Program Overview

Public Health Program Overview

The Public Health Program at Virginia Tech offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to address public health challenges.

Undergraduate Public Health Program

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree program curriculum is structured to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of public health principles, practices, and research.

Pathway General Education Courses

The BSPH program requires the completion of 45 credits in general education courses, including:

• Discourse (9 credits)
  • ENGL 1105 & 1106 First-Year Writing (3 credits each)
  • OR
  • COMM 1015 & 1016 Communication Skills (3 credits each)
  • Choose Advanced Course (2000+) (3 credits)
• Critical Thinking in the Humanities (6 credits)
  • Choose Humanities Course (3 credits)
  • Choose Humanities Course (3 credits)
• Reasoning in the Social Sciences (6 credits)
  • PSYC 1004 Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
  • SOC 1004 Introductory Sociology (3 credits)
• Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (6 credits)
  • BIOL 1105 Principles of Biology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 1106 Principles of Biology (3 credits)
• Quantitative and Computational Thinking (9 credits)
  • MATH 1014 Precalculus with Transcendental Functions (3 credits)
  • MATH 1025 Elementary Calculus (3 credits)
  • STAT 3604 Statistics for the Social Sciences (3 credits)
• Critique and practice in Design and the Arts (6 credits)
  • Choose Art Course or Integrated Art/Design Course (3 credits)
  • Choose Design Course or Integrated Art/Design Course (3 credits)
• Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (3 credits)

Public Health Core Requirements

The BSPH program requires the completion of 43 credits in public health core courses, including:

• HNFE 1004 Foods, Nutrition, and Exercise (3 Credits)
• PHS 1514 Personal Health (3 credits)
• PHS 1984 First Year Experience (1 credit)
• PHS 2004 Introduction to Public Health (3 credits)
• ADV 2134 Introduction to Health Communication (3 credits)
• ADV 4324 Issues in Health Communication (3 credits)
• HNFE 2664 Behavioral Theory and Health Promotion (3 credits)
• PHS 3014 Introduction to Environmental Health (3 credits)
• PHS 3534 Drug Education (3 credits)
• PHS 3634 Epidemiologic Concepts of Health and Disease (3 credits)
• PHS 4014 Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3 credits)
• SOC 3314 Social Movements
• SOC 3504 Population Trends and Issues
• SOC 4414 Drugs and Society
• STS 3124 Societal Health (3 Credits, Junior Standing)
• PHS 4044 Public Health Policy and Administration (3 credits, Junior Standing)
• PHS 4054 Concepts in One Health (3 credits, Junior Standing)
• PHS 4064 Modeling Infectious Diseases (3 credits, Senior Standing)
• PHS 4074 Practicum in Public Health (3 credits, Senior Standing)

Additional Major/Minor/Free Electives

The BSPH program requires the completion of 33 credits in additional major, minor, or free electives.

Graduate Public Health Programs

The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine offers graduate degree programs in public health, providing advanced education and training in public health research, policy, and practice.