Health Sciences B.S., with Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Aging Health Studies Concentration

University Admissions - College of Public Health

Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

• Freshman: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admission-information/requirements-deadlines.aspx
• Transfer: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/transfer/admission-information/index.aspx
• International: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/international/admission-information/index.aspx

Graduation Requirements - Health Sciences B.S.

All students earning a B.S. in Health Sciences must complete the following course prior to graduation: 

• PHC 4101 - Overview of Public Health Programs and Policies  

This course can be taken as one of the Concentration Elective options if students choose.

Health Sciences Required Courses: (65 credit hours)

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Health Sciences B.S. (23 credit hours)

Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program. 

Transfer students should complete the State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Successful completion of the common prerequisites alone does not guarantee a student admission into the degree program. 

• BSC X005 OR (BSC X010 AND BSC X010L) OR (BSC X007C OR BSC X005L) – 3-4 credit hours
• MAC X105 College Algebra – 3 credit hours
• PSY X012 Introduction to Psychological Science– 3 credit hours
• STA X023 OR STA X014 - 3 credit hours
• DEP X053 OR DEP X004 OR DEP X000 OR CLP X140 – 3 credit hours
• APK X105C OR (BSC X085 AND BSC X085L) OR BSC X093 OR BSC X094 – 3-4 credit hours
• ENC X210 OR ENC X254 – 3 credit hours

State Mathematics Pathway – Health Sciences B.S. (6 Credit Hours)*

The Health Sciences B.S. uses the Statistical Reasoning Mathematics Pathway with the following requirements:

• STA 2023 - Introductory Statistics I Credit(s): 3 **
• MAC 1105 - College Algebra Credit(s): 3

•  

  * Mathematics Pathway courses count towards the State Common Prerequisite math courses and are not additional credits.
  ** STA X023 or STA X014 courses taken for state common prerequisites can meet this statistics requirement.

Health Sciences Required Courses (12 credit hours)

Health Sciences Major (Restricted) Electives: 30 credits

Students complete the general Health Sciences program of study and one of the following five concentrations:

• Aging Health Studies  
• Biological Health Sciences   
• Health Information Technology   
• Health Care Administration  
• Nutrition Science  
• Social and Behavioral Health Sciences  

Students choose 30 credit hours in one (1) concentration or 15 credit hours each in two (2) concentrations. Nutrition Science cannot be combined with a second concentration.

Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Aging Health Studies Concentration: (30 credit hours)

Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Concentration: 5 courses; 15 credit hours

Students choose fifteen (15) credit hours from the following list of courses.

• CLP 4143 - Abnormal Psychology Credit(s): 3
• COM 4020 - Communicating Illness, Grief, and Loss Credit(s): 3
• COM 4021 - Family Communication and the End of Life Credit(s): 3
• COM 4022 - Health Communication Credit(s): 3
• COM 4702 - Communication, Language, and Mental Illness Credit(s): 3
• HIM 4658 - Management of Health Information Systems Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4172 - Women’s Health: A Public Health Perspective Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4211 - Health, Behavior and Society Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4579 - Foundations of Maternal and Child Health Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4631 - Critical Issues in Public Health Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4933 - Special Topics in Public Health Credit(s): 1-3
• LIS 4776 - Health Information Technology Credit(s): 3
• LIS 4930 - Selected Topics in Information Studies Credit(s): 3
• MHS 4022 - Adult Psychopathology in the Community Credit(s): 3
• MHS 4452 - Co-Occurring Disorders Credit(s): 3
• MHS 4490 - Behavioral Healthcare Issues for Children Credit(s): 3
• PAD 4930 - Selected Topics in Public Administration and Public Policy Credit(s): 3
• PHI 4930 - Selected Topics Credit(s): 1-3
• SOW 3102 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II Credit(s): 3
• SOW 3203 - Introduction to Social Work Credit(s): 3
• SOW 3210 - The American Social Welfare System Credit(s): 3
• SPC 4930 - Selected Topics Credit(s): 1-3
• SYO 4400 - Medical Sociology Credit(s): 3
• WST 4320 - Politics and Issues in Women’s Health Credit(s): 3

Aging Health Studies Concentration: 5 courses; 15 credit hours

Students choose fifteen (15) credit hours from the following list of courses.

• BSC 3022 - Biology of Aging Credit(s): 3
• GEY 3601 - Physical Changes and Aging Credit(s): 3
• GEY 4322 - Care Management for Older Adults Credit(s): 3
• GEY 4360 - Counseling for Older Adults Credit(s): 3
• GEY 4507 - Understanding Policies and Practices of the Health Care System Credit(s): 3
• GEY 4608 - Alzheimer’s Disease Management Credit(s): 3
• GEY 4628 - Health, Ethnicity, and Aging Credit(s): 3
• GEY 4641 - Death and Dying Credit(s): 3
• GEY 4935 - Special Topics in Gerontology Credit(s): 3
• HIM 4658 - Management of Health Information Systems Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4211 - Health, Behavior and Society Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4630 - Understanding U.S. Health Care Credit(s): 3
• HSC 4851 - Health Sciences Internship Credit(s): 3
• LIS 4930 - Selected Topics in Information Studies Credit(s): 3
• MHS 4931 - Selected Topics Credit(s): 1-3
• PAD 4930 - Selected Topics in Public Administration and Public Policy Credit(s): 3
• PHC 4931 - Health Care Ethics Credit(s): 3
• SOW 3210 - The American Social Welfare System Credit(s): 3
• SPA 3002 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders Credit(s): 3
• SPA 4257 - Adult Communication Disorders Credit(s): 3

Additional Information - Health Sciences B.S.

Research Opportunities - Health Sciences B.S.

A maximum of 4 credits of Undergraduate Research  IDS 4910 - Community Research  may be applied to the major with a maximum of 1 credit taken per semester.

Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914 course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research (HIPUR) is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - Health Sciences B.S.

Physical Address: The WELL – USF Health Shared Student Services (MDA), 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612
Phone: (813) 974-4633
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Web Address: https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/advising 
Contact Email: UG-COPHAdvise@usf.edu
Declaration of Major: https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/declaration

Plans of Study - Health Sciences B.S., with Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Aging Health Studies Concentration

• Health Sciences B.S., with Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Aging Health Studies Concentration - 2 Year Plan of Study 
• Health Sciences B.S., with Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Aging Health Studies Concentration - 4 Year Plan of Study (Fall Start)