Location: Boston Start Term: Fall
As a public health specialist, you have the power to help protect the health of populations around the globe working in areas such as vaccine availability, health related legislation, clean air and water accessibility, addictive or dangerous substance issues, and more.
In this full-time, four-year program, you’ll work with world-class educators to develop knowledge in public health along with a strong foundation in the basic sciences, liberal arts and an informed sense of healthcare issues. When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to begin your meaningful career or continue your education at the graduate level.
Graduates of this program may wish to continue their education at the graduate level with our Master of Public Health program offered at our Boston campus or online.
Freshman applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.
Students with 12 or more college credits may transfer in to the first or second year of the program. Courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted.
While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first year of our program, the admission committee will look for success in any math and science courses you have already taken. If you complete any of the courses listed below, you may receive transfer credit and your first year course load may be lighter. However, due to the lock-step nature of MCPHS programs, entering the first year of the program with transfer credits will not change the total length of your program. Courses, other than elective courses, may not be moved forward in your schedule.
Linked courses are available through the MCPHS School of Professional Studies.
Total credits to complete degree requirements: 123 sh (128 with premed minor)
YEAR II - SPRING: *Students choosing a premed minor substitute organic chemistry for general electives (Adds 2sh to the program):
CHE 231 - Organic Chemistry I (w/lab) (4 semester hours) CHE232/4 - Organic Chemistry II (w/lab) (4 semester hours)
YEAR III - FALL: **Students choosing a premed minor substitute the following for general electives in Year III (Adds 3 sh to the program):
BIO 360 Cellular Biochemistry** (4 semester hours) PHY 280/280L Physics I w/ Lab** (4 semester hours) PHY 284/284L Physics II w/ Lab** (4 semester hours)
Public Health Required Core Courses 31 sh:
HSC 301O
Health Promotion
BIO 255
Medical Microbiology w/ Lab
BIO 405
Plagues Past, Present and Future
HSC 310
Healthcare Informatics
MAT 461
Biostatistics
PHB 250
Intro to Public Health
PHB 330
Epidemiology
PHB 340
Environment and Health
PBH 435
Public Policy and Public Health
SSC 495
Evolution of the Health Professions
Public Health Electives (5 must be chosen from this category, 15 sh):
BEH 250
Health Psychology
BEH 260
Behavioral Health
BEH 454
Stress and Illness
BIO 260
Molecular Biology
BIO 455
Advanced Microbiology (w/ lab)
PBH 335
Human Sexuality
PBH 420
Community Health
PSB 320
Introduction to Healthcare Delivery
PSB 425
Healthcare Management
SSC 432
Medical Anthropology
SSC 444
Cigarettes in American Culture
Our students learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields and are committed to the success of each student. Discover our full list of Public Health faculty.
The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program is to use guidance from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, the Council on Education for Public Health, and the American Association of Colleges and Universities to assist students in developing the necessary skills to apply public health principles of health promotion and disease prevention to their future career or graduate school placement. This mission recognizes the vast opportunity for the application of public health skills across a wide array of experiences, both educational and occupational. The program further aims to impart a “Culture of Public Health” that provides guiding principles by which students frame their discussions, actions, and future endeavors.
Find out what makes this program unique at MCPHS.
Set to study Epidemiology at the University of London The MCPHS alum and graduate student is drawn to global public health.
Dr. Nate Horwitz-Willis spoke to a group of public health students about crisis leadership during the COVID-19 outbreak.