Individualized Studies at the University of Washington - College of Arts and Sciences
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Degree Requirements

In addition to the major requirements (below), students must also complete the General Education Requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences, including foreign language through 103 or equivalent. Total credits for the Public Health major: 69-91.

The degree information below is also available as a handout. You can also download the degree requirements that were in effect if you declared the major prior to Autumn 2007 or if you declared the major between Autumn 2007 and Winter 2008.

A. Public Health Core Courses (16 credits)

All of the following:

  • HSERV 480 (3): Issues in Public Health [AUT]
  • GEOG 280 (5): Introduction to the Geography of Health and Health Care [WIN]
  • ENV H 311 (3): Introduction to Environmental Health [AUT, SPR]
  • EPI 420 (3): Introduction to Epidemiology [SPR]
  • G H 201 (2) (formerly PABIO 201): Newly Emerging Diseases in Public Health [AUT]

B. Statistics Course (3-5 credits)

Choose one of the following:

  • STAT 220 (5): Basic Statistics
  • STAT 311 (5): Elements of Statistical Methods
  • Q SCI 381 (5): Introduction to Probability and Statistics
  • QMETH 201 (4): Introduction to Statistical Methods
  • EDPSY 490 (3): Basic Educational Statistics

C. Social Science Courses (20 credits)

One 5-credit course from each department, 200-level and above recommended:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Geography
  • Anthropology

D. Related Courses (15 credits)

Choose from the approved list below. Any course not on the list must be approved by Public Health faculty; use the Public Health Course Substitution Approval Form.

For the list of courses being offered in the next quarter, visit Course Offerings.

  • ANTH 308 (5): Anthropology of Women's Health and Reproduction
  • ANTH 375 (3): Comparative Systems of Healing
  • ANTH 473 (5): Anthropology of Science and Technology
  • ANTH 474 (5): Social Difference and Medical Knowledge
  • ANTH/HSERV 475 (5): Perspectives in Medical Anthropology
  • ANTH 476 (5): Culture, Medicine, and the Body
  • ANTH 477 (3): Medicine in America: Conflicts and Contradictions
  • ANTH 487 (5): Cultures and Politics of Environmental Justice
  • B H 401 (3): History of Modern Medicine
  • B H 411 (3): Introduction to Bioethics
  • B H 417 (3): Disease in History
  • B H 440 (5): Philosophy of Medicine
  • B H 474 (5): Justice in Health Care
  • B H 481 (3): The Pursuit of Health in American Society
  • BIO A 450 (5): Biodemography Seminar
  • BIO A 482 (5): Human Population Genetics
  • CHID 332 (5): Disability and Society: Introduction to Disability Studies
  • ECON 301 (5): Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • ENV H 451 (3): Ecology of Environmentally Transmitted Microbiological Hazards
  • ENV H 472 (3): Environmental Risk and Society
  • ENVIR 379 (5): Environmental Sociology
  • GEOG 335 (5): Geography of the Developing World
  • GEOG 370 (5): Problems in Resource Management
  • GEOG 371 (5): World Hunger and Resource Development
  • GEOG 380 (4): Geographical Patterns of Health and Disease
  • GEOG 430 (5): Contemporary Development Issues in Latin America
  • GEOG 480 (5): Environmental Geography, Climate, and Health
  • G H 401 (1): Introduction to Global Health
  • G H 402 (1): Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Global Health
  • G H 415 (4): Global Health Challenges
  • HIST 311 (5): Science in Civilization: Antiquity to 1600
  • HSERV 481 (3): Issues in Public Health
  • HSERV 482 (2): The Health of Populations
  • HSERV 490 (1-6, max. 12): Undergraduate Special Topics
  • HSERV 499 (1-12, max. 12): Independent Study in Health Services
  • HSERV 531 (4): Problems in International Health
  • HSERV 536 (3-, max. 3): Emerging Infections of International Public Health Importance
  • NURS 407 (3): Culture, Diversity, and Nursing Practice
  • NUTR 300 (3): Nutrition for Today
  • NUTR 405 (3): Phys Activity in Health and Disease
  • PHARM 301 (2): Self-Care Products and Practices
  • PHIL 338 (5): Philosophy of Human Rights
  • PHIL/MHE 459 (5): Philosophy of Medicine
  • PSYCH 303 (5): Personality
  • PSYCH 322 (3): Introduction to Drugs and Behavior
  • PSYCH 345 (5): Social Psychology
  • PSYCH 380 (4): Cross-Cultural Competence
  • PSYCH 451 (5): Health Psychology
  • SIS 470 (5): Human Rights in Latin America
  • SOC 316 (5): Introduction to Sociological Theory
  • SOC 330 (5): Human Ecology
  • SOC 331 (5): Population and Society
  • SOC 356 (5): Society and Politics
  • SOC 360 (5): Introduction to Social Stratification
  • SOC 364 (5): Women in the Social Structure
  • SOC 379 (5): Environmental Sociology
  • UCONJ 440 (3): Biological Aspects of Aging
  • UCONJ 490 (3): Social Sensitivity in Health Care
  • UCONJ 497 (3): Health Care in a Rural Community

E. Degree Option (10-30 credits)

Choose one of the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts: (10 cr.) 5 credits of chemistry (CHEM 120, 142, or 145 or equivalent) AND 5 credits of biology (BIOL 118, 161, 162, 180, 200, 220, or MICROM 301/302 or equivalent).
  • Bachelor of Science: 30 credits from related natural sciences (e.g., CHEM, BIOL, PHYS, MICROM, B STR, NUTR, NBIO, BIOC) including at least one CHEM and one BIOL/MICROM course.

F. INDIV 493: Senior Study (5 credits):

A final independent study project/paper on a topic of interest to you within the field of public health. This represents the culmination of your studies in public health. (This course will also count as 5 credits toward your "Additional Writing" requirement.)