Department of Population and Public Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science programs

Explore Our Programs

Overview

The Department offers two undergraduate majors: Global Health and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. These are ideal majors for students interested in medicine, public health, pharmacy, dentistry, international relations, epidemiology, health psychology and health behavior research.

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A Day in the Life at USC

Curious what a day in the life of a global health major looks like? Watch to find out.

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Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science degree is awarded after students successfully complete 128 units, consisting of 66 units for the major and fulfillment of USC general education requirements including third-semester equivalency in a foreign language.

  • The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. It requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. For more information about USC’s general education requirements, see General Education.

  • Each major requires 66 units of core courses and electives. Visit the course catalogue to see course details:

    Bachelor of Science in Global Health

    Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Minors offered by the Department

Visit the course catalogue for more minors

Addiction Science

Cinema-Television for the Health Professions

Cultural Competence in Medicine

Environmental Health

Global Health

Health Communication

Nutrition and Health Promotion

Public Health

Substance Abuse Prevention

Spotlight on Alumni

Get involved and find a mentor! There are so many organizations/clubs on campus that connect people with similar interests and that can help connect you with mentors for your desired career path. My mentor from undergrad was the faculty advisor for the pre-physical therapy club I helped start and he is still mentoring me to this day!

Grace Boyd, BS ’16, DPT
Physical Therapist Boyd returned to USC as graduation ceremony speaker in 2022.
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Always walk with purpose, like you’re going somewhere, but don’t act like you own the place.

Diana Cholakian Pearre, BS ’09, MD
Gynecologic Oncologist After graduating, Cholakian Pearre went on to medical school and a residency in gynecology and obstetrics. She completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology in 2021 and is now a gynecologic oncologist at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.
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Do not undervalue yourself, including your abilities, potential, and worthiness for self-love. Compassion for others begins with compassion for ourselves.

Heidi Marie Banh, BS ’17, MS
Medical Student With a BS in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and minors in Applied Theatre Arts and Natural Science, Banh went on to graduate from the MS in Global Medicine program at USC and become a medical student.
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It is good to have a plan, but stay open minded since some of the best opportunities will be ones you never expect. For example, I always assumed that clinical dentistry was the only option, but I am able to apply my public health background through research, teaching, and patient care.

David Avenetti, BS ’06, DDS, MS, MPH
Residency Program Director and Associate Professor (tenure track) Avenetti went on to earn degrees in dentistry and public health. He now directs the residency program in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the College of Dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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    Undergraduate Research

    Students benefit from USC’s capacity as a premier research institution by collaborating with professors who are preeminent experts in their fields.

    Students have presented both collaborative and independent research at USC’s Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, national and international conferences. With the mentorship of faculty, students have also been published in academic journals as authors or co-authors of papers by the time they graduate.

    Research areas have included:

    • Cancer prevention and treatment
    • Maternal and child health
    • Nutrition
    • Diabetes
    • Obesity
    • HIV/AIDS
    • Environmental health
    • Global epidemiologic research
    • Health, emotion, and addiction
    • Substance abuse cessation and prevention
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    Progressive Degrees

    USC’s Progressive Degree Program enables superior undergraduates to begin work on a master’s degree while completing requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

    Progressive Degrees in the Department
    Progressive Degree Program Information

    Program Director

    Our students are passionate about health and well-being in the U.S. and around the world, and are truly the next generation of leaders in public health.

    Heather Wipfli, PhD
    Director, Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
    Director, Bachelor of Science in Global Health
    Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences and International Relations
    Email: hwipfli@usc.edu
    View faculty profile
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    Faculty

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    Dean’s List

    USC Health Promotion and Global Health Programs, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences

    Congratulations to all students who were named to the Keck School of Medicine of USC undergraduate Dean’s List. The Keck School of Medicine of USC recognizes undergraduate students who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 on 12 units or more of letter-graded course work during the previous semester by including their names on the Dean’s List.

    Spring 2023 Dean’s List

    Fall 2023 Dean’s List

    Spring 2022 Dean’s List

    Fall 2022 Dean’s List

    Fall 2021 Dean’s List

    Contact Us

    Health Promotion and Global Health Program Office

    213.740.1060

    bhealthy@usc.edu

    Contact Us

    Angela Turk

    Program Manager

    Dinh Nguyen

    Student Services Advisor

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    News

    smiling female graduate
    Campus News

    Meet Mika Ishii: 2024 Undergraduate Student Speaker and Global Health Graduate

    May 13, 2024
    USC graduate giving Fight On sign
    Campus News

    Staff Spotlight: Meet Dinh Nguyen, our undergraduate student advisor

    Campus News

    Youth Ambassador Program: Community-led Research in Uganda

    Campus News

    The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences releases its first annual report

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