Apr 10, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

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

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TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of how social, cultural, psychological, and behavioral factors influence individual and community health. This concentration integrates the study of human behavior with health sciences, preparing students to address health concerns across different populations, promote wellness, and contribute to the development of effective health policies and interventions. The flexible curriculum allows students to tailor the coursework to their career goals. This concentration is ideal for those interested in pursuing careers in behavioral health, healthcare administration, social work, mental health, public health, and health education.

This concentration prepares students to work in fields that address the behavioral and social aspects of health, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to efforts aimed at improving the public’s health and promoting well-being in communities.

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:

Health Sciences Required Courses: (65 credit hours)

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Health Sciences B.S. (18-20 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

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 Major Foundational Core Courses: 8 courses; 24 credit hours

HSC 2000 - Introduction to Health Professions Credit(s): 3
HSC 2100 - Contemporary Health Science Credit(s): 3
HSC 4537 - Medical Terminology Credit(s): 3
HSC 4630 - Understanding U.S. Health Care Credit(s): 3
HSC 4631 - Critical Issues in Public Health Credit(s): 3
PHC 4101 - Overview of Public Health Programs and Policies Credit(s): 3
PHC 4755 - Foundations of Evaluation and Research in Public Health Credit(s): 3
PHC 4931 - Health Care Ethics Credit(s): 3

Health Sciences Major (Restricted) Electives: 21 credits

Students must choose one of the following five concentrations:

Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Concentration: 21 credit hours

Concentration Required Core Courses: 1 course; 3 credit hours

HSC 4211 - Health, Behavior and Society Credit(s): 3

Concentration Elective Courses: 6 courses; 18 credit hours

Choose 6 courses from the following list of courses:

COM 4022 - Health Communication Credit(s): 3
OR SPC 3710 - Communication and Cultural Diversity Credit(s): 3
HSC 4172 - Women’s Health: A Public Health Perspective Credit(s): 3
HSC 4579 - Foundations of Maternal and Child Health Credit(s): 3
MHS 4452 - Co-Occurring Disorders Credit(s): 3
MHS 4490 - Behavioral Healthcare Issues for Children Credit(s): 3
PHC 4464 - Introduction to Health Disparities & Social Determ Credit(s): 3
PSB 3444 - Drugs and Behavior Credit(s): 3
REL 3850 - World Religions for Healthcare Professionals Credit(s): 3
SOW 3203 - Introduction to Social Work Credit(s): 3
SYO 4400 - Medical Sociology Credit(s): 3

Additional Information - Health Sciences B.S.

GPA Requirements

A minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on all coursework taken at USF and an overall 2.0 GPA average on all college-level coursework.

Grading Requirements

Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C-” is the minimum acceptable grade.

Residency Requirement

Students in the College of Public Health are expected to complete a minimum of 50% of their major and/or minor coursework in residence at USF.

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 - Advanced Undergraduate Research Experience course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of Student Engagement in Research and Innovation (SERI) is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - Health Sciences B.S.

Physical Address: 3010 USF Banyan Circle CPH 1039, 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

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