Public Health, B.S.P.H.

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Public health is defined as the science of protecting and improving the health and well-being of diverse populations. Public health draws upon theory and evidence from multiple disciplines to identify the causes of poor health and address those causes through organized community efforts. It includes a strong emphasis on preventing illness, addressing health disparities, and using health data. Studying public health will provide you with an understanding of the individual, social, organizational, and structural determinants of health, and give you tools to intervene at different system levels to help people and communities become healthier. Now more than ever society needs skilled public health practitioners who care about vulnerable populations and want to make a difference in people’s lives.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) introduces students to the history and core concepts of public health and its role in U.S. and international health systems. Students will gain knowledge of public health theory and approaches, as well as the skills necessary to apply this knowledge in entry-level professional public health roles across Maine. Through the applied and practical coursework, students participate in public health projects within their communities, gain real-world experience in how to interpret public health data and present findings to the public, and practice public health planning and program delivery.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health will prepare you for early career, entry-level positions at local health departments, businesses, social service agencies, health systems, nonprofit community organizations, hospitals and more. The degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate programs in multiple fields, including USM’s Master of Public Health (MPH), other graduate health training programs, public policy, and law. The BSPH is part of the Public Health Program at the Muskie School of Public Service, a nationally-recognized academic and research program that is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Public Health at USM, please contact:
Ben Greenfield, PhD

Associate Professor and Chair of the Public Health Program at the Muskie School
Phone: (207) 228-8245
Email: benjamin.greenfield@maine.edu

Program Requirements

Credit Hours: The BSPH in public health requires ten public health courses, three approved electives, an introductory statistics course, and a human biology course with a lab. Several of these courses also satisfy the Core curriculum requirements.

Minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core Curriculum) required for the Public Health major: 47.
Minimum grade requirement for major courses listed below: C-.
Minimum GPA requirement for major courses listed below: 2.0.

Program Requirements:

Three Electives (select three for 9 credits):

In addition to those listed below, other three credit electives relevant to public health and offered at the 200-level or higher will be considered based on student request. Consult with your faculty advisor regarding other electives.

BPH 339 - Topics in Public Health Credits: 3 *
*BPH 339 may be taken unlimited times on different course topics to meet the public health elective requirements.
MPH 525 or above Credits: 3 **

** Students in the Accelerated Graduate Patheway who meet requirements to take graduate public health courses also use courses as public health electives.

ANT 232 - The Anthropology of Sex and Gender Credits: 3
ANT 315 - Ethnography: Methods, Ethics, and Practice Credits: 3
BIO 281 - Microbiology for Health Sciences Credits: 3
BIO 311 - Microbiology Credits: 3
BIO 345 - Pathophysiology Credits: 3
BIO 409 - Cell and Molecular Biology Credits: 3
ESP 220 - Introduction to Environmental Policy Credits: 3
ESP 375 - Environmental Risk Assessment and Management Credits: 3
GEO 308 - GIS Applications I Credits: 3
GEO 408 - GIS Applications II Credits: 3
HIH 203 - Mind Body Stress Reduction Credits: 3
HIH 270 - Holistic Approaches to Reproductive Health Credits: 3
HIH 280 - Holistic Health I Credits: 3
HIH 284 - Botanical Therapies Credits: 3
HRD 200 - Multicultural Human Development Credits: 3 (SBS 200 )
PHI 212 - Environmental Ethics Credits: 3
PHI 295 - Medicine, Madness, and Disease Credits: 3
PSY 365 - Physiological Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 368 - Health Psychology Credits: 3
REC 314 - Wellness Education and Counseling Credits: 3
REC 324 - Inclusive and Special Recreation Credits: 3
RMI 320 - Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance Credits: 3
SBS 332 - Death, Dying, and Denial Credits: 3
SBS 335 - Legal Issues in Health and Human Services Credits: 3
SED 300 - Ethics and Serving Individuals with Disabilities Credits: 3
SPM 219 - Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness Credits: 3
SPM 350 - Health Promotion Programs Credits: 3
TAH 222 - Food and Beverage Management Credits: 3

Grade Policy:

Students must achieve a 2.0 grade point average and grades of C- or better in all courses that count toward fulfillment of the major requirements. Students will be placed on academic probation for failure to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Transfer Policy:

For all baccalaureate degrees at the University of Southern Maine, a minimum of 30 credits hours, including at least nine hours in the major, must be completed while matriculated in the school or college from which the degree is sought. A student may earn no more than six of these 30 credit hours at another campus of the University of Maine System. In addition, 30 of the final 45 credits of a student’s degree program must normally be completed at USM.

Major Courses that Satisfy Core Requirements

Students are encouraged to explore Core courses that also count towards their major or minor. Courses listed below are part of this major and also satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements. Course lists that satisfy each requirement can be found on the Core Curriculum webpage.

Writing, Reading, and Inquiry 3: BPH 320 Methods of Public Health Research
Quantitative Reasoning: MAT 120 or LOS 120 or PSY 201 -Statistics
Creative Expression:
Cultural Interpretation:
Science Exploration: BIO 111 & BIO 112 - Anatomy & Physiology with Lab
Socio-cultural Analysis: BPH 101 - Introduction to the U.S. Health System
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship:
Culture, Power, and Equity:
International: BPH 339 - Topic: Global Health Only
Engaged Learning: BPH 320 - Methods of Public Health Research; BPH 498 - Professional Development for Public Health Careers
Capstone: BPH 498 - Professional Development for Public Health Careers

USM Core Requirements

Students must complete all Core and degree requirements as part of the Graduation Requirements. For more information, see Academic Policies.

The USM Core Curriculum provides a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal arts education that fulfills general education requirements. It is designed to help students become globally aware, purposeful, and lifelong learners.

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor. For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.