2025-2026

Health Sciences - Public Health, Bachelor of Science

Department of Health Sciences

College of Health and Human Services

The focus of this degree is to broadly prepare graduates in Public Health content and processes that can be applied within multi-disciplinary health-related fields and in graduate study. This degree plan focuses on promoting population health by teaching students to identify and address social, structural, environmental, and political determinants of health.

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 71 - 80 units of major requirements.

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA 2.5
Highest Mathematics Required STA 270
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
University Honors Program Optional
Some online/blended coursework Required
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A Recommended
Progression Plan Link Not Available

Purpose Statement

The mission of the Public Health Program is to prepare students for careers that promote and protect the health of the public using evidence-based processes, concepts, and principles. We accomplish this mission through innovative teaching and mentoring, opportunities for research, diverse community partnerships, and a strong focus on health equity.

Public health protects and improves the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations, locally, tribally, regionally, and globally. Public health professionals focus on identifying health disparities, addressing social, structural, and political determinants of health, and promoting population health. Public health professionals confront global health issues, such as improving equitable access to health care, building sustainable and resilient communities, controlling infectious diseases, reducing harm around substance use, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, and injury. Our graduates are prepared to plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs, collaborate across disciplines administer services, and advocate for health equity. Graduates pursue advanced degrees in health-related fields and obtain employment in a variety of settings, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, hospitals, schools, and research institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Overview of Public Health
    • Describe the history and philosophy of public health and apply its core values, concepts, and functions to promote public health.
  • Role and Importance of Data in Public Health
    • Demonstrate the use of basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection and analysis to critically assess the health status of populations and current public health-related issues.
  • Identifying and Addressing Population Health Challenges
    • Apply and evaluate evidence-based approaches and interventions to identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
  • Human Health
    • Describe the underlying mechanisms of health and disease to support opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.
  • Determinants of Health
    • Evaluate the influence of socio-economic, behavioral, biological, political, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
  • Project Design and Implementation
    • Design, implement, and evaluate community-based projects or health promotion interventions by applying the fundamental concepts of project implementation and appropriate methods to evaluate public health programs
  • Overview of the Health System
    • Explain the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system, as well as critically analyze differences in health systems in other countries.
  • Health Policy, Law, Ethics, and Economics
    • Understand and evaluate the 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 to promote and protect public health.
  • Health Communication
    • Utilize the basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology for effective public health promotion and agency functioning.
  • Career Readiness
    • Demonstrate the professional dispositions required to achieve and maintain employment and collaboration with community agencies, including respectful communication, teamwork, leadership, initiative, equity and inclusion, and cultural relevance and humility.
  • Statistics and Health Numeracy
    • Understand, utilize, and communicate the concepts and applications of basic statistics in various settings and for diverse needs, including health promotion, health communication, and program evaluation.

Major Requirements

  • This major requires 71 - 80 units distributed as follows:

    • Health Sciences Coursework: 16 units
    • Public Health Coursework: 43 - 46 units
    • Track Requirement - Select one: 12 - 18 units
      • Occupational Therapy Track: 18 units
      • Internship Track: 12 units
      • Coursework Track: 12 units


    Take the following 71 - 83 units:
    The following coursework must be completed with a Grade of "C" or better in each course, and a minimum GPA of 2.5.

  • Track Requirement - Select one (12 - 18 units)

    • Occupational Therapy Track (18 units)
      Choose this track in order to complete the required prerequisites for NAU's Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. Qualified graduates from NAU's BS in Public Health, Occupational Therapy Track receive a guaranteed interview to NAU's OTD program and priority admission.

    • Internship Track (12 units)
      Choose this track if you'd like to complete a 6-unit internship working at a public health agency.

      • HS 408 (6 units)
      • Select from Public Health Electives - Settings and Populations of Interest (3 units)
      • Select additional from Public Health Electives - any topic (3 units)

       

    • Coursework Track (12 units)
      Choose this track if you'd like to complete public health electives without an internship.

      • Select from Public Health Electives - Settings and Populations of Interest (3 units)
      • Select additional from Public Health Electives - any topic (9 units)

  • If you choose to complete a minor, the Coursework Track requirements will be satisfied.

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.