Degree Requirements

Satisfactory completion of summer session II and a minimum of three subsequent quarters (fall, winter, spring) of residency and 56 quarter units as described below.

• Core required courses (26 quarter units; see Curriculum)
• Selection of an Area of Emphasis (see Curriculum)
• Elective courses, including at least three from Area of Emphasis (20 quarter units)
• Public Health Practicum (EPP 297, Capstone Experience; 10 quarter units)
• GPA >3.0 for core required courses and for all coursework satisfying the degree requirements combined. All grades satisfying the degree requirements must be C or above (or pass/satisfactory in the case of pass-fail/satisfactory-unsatisfactory courses)

Transfer of Credit

With the consent of the Program Director, some course work taken elsewhere may be credited toward degree requirements. The limit for the transfer of credit is six quarter units from an accredited, non-University of California institution or up to 24 quarter units from a University of California campus. Units accepted in transfer may not have been used to satisfy the requirements for another degree.

Areas of Emphasis

Students select an Area of Emphasis reflecting their professional interests. The Area of Emphasis must be declared by the end of the Fall Quarter. Currently approved Areas of Emphasis include:

• Epidemiology
• Nutrition
• Environmental Health
• Human and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
• Veterinary Public Health
• General Public Health

Students select at least three elective courses within their chosen Area of Emphasis. The General Public Health option represents an individualized Area of Emphasis. Elective coursework for this option is chosen under guidance and approval of the student’s advisor.

Practicum

The practicum aims to provide students with the opportunity to gain experience with a public health project in the real world. The program maintains a list of approved mentors, most of whom are affiliated faculty working for the state or local health departments. Students are encouraged to meet with potential mentors early in the year to identify a public health project. Such projects may involve, for example, working on a specific aspect of an ongoing health department initiative. Laboratory-based or bench-science projects are not appropriate for the practicum. Students develop a written plan for the project, which is approved by their preceptor, or site supervisor. A total of ten academic quarter units are devoted to the project. At least two units toward the requirement is earned in the winter quarter as students plan their practicum.  The remainder are earned in the spring, and, if necessary, subsequent quarters.

Advisors

Incoming students will be assigned a faculty advisor. Students and advisors are required to meet during the Summer II session and quarterly thereafter to review the student’s academic plan and progress. Additional meetings are at the discretion of the student and advisor.