The Tulane Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree is an academic degree addressing the health of populations and communities through instruction, service, and community based research. Grounded in a background of humanities, social science, and the liberal arts, the degree fulfills Tulane University’s campus-wide undergraduate core proficiency while stressing an additional commitment to quantitative and scientific skills. This degree program is nationally accredited and has specific competencies, or educational targets. Competencies for the BSPH cover core concepts and structures of public health, along with university-required proficiencies, writing and math skills, and a non-English language.
Degree Requirements and Competencies
Students must fulfill the Newcomb–Tulane core curriculum requirements and the BSPH degree requirements. Please visit the university catalog for degree program competencies.
Public Health Major Requirements
The Public Health major requires a total of 45 credits, consisting of the public health core (24 credits), a public health capstone (3-7 credits), and electives (18 credits) that complement the student's core knowledge. View the university catalog for the BSPH program requirements.
View the university catalog for descriptions of SPHU courses.
Students are eligible to complete their capstone during their last three semesters as an undergraduate and with a majority of their other program requirements completed. The capstone is a student-driven academic and/or professional experience. Learn more about capstone options here.
Electives Grouped by Public Health Topic
Students can use the SPHU electives to explore a public health area. These cluster examples are not concentrations, but examples of ways to group elective classes based on public health practice areas. They are intended solely as examples to guide your choices. You can use this guide or design your own elective cluster.
Community Health and Behavior:
SPHU 2300 – Introduction to Nutrition
SPHU 3200 – Nutrition and Chronic Disease
SPHU 3360 – Public Health Nutrition: Principles to Practice
SPHU 3500 – Public Health Approaches to Sexual Violence
SPHU 3600 – Women's Reproductive and Obstetric Health
SPHU 4180 – Introduction to Qualitative Methods
SPHU 4220 – Latino Health in the US
SPHU 4300 – Public Health Communication
SPHU 4310 – Nutrition Education & Communication
SOCI 3030 – Introduction to Research Design
SOCI 3040 – Social Statistics
Data Methods and Analytics:
SPHU 4160 – Introduction to Statistical Packages
SPHU 4180 – Introduction to Qualitative Methods
SPHU 4340 – Public Health Genomics
SPHU 4410 – Data & Information Management in Public Health
EENS 3150 – Introduction to GIS
Environmental Health and Safety:
SPHU 2420 – Health Challenges & Climate Change
SPHU 3011 – Introduction to Occupational Safety & Health
SPHU 3100 – Environmental Pollution & Biomarkers of Health
SPHU 3330 – Disasters & Environmental Health
SPHU 4210 – Environmental Risk Assessment
SPHU 4330 – Resilience in International Disasters
EBIO 2240 – Oceans and Human Health
EENS 3150 – Introduction to GIS
HMLS 2750 – Homeland Security Challenge
HMLS 3250 – Emergency Management
Health Management, Leadership, and Policy:
SPHU 2500 – Principles of Professionalism in Healthcare
SPHU 3015 – Public Health Program Implementation and Management
SPHU 4200 – Evidence Based Public Health
SPHU 4260 – Organizational Leadership and Management
ECON 4500 – Health Economics and Policy
Global Health:
SPHU 2400 – Global Health in Action
SPHU 2410 – Health & Women’s Rights
SPHU 2420 – Health Challenges & Climate Change
SPHU 2430 – Pandemics and Public Health
SPHU 3120 – Issues & Strategies in Public Health
SPHU 4330 – Resilience in International Disasters
ANTH 2370 – Anthropology of Global Health
EENS 3150 – Introduction to GIS
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control:
SPHU 2016 – Infectious Disease Outbreaks
SPHU 2050 – Arthropods and Public Health
SPHU 2430 – Pandemics and Public Health
SPHU 3120 – Issues & Strategies in Public Health
SPHU 3560 – Biological Basis of Disease
SPHU 3570 – Introductory Microbiology
SPHU 4160 – Introduction to Statistical Packages
SPHU 4240 – Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections
SPHU 4350 – Zoonotic Infections
Maternal and Child Health:
SPHU 2300 – Introduction to Nutrition
SPHU 2333 – Introduction to Global Maternal and Child Health
SPHU 2410 – Health & Women’s Rights
SPHU 3200 – Nutrition and Chronic Disease
SPHU 3350 – Lifecycle Nutrition
SPHU 3360 – Public Health Nutrition: Principles to Practice
SPHU 3500 – Public Health Approaches to Sexual Violence
SPHU 3600 – Women's Reproductive and Obstetric Health
SPHU 4180 – Introduction to Qualitative Methods
SPHU 4220 – Latino Health in the US
SPHU 4300 – Public Health Communication
SPHU 4310 – Nutrition Education & Communication
AFRS 4800 – Black Women’s Health
ANTH 3725 – Menstruation: Biology and Culture
New Majors: To declare the Public Health Major, complete this Intake form and schedule an appointment with Liz Langlois. These appointments are required to be in-person.
Accreditation
The Tulane BSPH degree is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs.
Tulane University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, doctorate, and professional degrees.
