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Catalog 2024-2025

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Public Health Science

Associate in Science Degree for Transfer

Public Health is a dynamic field that provides career opportunities in a wide variety of settings including federal, state, and local health agencies, community health departments, healthcare organizations, hospitals, allied health providers, HMO’s, research organizations, crisis agencies, educational institutions, and many other areas. The Public Health Science for Transfer degree (AS-T in Public Health Science) is designed to prepare students for related programs at the bachelor's degree level and provides comprehensive preparation for upper-division work in health-related majors. Students will be able to apply a multidimensional approach to health that incorporates the study of social, behavioral, and physiological sciences. Additionally, the degree provides an introduction to various career pathways within this field. Public Health Science includes the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. It bridges the gap between scientific discoveries and the application of research in the community to improve the quality of life. The degree is interdisciplinary in nature and students will gain an understanding of the biopsychosocial basis for health and healthy populations. Public health professionals work to track disease outbreaks, reduce health disparities, advocate for healthcare equity and accessibility, and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. Public health professionals also work to prevent problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research. The Associate in Science in Public Health Science for Transfer degree (AS-T in Public Health Science) is a 60-unit program which provides students the lower division coursework required for transfer to a CSU institution for the major in Health Science, Health Science with Health Education option, Health Science with Public Health option, Health Science with Community Health option, Health Science with Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Health Education, Public Health, Public Health Promotion, Kinesiology with Health Education, Kinesiology with Health Science option, Kinesiology with Health and Wellness Promotion, Kinesiology with Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Collaborative Health and Human Services with Community Health option, and majors in related fields in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree. Students must complete the following requirements: 1. 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units 2. the California State University-General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern. 3. a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district. 4. obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. 5. earn a grade of C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Major Core Requirements (31-32 units)

Course NumberCourse TitleUnits
HSCI008Contemporary Health3 units
HSCI014Concepts of Public Health and Society3 units
Select one:
MATH010
MATH010H

Elementary Statistics
Honors Elementary Statistics

4 units
4 units
BIOL 010 and BIOL 010L must be taken together.
BIOL010
BIOL010L

Introduction to Biology
Introduction to Biology Lab

3 units
1 unit
Select one:
CHEM002
CHEM001A

Introductory Chemistry
General Chemistry

4 units
5 units
PSYC001General Psychology3 units
BIOL047Human Anatomy5 units
BIOL048Human Physiology5 units

Major Electives List A (3-5 units)

Course NumberCourse TitleUnits
BIOL045Microbiology5 units
HSCI010Human Sexuality3 units
NUTR015Human Nutrition3 units

Total Major Units: 34-37 units

CSU transferable electives courses are required when the major units plus transfer GE units total is less than 60.

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

  • Identify, compare, and contrast the factors that contribute to public health disparities.
  • Identify risk factors for disease and disability.
  • Critically evaluate popular and scientific literature and other media for its significance and impact on individual and public health.
  • Apply a multidimensional approach to health that incorporates the study of social, behavioral, and physiological sciences.