5.0 BSPH degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree is comprised of:

  • General Education courses
  • Prerequisite courses (which can overlap with GE courses)
  • Major core courses (same for all specializations)
  • Specialization courses
  • Capstone experience
  • Open electives

General Education requirements (GE)

Ohio State’s General Education (GE) program helps students to develop and refine qualities, abilities and characteristics that prepare them to be engaged, resilient and adaptable citizens and leaders for life. The GE empowers students to take control of their unique and intentional academic experience, allowing them to choose courses that not only serve their interests but also support their future ambitions. Approximately one-third of the minimum required credit hours for the BSPH degree come from GE courses.

The GE curriculum consists of three components: bookends, foundations and themes. Students are free to choose any courses they want within each component. However, students should work with their advisor to optimize GE course selection to take advantage of permitted overlap between GE coursework and BSPH degree requirements (including prerequisite courses and major coursework).

View a complete description of the GE program

Find courses that fulfill General Education requirements

Students that have transferred to Ohio State from another institution, can often fulfill part of the foundational GE requirements with approximately equivalent courses already taken. Transfer course work will be reviewed by the university and courses that meet the spirit of the GE will be applied.

Students must earn at least a D in a course for it to fulfill a GE requirement. Courses taken on a pass/non-pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis cannot be used to fulfill GE requirements.

Major prerequisite courses can be used to meet both the major prerequisite and GE foundations requirements.

Major core courses

All students pursuing a BSPH are required to complete a core set of courses that are common to both specializations. These courses provide foundational public health knowledge and prepare students for upper division major coursework and specialization courses. The complete list of major core courses are listed in the curriculum guides.

Specialization courses

In addition to major core courses, students are required to complete an additional set of courses unique to their specialization (environmental public health or public health sociology). Some of these courses are offered by the college and some are offered by other colleges (e.g., College of Arts and Sciences). The complete list of specialization courses are listed in the curriculum guides.

Capstone requirement

The goal of the capstone experience is to provide BSPH students the opportunity to apply public health principles outside of a typical classroom setting and build on public health coursework. Earning credit for the capstone requirement is limited to the student’s last three semesters before completing their degree requirements. This allows the student to integrate more classroom learning during the capstone experience. Students are responsible for paying any fees, such as cost for background check, associated with the internship or practicum.

Successful completion of the BSPH capstone experience requires receiving a passing grade in two courses:

  • PUBHLTH 3180/3180E: Undergraduate Capstone Preparation (1 credit hour)
  • Capstone experience course – choose one of:
    • PUBHLTH 3191/3191E Undergraduate Internship in Public Health (2 credit hours)
    • PUBHLTH 3999 Undergraduate Capstone Research in Public Health (2 credit hours)
    • PUBHLTH 4999 Undergraduate Research Thesis (2 credit hours minimum)
    • PUBHLTH 4999.01H Senior Honors Thesis (2 credit hours minimum)
    • PUBHLTH 3189.05 Field Experience in Global Public Health: Costa Rica (2 credit hours)
    • EARTHSC 5797.20 Exploring Environmental and Human Health Issues in Japan (3 credits hours)
    • Other pre-approved (by CPH) Education Abroad Experience

Course descriptions

PUBHLTH 3180/PUBHLTH 3180E (capstone prep)

This course prepares BSPH students for their capstone experience. Students will learn the critical elements of public health practice and research as well as professional development skills to prepare them for the workplace and equip them with the tools needed to apply for graduate school. This course must be successfully completed prior to the capstone experience.

PUBHLTH 3191 (internship)

The internship experience exposes students to public health work related settings. Students in this course will have an opportunity to put into practice in a work environment what they have learned from major courses completed and from other out-of-classroom experiences.

An instructor will supervise students participating in the internship course. This instructor is responsible for course instruction and coordinating internship experiences for the period of time covered by the internship, as well as ensuring that internship objectives are met. The site supervisor is the person assigned by the cooperating organization (e.g., schools, agencies, etc.) that will be on site during the internship. The site supervisor will complete an evaluation of the intern’s performance by completing a survey sent by the instructor or course coordinator.

PUBHLTH 3999 (undergraduate research experience)

This capstone option allows BSPH students to actively participate in a public health research project applying concepts covered in major courses. This course is for non-honors students who are completing a research experience without a thesis expectation.

PUBHLTH 4999 (undergraduate research thesis)

This capstone option allows non-honors BSPH students to conduct research, culminating in a research thesis.

PUBHLTH 4999.01H (senior honors thesis)

This capstone option allows Honors BSPH students to conduct research, culminating in a research thesis.

EARTHSCI 5797.20, PUBHLTH 3189.05 or other pre-approved education abroad course

Education abroad courses expose students to public health settings in other countries. This may include universities, health departments, clinics, hospitals or health centers. Students will have an opportunity to put into practice what they have learned from major courses they have taken.

Repeating the capstone experience

If a student does not pass their capstone experience course, they may attempt one (1) additional capstone experience course. The student must complete a capstone petition which includes a written plan that describes the following:

  • Actions to be taken by the student to remediate behaviors that led to a failing grade
  • An approved capstone placement
  • Additional agreed upon meeting times with an advisor throughout the capstone experience

Students approved to repeat their capstone experience should realize that the original unsatisfactory grade will remain on their transcript.

Policies and general requirements for the BSPH degree

  • The number of hours required to complete the BSPH degree is 121 for both specializations.
  • Remedial courses (courses at the 10XX level or below, and English 1109) and credit hours earned in repeated course work do not count toward the minimum credit requirement for the BSPH degree.
  • Students can take both “versions” of cross-listed courses (e.g., Comparative Studies 2214/Sexuality Studies 2214); however, since the two versions are the same course, only one may count toward the minimum degree hours.
  • A minimum of 30 credit hours must be earned through regular course enrollment at Ohio State.
  • A maximum of eight hours of technical credit may be counted toward the BSPH degree requirements.
  • A maximum of four credit hours of physical activity courses (all 1100-level KNSFHP courses except for 1102, 1103, 1122, and 1137) may be counted towards the BSPH degree.
  • Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for all course work attempted.
  • A minimum grade of C- or higher is required for all major courses.
  • Specific curricular requirements for the BSPH degree are listed on the curriculum guides. The program requirements a student will follow are determined by their admit term (first term of undergraduate enrollment at Ohio State).
  • Students may need to plan a program of more than the minimum number of credit hours if they wish to complete specific professional training, are preparing for graduate study in certain discipline, or have multidisciplinary goals.

Overlap between GE, major and minor courses

  • Prerequisite or supporting courses that are approved to fulfill a GE Foundations category may be used to meet both the major prerequisite and GE Foundations requirements.
  • Students can overlap one class in each of the two Themes areas with major requirements or major-appropriate electives.
  • No more than six GE credit hours (Foundations or Themes, combined) can overlap with a minor.
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