Once accepted for admission into the program will have a hybrid-delivery format.

Admission requirements:

Admission to BSPH: Admission into the university follows all university guidelines and processes and may be done online. Students will be admitted into the pre-public health program and will be fully admitted into the  program in their junior year; criteria to be considered for admission into the BSPH program include: [1] students must be fully admitted by TAMIU and must be declared a BSPH major, [2] completed the University Core Curriculum and all BSPH foundational coursework requirements, and [3] have a minimum cumulative 2.50 GPA (on a 0.0 - 4.0 scale).

Additional Requirements for BSPH prior to program admission at student expense are:

1. Completion of a criminal background check at student’s expense within 30 days of application and again prior to PHLT 4415 and PHLT 4416.
2. Provide proof of CPR certification prior to PHLT 4415 and PHLT 4416 at student expense.
3. The program requires that students have learning experiences with public/private agencies in the community. Prior to agency placement, based on the individual agency requirements and at student expense, students may be required to meet further agency requirements related to health requirements, background checks, and orientation.

Applications for admittance into the program is twice a year (spring and fall); the deadline for spring will be the first Tuesday in November and for fall the first Tuesday of May.

Program Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program, which is rooted in the larger University mission, is to educate students from diverse disciplines and backgrounds in core public health knowledge areas so that they are equipped to help prevent disease and promote physical and mental health and social well-being through public health practice, leadership, and research.

Program Learning Outcomes

TAMIU’s BSPH will graduate students who will be knowledgeable and will be able to explain and apply an understanding of:  

1. Foundations, history, and profession of public health and public health systems [Core Competencies (CC) 5,6].
2. Knowledge synthesized from sciences, mathematics, social sciences, humanities and other disciplines to develop a framework of culturally appropriate knowledge and practice relating to individual and population health [CC 2,3,5,6].
3. Utilization of critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and the research process to identify and address public health issues/problems in a variety of settings [CC 1, 2, 6, 7].
4. Personal and social responsibility required to promote, advocate, and collaborate with others to meet the public health needs of individuals and communities [CC 4,5,8].
5. Effective oral, written, media, and online communication strategies/skills to educate and influence various community health stakeholders and public health policy [CC 3,4].
6. Epidemiology as part of a multidisciplinary approach in understanding disease causation and prevention in populations/communities [CC 1, 2, 6].
7. Systems thinking, organizational management, and leadership in public health [CC 2, 4, 7, 8]

Grading Criteria

The program will adhere to the university grading criteria. Please see below:

A             90-100
B             80-89
C             70-79
D             60-69
F              Below 60, failure

HOURS REQUIRED

120 semester credit hours (SCH): 45 hours must be advanced, with fulfillment of degree requirements as specified in the "Requirements for Graduation" section of this catalog and the General Requirements for Undergraduate degrees at the beginning of this section.

*For the Life and Physical Sciences Core Component, students must choose from either BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2101 and BIOL 2302 and BIOL 2102 or BIOL 1306 and BIOL 1106 and BIOL 1311 and BIOL 1111. 

Following is a suggested four-year degree plan. Students are encouraged to see their advisor each semester for help with program decisions and enrollment; responsible for reviewing the Program of Study Requirements, meeting all course prerequisites, and writing intensive course (WIN) requirements for graduation. See Academic Regulations-Undergraduate online.

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For the Life and Physical Sciences Core Component, students must choose from either BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2101 and BIOL 2302 and BIOL 2102 or BIOL 1306 and BIOL 1106 and BIOL 1311 and BIOL 1111. 

Once accepted, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program will be delivered in a hybrid format.

Actual degree plans may vary depending on the availability of courses in a given semester.

Some courses may require prerequisites not listed.