People who work in public health help communities prevent disease and improve health and wellbeing. The two concentrations, Health Sciences and Community Health/Health Promotion, prepare students for a variety of exciting public health careers.
If you’re looking for a fulfilling and meaningful career, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health is right for you. As a student, you’ll prepare for careers that promote wellness, prevent diseases and address health disparities on a local, national and global scale.
Choose a focus area based on your interests and career goals.
Median annual salary for bachelor's degree holders in New England
Source: Lightcast, 2025
Projected job growth in New England (2023–2035)
Source: Lightcast, 2025
Earn a B.S. public health degree and gain the skills and knowledge to thrive as a community health professional, epidemiologist, medical and services manager and many other careers. Some of our students pursue graduate studies in public health and health sciences.
UMass Lowell graduates work in a variety of settings, including:
Sample course topics include:
For students who entered spring 2021 and beyond.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL.1010 / HONR.1100 | College Writing I / First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW) | 3 |
| HSCI.1010 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (SCL) | 3 |
| HSCI.1030 | Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I | 1 |
| HSCI.1051 / HSCI.1060 | Interprofessional Education First Year Seminar / ZCHS Transfer Student Seminar | 1 |
| PUBH.1021 | Introduction to Public Health (SS) | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) | 3 |
| Total | 14 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL.1020 | College Writing II (CW) | 3 |
| HSCI.1020 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II (SCL) | 3 |
| HSCI.1040 | Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II | 1 |
| PUBH.2050 | Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| PUBH.2080 | Principles of Environmental Health Science | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Social Sciences Perspective (SS) | 3 |
| Total | 16 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH.2090 | Technical Writing in Public Health | 1 |
| PUBH.2040 | Introduction to Health Promotion | 3 |
| PUBH.2070 | The U.S. Healthcare System | 3 |
| MATH.xxxx | Math Perspective (MATH) | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Science Elective | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Science Elective Lab | 1 |
| Total | 17 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSCI.2110 / BIOL.2010 | Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis / General Microbiology (STEM) | 3 |
| HSCI.2130 / BIOL.2030L | Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis Lab / General Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| HSCI.2220 | Health and Disease Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| PUBH.3010 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Free Elective | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) | 3 |
| Total | 16 | |
Total Minimum Credits = 120
No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.
1Public Health Electives:
Current UMass Lowell students should be using their Advisement Report in SiS. If you need assistance, please contact your adviser.
Restriction on off-campus study:
Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment.
See the catalog policy for details.
Read more about the Breadth of Knowledge requirements.
Read more about the Essential Learning Outcomes.
For students who entered fall 2026 and beyond.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL.1010 / HONR.1100 | College Writing I / First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW) | 3 |
| HSCI.1010 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (SCL) | 3 |
| HSCI.1030 | Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I (SCL) | 1 |
| HSCI.1051 / HSCI.1060 | Interprofessional Education First Year Seminar / ZCHS Transfer Student Seminar | 1 |
| PUBH.1021 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) | 3 |
| Total | 14 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL.1020 | College Writing II (CW) | 3 |
| HSCI.1020 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II (SCL) | 3 |
| HSCI.1040 | Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II (SCL) | 1 |
| PUBH.2050 | Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| PUBH.2080 | Principles of Environmental Health Science | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Social Sciences Perspective (SS) | 3 |
| Total | 16 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSCI.2510 / CHEM.1210 | Physiological Chemistry I / Chemistry I (STEM)1 | 3 |
| HSCI.2530 / CHEM.1230L | Physiological Chemistry Laboratory I / Chemistry I Laboratory2 | 1 |
| NUTR.2060 | Human Nutrition | 3 |
| PUBH.2070 | The U.S. Healthcare System | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) | 3 |
| Total | 16 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSCI.2110 / BIOL.2010 | Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis / General Microbiology | 3 |
| HSCI.2130 / BIOL.2030L | Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis Lab / General Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| HSCI.2520 / CHEM.1220 | Physiological Chemistry II / Chemistry II3 | 3 |
| HSCI.2540 / CHEM.1240L | Physiological Chemistry Laboratory II / Chemistry II Laboratory4 | 1 |
| MATH.xxxx | Math Perspective (MATH)5 | 3 |
| PUBH.2040 | Introduction to Health Promotion | 3 |
| Total | 14 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSCI.2220 | Health and Disease Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | STEM course | 3 |
| PUBH.3010 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| PUBH.3070 | Introduction to Public Health Policy | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Free Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSCI.3080 | Global Health (SS), (DCA) | 3 |
| HSCI.3400 | IPE Research Methods | 3 |
| PUBH.3100 | Infectious Disease (CTPS) | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Public Heath Elective (SS)6 | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Free Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH.3050 | Introduction to Epidemiology (IL), (QL) | 3 |
| PUBH.4010 | Public Health Senior Seminar (SRE) | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Public Health Elective6 | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Free Elective | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Free Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH.3020 | Health Communication (WOC) | 3 |
| PUBH.4100 | Public Health Capstone (AIL) | 6 |
| PUBH.4140 | Program Management in Health | 3 |
| xxxx.xxxx | Free Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 | |
Total Minimum Credits = 120
Minimum [major] Credits: 36
Maximum [major] that can be counted toward graduation: 54
1CHEM.1110 is also accepted.
2CHEM.1130L is also accepted.
3CHEM.1120 is also accepted.
4CHEM.1140L is also accepted.
5MATH.1110 or MATH.1280 or MATH.1310 or MATH.2830 or MATH.3630
6Public Health Electives:
At least one Public Health elective must be a Social Science Perspective course that is on this list.
No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.
Current UMass Lowell students should be using their Advisement Report in SiS. If you need assistance, please contact your adviser.
Restriction on off-campus study:
Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment.
See the catalog policy for details.
Read more about the Breadth of Knowledge requirements.
Read more about the Essential Learning Outcomes.
Upon completion of the B.S. degree program in Public Health at UMass Lowell, our graduates will be able to:
Gain skills and career connections through learning experiences with our partner organizations, including:
Prepare for success in our Health Sciences Hub, a designated space in the Health and Social Sciences building where you can:
Put your learning into practice by joining student-run clubs and organizations, including:
Every first-time, first-year UMass Lowell student will have the opportunity to pursue at least one Career Connected Experience (internships, co-ops, clinical placements, service learning, study abroad and more) during their undergraduate career — earning pay, credits or both before they graduate.
Shannon Gray started earning her master's degree in Public Health with a focus on epidemiology as an undergraduate. Her internship with the Uxbridge Board of Health broadened her exposure to the role public health professionals play and strengthened her skills.
Daniel Howell spent several years addressing the opioid epidemic in Lowell. Now, he’s working on a pandemic: COVID-19.
Once Michelle Palladino started taking courses in nutrition as an undergraduate, she knew right away that she wanted a career in the field of nutrition and dietetics.
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UMass Lowell's Master of Public Health and BS programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Visit the CEPH website for more information.
