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.
BSPH Degree Competencies
- Describe the history, philosophy, core values, concepts, functions, and population-based approaches of public health.
- Explain the behavioral, environmental, biological, and socio-economic determinants that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
- Apply data collection and analysis to develop evidence-based population approaches to public health problems.
- Discuss and apply cultural competencies and concepts of public health planning, implementation, assessment, and evaluation.
- Describe the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as the systems in other countries.
- Describe the legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory aspects of public health practice and health policy.
- Demonstrate public health communication skills using oral, written, mass media, and electronic technology formats.
Students must fulfill the Newcomb–Tulane core curriculum requirements and the BSPH degree requirements. Students must complete 120 hours total for a bachelor's degree at Tulane.
| Degree Requirements by Credit Hour | ||
|---|---|---|
| Newcomb–Tulane Core | 30 credits (minimum) | Varies by student |
| BSPH Core | 24 credits | All BSPH students take these |
| BSPH Electives | 18 credits | Up to 9 credits from other departments or study abroad |
| BSPH Capstone | 3 or 7 credits | 7 credits for Honors Thesis |
The BSPH Degree requires a total of 45 credits, consisting of the public health core, a public health capstone, and electives that complement the student's core knowledge. View a description of the courses on the university course catalog.
Public Health Basic Core (24 credits)
SPHU 1010 Introduction to Public Health
SPHU 1020 Cell, Individual and Community
SPHU 2150 Foundations of Environmental Health
SPHU 2160 Biostatistics Applications in Public Health
SPHU 3010 Foundations of Health Care Systems
SPHU 3110 Social and Behavioral Perspectives In Public Health
SPHU 3170 Foundations in Epidemiology
SPHU 4010 Formulation of Public Health Policy
Public Health Capstone (3 credits)
SPHU 4540 Capstone Senior Seminar
SPHU 4550 Capstone Independent Study
SPHU 4560 Capstone Internship
SPHU 4580 International Capstone
SPHU 4900, 5000 Honors Thesis
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.
As part of their BSPH Degree, students are required to complete 18 credit hours of electives. Electives provide an opportunity to focus on specialized knowledge that complements core coursework. In recognition of the multi-disciplinary nature of public health, students may consider classes in other academic fields and should consult with academic and major advisors to discuss ways to integrate fields in the liberal arts and sciences into their curriculum.
Students must complete a minimum of 6 classes for a minimum of 18 credit hours in order to complete this requirement.
A minimum of 3 elective courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours must be completed in classes offered by public health faculty (classes with the SPHU prefix).
Public Health Electives:
SPHU 2016 Infectious Disease Outbreaks
SPHU 2050 Arthropods and Public Health
SPHU 2300 Introduction to Nutrition
SPHU 2333 Introduction to Global Maternal and Child 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 2500 Principles of Professionalism in Healthcare
SPHU 3011 Introduction to Occupational Health & Safety
SPHU 3015 Public Health Program Implementation and Management
SPHU 3100 Environmental Pollution & Biomarkers of Health
SPHU 3120 Issues & Strategies in Public Health
SPHU 3200 Nutrition and Chronic Disease
SPHU 3330 Disasters & Environmental Health
SPHU 3350 Lifecycle Nutrition
SPHU 3360 Public Health Nutrition: Principles to Practice
SPHU 3500 Public Health Approaches to Sexual Violence
SPHU 3560 Biological Basis of Disease
SPHU 3570 Introductory Microbiology
SPHU 3600 Women's Reproductive & Obstetric Health
SPHU 4160 Introduction to Statistical Packages
SPHU 4180 Introduction to Qualitative Methods
SPHU 4200 Evidence Based Public Health
SPHU 4210 Health & Environmental Risk Assessment
SPHU 4220 Latino Health in the United States
SPHU 4240 Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections
SPHU 4260 Organizational Leadership & Management
SPHU 4300 Public Health Communication
SPHU 4310 Nutrition Education & Communication
SPHU 4330 Resilience in International Disasters
SPHU 4340 Public Health Genomics
SPHU 4350 Zoonotic Infections, Outbreaks, Emerging and Reemerging Diseases
SPHU 4410 Data & Information Management in Public Health
SPHU 4570 Internship (non–capstone)
SPHU 4910 Independent Study (non–capstone)*
SPHU 4920 Independent Study (non–capstone)*
Any other SPHU class that is not a core class.
Accelerated Master's Degree Program graduate–level courses: SPHL 6050, SPHL 6060, SPHL 6070, SPHL 6080, HPAM 6050, HPAM 6300, HPAM 6200, HPAM 6710.
*Independent study courses provide the opportunity to students to study or explore a topic in greater depth than available in regular courses. The independent study is flexible and may use a wide variety of formats and activities. Student performance is assessed by the achievement of defined objectives usually resulting in a high-quality written paper. Students should seek out a sponsoring faculty mentor and speak to the BSPH program staff to register for credit.
Additional Electives:
AFRS 4800 Black Women's Health
ANTH 2370 Anthropology of Global Health
ANTH 3725 Menstruation: Biology and Culture
COLQ 3601 Adverse Childhood Experiences
EBIO 2240 Oceans and Human Health
ECON 4500 Health Economics and Policy
EENS 3150 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
MATH Any 2000 or higher-level class
SOCI 3030 Introduction to Research Design
SOCI 3040 Social Statistics
SPHU 5380, 5390 Study Abroad credits as approved by faculty or from pre-approved list
SPHU 2940, 3940, 4940 Transfer credit classes
Additional classes above the 2000-level as approved by the student's major advisor.
Selected courses from the School of Professional Advancement (SoPA): HMLS 2750, HMLS 3250. Students must register for the on–campus section. Online sections are not accepted for elective credit.
Electives Grouped by Public Health Topic
Students can use the BSPH 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.
