Undergraduate

List of Eligible Courses

Eligible graduate courses that may be counted towards an undergraduate degree at UAB (Up to 12 credits hours may be approved)

The Pathway to Public Health program provides prospective transfer students with a smooth transition from community college to the UAB School of Public Health. Students enrolled in the Pathway to Public Health program will receive individualized academic advising support as well as access to program-specific resources and events at no cost.

Admission to UAB is not required to enroll in the Pathway to Public Health program; however, program enrollment does not guarantee admission to UAB. To apply to UAB or to learn more about the transfer process, visit the Undergraduate Admissions page for transfer applicants.

Program Benefits

As a Pathway to Public Health program member, you will have access to:

• a waived application fee upon applying to UAB as a transfer student
• transcript review and advising support from an SOPH academic advisor
• an individualized UAB graduation plan
• virtual or in-person information sessions and meet and greets with SOPH students, faculty and staff
• a personalized tour of campus and the Ryals Public Health Building
• a subscription to the weekly “Get a Handle” SOPH student newsletter
• information on SOPH-specific student organizations, events and opportunities

As a UAB student, you will have access to:

• a personalized degree audit system
• merit-based transfer scholarships
• the UAB Career Center
• campus-wide student organization meetings and events
• resources for off-campus students
• Division I sporting events and the Campus Recreation Center

Eligibility

Students who are currently enrolled at a community college are eligible to enroll in the Pathway to Public Health transfer program.

Contact

To receive additional information or to schedule a meeting with an advisor, email p2ph@uab.edu.

The Undergraduate Ambassador program is a student leadership opportunity within the UAB School of Public Health that allows committed students to become the face of the school. Students will serve as ambassadors by informing current and prospective UAB students about our programs and opportunities, participating in recruitment efforts, including leading tours or information sessions and attending recruitment events, and creating a sense of community among all School of Public Health students, faculty and staff.

Undergraduate Ambassadors

Emma Hankey

Townley Hayes

Sophia Martin

Rylan Morris

Become an Ambassador

Ambassadors are selected each fall semester and serve a one-year term beginning the following spring semester. Membership is open to all in-person undergraduate School of Public Health students enrolled full-time who will have completed at least 12 hours at UAB by the end of the fall semester. After applying, qualified candidates will be selected for an interview. Only a handful of outstanding students are chosen each year to serve as ambassadors. Students selected to become an SOPH Undergraduate Ambassador will receive a $500 stipend per semester.

Please note: The SOPH Undergraduate Ambassador program can be time-consuming, and selected students are expected to maintain a positive attitude and a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Additionally, SOPH Undergraduate Ambassadors will be required to complete training, attend monthly meetings and participate in at least 10 events/activities per semester in order to receive the $500 per semester stipend.

Contact

Richard Bennett

Undergraduate Recruitment; SOPH Undergraduate Ambassadors Advisor
rbennett@uab.edu
RPHB 608F

Schedule Meeting Opens an external link.

Upon completing the Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree, students should be able to:

• Define the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.
• Describe the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis; and why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice.
• Recognize the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
• Identify the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.
• Address the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
• Apply the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation.
• Describe the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as the differences in systems in other countries.
• Recognize the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy, and the roles, influences, and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government.
• Implement the basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology.

The School of Public Health offers several Accelerated Learning Opportunities for high-achieving students to reduce the time and cost necessary to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. These opportunities include the Fast Track and Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master programs. Exceptional high school seniors may also be invited to participate in the Early Acceptance Program when they are admitted to UAB.

Note: specialized Next Steps Advising is available for students considering these opportunities. Contact James Bush through the Appointment Manager in BlazerNet (preferred) or at bushjl@uab.edu to make an advising appointment.

Learning Options

Though a solid foundation in the science underlying public health is critical, the real WORK of public health is done “in the field.” That’s why experiential learning — learning by doing — is an essential part of our undergraduate curriculum.

Every undergraduate student in the School of Public Health must participate in at least one course designated as Experiential Learning. This can take the form of a service-learning or Education Abroad course, an internship or field placement, or directed study/undergraduate research hours.

Your academic advisor can help you find the perfect opportunity to meet this requirement while following your public health passion.

Students who demonstrate a strong commitment to public health through both their academic work and their community engagement are eligible to graduate with an Honors designation in Public Health.

To be eligible for Honors in Public Health, you must:

• Be a rising junior or senior with at least 12 credit hours of completed undergraduate PUH coursework.
• Complete an application. For this application, students must identify a faculty mentor and propose an Honors Project to be completed under this faculty mentor. The application must be approved by the faculty mentor, the student’s Undergraduate Academic Advisor, and the Undergraduate Program Director.
• Maintain a minimum institutional GPA of 3.0 and minimum Public Health major GPA of 3.5.
• Complete 100-150 hours of service to the community, tracked in BlazerPulse (note: this total does not include hours completed in fulfillment of any required PUH course, e.g., PUH 305 or PUH 495). The number of hours required will depend on when you declare the Public Health major, with approximately 50 hours required per year in the major. These hours can take the form of a formal internship or field placement, volunteer hours at one or more community sites, participation in community-based research, etc. You will be assisted in finding community partners but will be responsible for logging your own hours in BlazerPulse.
•  Attend at least 4 professional development opportunities offered within the School of Public Health and provide a brief reflection on each opportunity attended.
• Enroll in PUH 491: Directed Study in Public Health OR PUH 498: Undergraduate Research in Public Health for at least 1 credit hour for at least 1 semester during which the student will work on their Honors Project. Either course may be enrolled in over multiple semesters, for up to a total of 6 credit hours.
• Participate in a culminating experience during which you reflect on your engagement with the community. The form of this experience is not specified but could include: a presentation at a public forum (such as the UAB Undergraduate Research Expo), participation on a student panel, production of a podcast about your service, development of an experiential essay, etc.

All interested students should contact their primary academic advisor.

In the School of Public Health (SOPH), we offer a range of advising to help you discover how to use your unique passions and talents to make a difference in your community and in the world.

Academic Advising

Academic Advising is an essential resource for planning your degree program. As soon as you begin considering a major or minor in public health, schedule an appointment with one of our academic advisors to learn more about what we offer. Our academic advisors can explain our required and elective courses, opportunities outside the classroom to increase your career readiness, and the important role of our Public Health Capstone course. They can also help you balance your public health coursework with another major or minor or any pre-health coursework you plan to take.

Throughout your time in SOPH you are encouraged to meet with your academic advisor at least once every semester to ensure that you are on track to graduate as planned. You should also meet with them any time you have questions or concerns you’d like help with. Our academic advisors are experts in helping students meet their academic goals — they can link you to all the resources necessary to be successful at UAB and beyond.

Public Health is the science of protecting and promoting the health and safety of communities through education, policy, and research. Coursework in Public Health gives students the skills to analyze and communicate critical Public Health information to all audiences. Whether it’s warning about emerging epidemics like Ebola or Zika virus, developing educational campaigns to help patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, or helping communities advocate for cleaner air and water, Public Health is a hands-on field that makes a difference. 

Careers

Students earning the Bachelor of Science in Public Health go on to work in their communities, in healthcare settings, or for agencies like the CDC or WHO – anywhere that broad knowledge of the biological, environmental, social, and behavioral influences on health is needed.

Learn more about careers in public health

Major in Public Health

Accelerated Learning

Advising