Bachelor of Arts Curriculum

Bachelor of Arts Curriculum

Bachelor of Arts - Major Course Requirements

Students should speak with their academic advisor for information on course pre-requisites, course sequencing, and other course information.

Official Public Health Major Curriculum

The College of Public Health Curriculum is divided into the prerequisites, general education courses, and major courses (core courses, emphasis courses, electives). For access to the curriculum guides and recommended four-year plans, please refer to the Curriculum page.

Major Core Courses
Grade of C or higher required

Course Number Title Units
HPS 178 Personal Health and Wellness 3
HPS 200 Introduction to Public Health 3
PHP 210 Diversity, Health, and Well-Being Later in Life 3
PHP 322 Health Education and Ethical Leadership 3
HPS 403 Applications in Health Promotion: Behavioral Theories  3
HPS 404 Fundamentals of Evaluation 3
HPS 405 Biology in Public Health 3
EHS 425 A Public Health Lens to Climate Change 
(Required with the Fall 2025 admit class)
3

Major Requirements
Grade of C or higher required
 

Course Number Title Units

Biostatistics:

  • BIOS 216
  • BIOS 376

 (CHOOSE ONE):

  • Understanding Our Health Through Data (available Spring 2025)
  • Introduction to Biostatistics
3

Communication Skills:

  • COMM 114
  • COMM 117
  • COMM 119
  • COMM 201
  • COMM 209
  • COMM 314
  • GHI 414

 (CHOOSE ONE):

  • Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
  • Culture and Communication
  • Public Speaking
  • Introduction to Public Relations
  • Introduction to Communication Technology
  • Creative Professional Communication
  • Intercultural Communication for Health Sciences
3

Applied Practice Requirements
Complete 6 Units; grades S/P required (must have Advanced Standing to enroll in the below courses):

Course Number Title Units
HPS 394 Practicum 1-3
HPS 394B Introduction to Sleep Health Coaching 3
HPS 497E Public Health for Community Wellness 2
HPS 497F Community and School Garden Workshop 2-6
HPS 497L  Public Health for School and Community Based Childhood Obesity Prevention  2

Complete 3 units; grades S/P required (must have Advanced Standing and have completed at least 3 units of Practicum coursework to enroll):

Course Number       Title                   Units
HPS 394A  Field Work in Public Health  3

Emphasis Courses

  • Select one Emphasis Option
  • Minimum 15 units; 2.0 or higher GPA required

Select any 15 units from the following courses to complete the Aging and Population Health emphasis:
Course Number Title Day Time Location Units
PHP 301 Introduction to Gerontology       3
PHP 305 Public Health in the Digital Age  7W2  Fully Online    3
PHP 312 Health Promotion and Well-being in Later Life  Sec 01: T (7W2)
Sec 101: 7W2
9:30am - 12:30pm
Fully Online
Live Online 3
HPS 412 Public Health Approaches to Mental Health Disorders in the US       3
HDFS 413 Issues in Aging T & TH 11:00am - 12:15pm McClelland Park 103 3
PHP 419 Alzheimer's Disease, Other Dementias and the Role of Public Health       3
PHP 424 Optimizing Well-being and Resilience in Older Adults 15W Fully Online   3
EHS 428 Indigenous research and Ethics T & TH 11:00am - 12:15pm Drachman A119 3
PHP 436 Aging, Environment and Well-being 7W1 Fully Online   3
PHP 437 Management and Leadership in Long-term Care       3
EPID 454A Healthy Aging in Action I       3
EPID 454B Healthy Aging in Action II       3
PHPM 458 Health Care Marketing       3
 

Complete 6 required units (HPS 350 and HPS 481)** and 9 additional units to complete the Health Education emphasis:
Course Number Title Day  Time  Location  Units
HPS 350** Principles of Health Education and Health Promotion** Sec 01: M & W
Sec 101: 7W2 
3:30pm - 4:45pm
Fully Online
 HSIB 531 3
HPS 481** Health Education Intervention Methods**       3
HPS 300 Public Health in the 21st Century Sec 01: M & W
Sec 101: 7W2
10:30am- 11:45am
Fully Online
Drachman A114 3
HPS/GHI 302 Introduction to Program Evaluation in Global Health 7W2 Fully Online   3
PHP 305 Public Health in the Digital Age 7W2 Fully Online   3
HPS 306 Drugs and Society Sec 01: M & W 
Sec 101: 7W2
10:30am - 11:45am
Fully Online
 Drachman A118   3
PHP 308 Community Health Education for Disease Outbreaks 7W1 Fully Online   3
HPS 311 Childhood Obesity T & TH 1:00pm - 2:15pm Drachman A116 3
HPS 330 Human Sexuality W 1:00pm - 3:50pm Drachman A120 3
HPS 400 Contemporary Community Health Problems T & TH 8:00am - 9:15am Drachman A112 3
HPS 412 Public Health Approaches to Mental Health Disorders in the US       3
HPS 449 Family Violence M 1:00pm - 3:50pm Drachman A120 3
PHPM 458 Health Care Marketing       3
HPS 488 Adolescent Health       3

​Select any 15 units from the following courses to complete the Health and Wellness emphasis:
Course Number Title Day Time Location Units
PHP 308 Community Health Education for Disease Outbreaks 7W1 Fully Online   3
HPS 311 Childhood Obesity T & TH 1:00pm - 2:15pm Drachman A116 3
NSC 312 Weight Stigma, Nutrition & Health       3
NSC 320 Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Promotion Sec 01: T
Sec 102: 7W2
9:30am - 10:45am
Fully Online
Psych 306
  
3
GHI 325 Dietary Assessment in Public Health Practice       3
NSC 332 Health Coaching       3
CPH 402 Climate and Health       3
HPS 402 Corporate Wellness       3
HPS 412 Public Health Approaches to Mental Health Disorders in the US       3
HPS 416 The World’s Food and Health W 4:00pm - 6:50pm (Hybrid) Drachman A122 3
PHP 424 Optimizing Well-being and Resilience in Older Adults 15W Fully Online   3
HPS/PHPM 425 Latino Health Disparities       3
PHPM 458 Health Care Marketing       3
HPS 478 Public Health Nutrition T & TH 2:30pm- 3:45pm HSIB 531  
HPS 488 Adolescent Health       3

Upper Division Electives and Additional Requirements

Additional Curriculum Information & Requirements

  • General Electives may be required in order to reach the 120 units necessary to graduate from the University of Arizona with your Bachelor of Arts Degree. 
    • Pursuing a minor is often recommended

A minor will be required for all students admitted Fall 2025 and later. Prior to this a minor is encouraged to help students to reach the required 120 units for graduation. Students are able to choose from any minor across campus, as well as the following Public Health Minors:

  • Addiction and Substance Use 
  • Climate Change and Public Health
  • Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Global Health
  • One Health
  • Public Health (HPS 178 & 200 are the required courses to double dip)
  • Population Health Data Science (BIOS 376 is required to double dip)

Note: BA students can double dip up to 6 units of their major curriculum with their PH minor.