Program Overview

Accelerated B.S. in Public Health/M.S. in Health Science

The Department of Health Sciences offers an accelerated program that allows students to attain both a bachelor's degree in Public Health and a master's degree in Health Science in less time than it would take to pursue each degree separately.

Overview

The accelerated B.S. in Public Health/M.S. in Health Science program enables students in the Administration, Community Health, or Dual tracks to substitute nine (9) units in the M.S. in Health Science program for undergraduate classes in the Public Health Major. Undergraduate Public Health majors who have completed 60-80 units (junior status) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 may apply for admission to the B.S. to M.S. Program.

Admission Requirements

• Completion of 60-80 units (may include transfer units)
• Declaration of a Public Health Major (all concentrations are eligible)
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.00 by the end of the Spring term preceding screening for admission
• Completion of the following courses with a grade of B or better:
  • HLTH 339: HEALTH BEHAVIOR THEORY
  • Any 200 level HLTH course
  • Statistics: Core 3 options - MATH 231, 233, 237 or statistics equivalent
  • Biology: Course with a lab

Application Process

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• Admission application
• Admission essay
• Two (2) academic references
• Official transcripts that include coursework taken through the term preceding application to the program
• During the second term of the senior year, students must also complete a graduate application to be officially admitted to the graduate program.

Screening

Screening will occur in January for Spring semester applicants and in the Summer for Fall semester applicants. The department's admissions committee will evaluate all completed applications based upon GPA, essay, and two (2) academic references.

Degree Requirements

Once admitted, students can select to take up to 9 units (3 courses) toward the MS in Health Science degree. Health science undergraduate majors can plan to enroll in any three (3) of the following courses:

• HLTH 502: HEALTH COMMUNICATION
• HLTH 505: DRUGS IN OUR CULTURE
• HLTH 551: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
• HLTH 630: EPIDEMIOLOGY IN PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE
• HLTH 643: HEALTH EDUCATION: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
• HCMN 535: HEALTH INFORMATION AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT
• HCMN 541: LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Withdrawal and Ineligibility

Students who complete the bachelor's but decide not to continue with the M.S. portion of the program will terminate their program with the fulfillment of all requirements for the undergraduate degree. Students may withdraw from the accelerated degree program by informing the Director of the MS in Health Science graduate program in writing. Students who do not successfully complete the bachelor's portion of the accelerated program, or who do not maintain both an overall 3.0 and a 3.0 GPA in the double-counted courses, may not proceed to the graduate level unless such deficiencies are resolved.