General FAQs

FAQ (subject to change)

  • What is the GPA requirement to be a Public Health major?
    • 3.0 GPA minimum
  • How do I apply/change to a Public Health major?
    • Email the office healthscience-group@sjsu.edu that you want to be added to the listserv of mass department emails, including when the applications to apply open (near the end of the semester). Application will be posted on the Public Health website as well.
  • My GPA is lower than a 3.0, can I still apply? What other options do I have if I don’t get into the major?
    • Yes you can still apply.
    • If not accepted, consider minoring Public Health or apply to be a Recreation major that share similar aspects to Public Health.
  • How many units should I take per semester?
    • 15 units to graduate on time (4 years) but can be overwhelming depending on the courses, although doable.
    • 12 units is the minimum to be considered a full-time student and is a much more comfortable pace of assignments, although can delay an extra semester to graduate.
    • Students should consider about what’s best for them, especially if actively involved in campus organizations or work.
  • How can I take more GE (General Education) courses so I can graduate on time?
    • Since GE’s are lower-division courses they can be taken during the Summer and Winter intersession, either at SJSU or at a community college, as long as they are articulated to SJSU to ensure credit transfer and prevention of repeating the same/similar course in the future.  
  • Can I take my Public Health major core courses at a community college?
    • Only “Prep Courses” except for 25, 74, and BUS 20N (for admin concentration only) can be taken at a community college and transferred to SJSU for credit because these courses are lower-division, not upper.
    • If a student has taken a very similar course to either 25 or 74, petition will be allowed but not guaranteed for credit transfer and students are recommended to see a faculty advisor in this case.
  • Can I take any upper-division courses or Public Health major core courses in the Summer or Winter?
    • Community colleges do NOT offer upper-division courses.
    • Major courses are not offered in the Summer or Winter except for Area S (but not guaranteed).
    • Upper-division electives including SJSU Studies are normally offered at SJSU in the Summer and Winter but be aware that courses can be limited.
  • Do Areas R and V both count towards under the 21 units minor/upper electives requirement?
    • Yes, both areas R and V count towards the 15-21 units minor/upper electives requirement.
    • Areas S and Z do NOT count because that would be considered “double-dipping’ credits in the curriculum.
  • If I took a similar class to any of the prep or major core courses at a community college or at a different university, can it be taken as credit even if it doesn’t articulate to SJSU?
    • If a class from a different school does not articulate with SJSU then students should talk to a faculty advisor to see if the class is similar enough for a substitution form to be filled out and approved.
  • Can I switch from Public Health with Admin Concentration to general Public Health (or vice versa)?  
    • Yes, you can! Please see a faculty advisor for this.

Course-Specific

  • Which courses can I take at a community college for the major?
    • HS 1
    • HS 15
    • HS 67
    • BUS 20N (for admin concentration only)
  • Are there any other courses that can be used as credit for the major?
    • If students are not minoring nor have the admin concentration, and are just going the Public Health with UD electives route, BIOL 65 (Human Anatomy) & BIOL 66 (Human Physiology) can be taken as upper-division electives credit even though they are lower-division.
  • How soon should I take HS 100W? Is it offered in the Summer?
    • HS 100W should be taken once you have passed the WST because it is the prerequisite for the majority of the major curriculum. Delaying HS 100W can delay graduation or enrolling in necessary courses.
    • HS 100W is not offered in the Summer, so it is recommended to be taken in the Fall or Spring.
    • You must take HS 100W only, other 100W classes from other major departments will not be accepted as credit in the Public Health curriculum.
  • Why do students have to take HS 104 and HS 114 together?
    • HS 104 is the lecture portion where students learn the aspects of Community Health Promotion.
    • HS 114 is where students apply what they learn in HS 104 to the community in various in-person projects. Students receive either “Credit” or “No Credit” in this section.
  • For students with the Admin concentration, do HS 166A and HS 166B have to be taken together?
    • Yes you do, HS 166A is the lecture/seminar portion and HS 166B is the internship/field experience.
  • I heard HS 159 is a heavy load class, when should I take it?
    • HS 159 is difficult if students slack off as it is one of the more faster-paced classes, but most students state that it is very doable.
    • Students are recommended to take HS 159 on their second to last semester so students can have more time in internships, jobs, or extracurriculars on the semester that they graduate.
  • Why do I have to take HS 165 on the semester I graduate?
    • It’s a class where students learn the skills, roles, and ethics to prepare working in community health professions. Students undergo various projects in class including making their own portfolios.

Minoring

  • Do general Public Health students (without Admin concentration) have to minor in something?
    • No, if students don’t want to minor they can just take 15-21 units of any upper-division courses (including Areas R and V), as long as they have at least 120 units in total by graduation.
  • Can students with the Admin concentration minor?
    • They can, but it is not recommended as it can delay graduation by taking additional units that they already have enough of from the concentration itself.
  • I want to minor in something, who do I talk to and how do I apply?
    • If the minor is outside of the Public Health department, you must go to the department that you are interested in minoring in to fill out forms and review the required courses.
  • What do (General) Public Health students normally minor in?
    • It all comes down to the student’s interest, but many of our students minor in one of the following:
      • Biology
      • Chemistry
      • Psychology
      • CHAD (Child & Adolescent Development)
      • Nutrition
      • Kinesiology
      • Recreation