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Courses - Fall 2025
PHSC
Public Health Science
PHSC201
The Pursuit of Career Success in Public Health Science
Credits: 1
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Public Health Science program.
Credit only granted for: PHSC388D or PHSC201.
Formerly: PHSC388D.
Explore the dynamic connection between experiential learning and career readiness in the field of public health by engaging with insightful podcasts that bring real-world perspectives to the forefront. Through active learning, you will evaluate your skill set, reflect on your experiences, analyze industry trends, and uncover best practices essential for success in the public health workforce. This course is designed to help you bridge the gap between your current abilities and your career aspirations. By strategically planning your curricular and co-curricular engagement, you'll develop a roadmap tailored to your unique goals. This personalized action plan will empower you to navigate your career path moving fearlessly forward.
PHSC300
Foundations of Public Health
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F
Restriction: Must be a major within the School of Public Health.
Credit only granted for: SPHL100 or PHSC300.
An overview of the goals, functions, and methods of public health. After an introduction to the core concepts and tools used in public health research and practice, applications of these methodologies are considered in the context of current controversies/problems in public health. Students work together to develop strategies for prevention and control that take into consideration different points of view, outside research, and impacts on individuals and communities.
PHSC389
(Perm Req)
Independent Research Study in Public Health Science
Credits: 1 - 6
Grad Meth: Reg
PHSC399
(Perm Req)
Public Health Science Internship
Credits: 1 - 6
Grad Meth: Reg
PHSC412
Food, Policy, and Public Health
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg
Prerequisite: Must have completed HLSA300 with a C- or higher.
Recommended: NFSC100.
Restriction: Must be in Public Health Science program; and junior standing or higher.
Credit only granted for: PHSC412 or SPHL412.
Formerly: SPHL412.
Broad overview of the impact of food and food policy on public health. Course covers topics such as access to food, food systems, influence of food policies on the individual, the cost of food, influences on food selection, food safety risks and responses, nutrition-related health challenges, and a comparison of US food/nutrition issues with those of other nations.
PHSC415
Essentials of Public Health Biology: The Cell, The Individual, and Disease
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C- in BSCI202.
Recommended: BSCI223.
Restriction: Must be in Public Health Science program; and junior standing or higher.
Credit only granted for: PHSC415, SPHL415 or SPHL498J.
Formerly: SPHL415 and SPHL498J.
Presents the basic scientific and biomedical concepts of modern public health problems and explores in depth mechanisms and models of the major categories of disease. The biologic principles presented are foundations to public health disease prevention, control, or management programs.
PHSC420
Vaccines and Immunology
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C- in BSCI202.
Recommended: CHEM231.
Restriction: Must have earned a minimum of 60 credits. And must be in Public Health Science program; or permission of instructor.
An exploration of immunology and vaccines through a public health lens. We will examine the cells, systems, and molecules that comprise the human immune system and defend your body against disease. In addition, we will discuss the strategies used during vaccine development including the history and future of vaccination and how increased understanding of the immune system has allowed scientists to improve and refine the process. Finally we will examine the current social and political situation surrounding vaccination and the roles and responsibility of public health practitioners.
PHSC450
Addressing Social and Structural Inequities Through Public Health
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DVUP
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C- in MIEH300; and 1 course with a minimum grade of C- from either SPHL100 or PHSC300.
A focus on addressing social and structural inequities within race, gender, disability, and class through various perspectives in the field of public health. Students explore the causes, challenges, consequences, and extent these injustices have on health disparities from local, national, and global perspectives. Students view these inequities through the lens of the affected populations, and work interactively and collaboratively to interpret, design, and evaluate public health interventions and approaches to address key health disparities within specific communities. The aim of this course is to help students define appropriate research and address structural inequities with innovative approaches through the professional practice of public health.
Restricted to College Park students in the Public Health Science major (12140).
PHSC497
Public Health Science Capstone
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg
GenEd: DSSP
Prerequisite: Must have completed the professional writing requirement with a C- or higher; and minimum grade of C- in PHSC450.
Restriction: Must have earned a minimum of 100 credits; and must be in Public Health Science program; and must be in the final semester of undergraduate study.
Credit only granted for: SPHL498F or PHSC497.
Formerly: SPHL498F.
The capstone course is the culminating experience for Public Health Science students and must be taken only in the final semester of study. The Public Health Science capstone course is designed to challenge students to integrate the five core areas of public health in investigating, researching and addressing public health issues. Throughout the semester, students will be required to evaluate, analyze and synthesize scholarly works as they research and propose solutions to a variety of public health issues. By the conclusion of this research based course, students will understand how the various public health perspectives can combine in addressing and informing public health practices.