree. A cumulative GPA of 2.25 or greater for all credits earned at UWM is required for graduation. Students must also maintain an average GPA of 2.5 in all Public Health Major Requirements (54 credits total).
If, during the program, a student falls below these minimum GPA requirements, the student will be placed on academic probation. A student who remains on probation for more than two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the major.
Students who earn a D+ or lower in any public health major course required for graduation (54 credits) must repeat the course and earn at least a C-. Courses required for the BS in Public Health degree may be repeated only once. Students who twice earn a grade lower than these requirements will be dismissed from the public health major.
Students who are struggling in their courses for any reason are encouraged to access retention services available in the Zilber College of Public Health.
Plan of Study
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| PH 100 | New Student Experience in Public Health | 1 |
| PH 101 | Introduction to Public Health (GER NSW) | 3 |
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking (GER CL, Communication/Public Speaking Foundation) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (GER CL) | 3 |
| Select one of the following (GER NSWL, Natural Science Foundation): | 3-4 | |
| How Life Works | ||
| Foundations of Biological Sciences I | ||
| Select one of the following (Quantitative Literacy Foundation): | 3 | |
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PH 142 | Exploring Global Environmental Health | 3 |
| GER HA | 3 | |
| GER HA | 3 | |
| Select one of the following (GER CL, Academic and Professional Writing Foundation): | 3 | |
| Strategies for Academic Writing | ||
| Health Science Writing | ||
| Select one of the following (GER MQR): | 3 | |
| Statistics in the Health Professions: Theory and Practice | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| PH 201 | Public Health from Cells to Society I | 3 |
| PH 210 | Climate Change, the Environment and Human Health (GER CP) | 3 |
| PH 304 | Foundations of Epidemiology | 3 |
| Justice and Equity Foundation * | 3 | |
| GER SBS | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| PH 202 | Public Health from Cells to Society II | 3 |
| PH 319 | Introduction to Health Disparities | 3 |
| Justice and Equity Foundation * | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| PH 302 | Health and Disease: Concepts and Contexts | 3 |
| PH 327 | Foundations for Action in Public Health | 3 |
| Personal Health and Wellness Foundation | 3 | |
| Interdisciplinary Health Foundation* | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| PH 346 | Environmental Health and Disease | 3 |
| PH 427 | Strategies for Action in Public Health | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Health Foundation* | 3 | |
| GER CP | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| PH 355 | Public Health Research Methods I | 3 |
| PH 408 | Comparative Health Systems: A Social Determinants Approach | 3 |
| PH 428 | Program Implementation & Evaluation for a Healthy Society | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| PH 410 | True Lies: Consuming and Communicating Quantitative Information | 3 |
| PH 455 | Public Health Research Methods II | 3 |
| PH 600 | Public Health Integrative Experience (Service Learning) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 121-122 | |
*Many BSPH Justice and Equity Foundations and Interdisciplinary Health Foundations also fulfill GERs. If those courses are selected, students would need to select additional elective credits. Course options for BSPH Foundations
Admission to Major
Students who meet the standard University admission requirements with an interest in Public Health will be directly admitted to the major.
Public Health BS Core Competencies
The BS in Public Health program has 15 core competencies designed to meet Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation requirements. Graduates of the Public Health major will be able to:
- Explain the importance of respect for diverse values, beliefs, cultures, and the dignity of individuals and communities in public health practice;
- Explain the history and philosophy of public health, including its core values, theories, concepts, and functions in society;
- Collect and analyze public health data using fundamental quantitative and qualitative methods and instruments;
- Locate and evaluate primary scientific literature and other information sources (e.g., media) to inform evidence-based public health approaches;
- Outline evidence-based approaches—using data, assessment, and evaluation—to address public health problems;
- Explain why and how public health professionals should ethically engage in interactions with study/program participants, community (partners and stakeholders), and others to address population health and health equity;
- Develop advocacy strategies for multi-level social policies and interventions to promote population health;
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of health promotion interventions for specific populations;
- Discuss ethical social, ecological, political, and community approaches to public health dilemmas;
- Explain the natural history of human health and disease, their biological and environmental origins, distribution among populations, and strategies for their prevention, management, and control;
- Explain the interrelationship between hazards in the natural and built environment, and human and population health;
- Explain multilevel and ecosocial pathways through which social, economic, legal, and political structures and systems affect population health and health inequities across the lifecourse;
- Interpret environmental, regulatory, legal, and economic structures, as well as their interactions, within communities and health systems from the perspective of social justice and human rights;
- Apply fundamental concepts and features of public health interventions and programs, including their planning, implementation, assessment, and evaluation; and
- Communicate public health evidence and concepts to diverse audiences using a variety of modalities and media.
Accelerated Program Option
This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program. For more information, see Accelerated Graduate Degrees.
Zilber College of Public Health Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.