Combined Majors in Global Public Health (2022 - 2024)
Students in CAS may choose one of the following combinations for a GPH major:
- Global public health/anthropology (B.A.)
- Global public health/history (B.A.)
- Global public health/sociology (B.A.)
- Global public health and science (B.S., with a choice of two concentrations):
- Biology concentration
- Chemistry concentration
In all of these majors, students must take six 4-point courses (24 points) in the core public health areas:
- Health and Society in a Global Context (UGPH-GU 10; no prerequisites)
- Biostatistics for Public Health (UGPH-GU 20). This satisfies the College Core Curriculum requirement in Quantitative Reasoning.
- Epidemiology for Global Health (UGPH-GU 30)
- Health Policy in a Global World (UGPH-GU 40)
- Environmental Health in a Global World (UGPH-GU 50)
- Undergraduate Experiential Learning in Global Public Health (UGPH-GU 60)
Note well: UGPH-GU 10 is the prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 20, 30, 40, and 50. UGPH-GU 30 is an additional (recommended) prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 40. In addition, UGPH-GU 10, 20, and 30 are firm prerequisites for UGPH-GU 60.
Note well: In the GPH/biology concentration, students substitute Biostatistics (BIOL-UA 42) for UGPH-GU 20 (see below).
Besides these six required GPH courses, students also take courses in their chosen CAS discipline, with the exact number of these disciplinary courses varying by major and concentration (see below for the exact requirements for each major). Students fill out their coursework for the major with two or three relevant electives in global public health and/or the chosen CAS disciplinary field. Students who matriculated before fall 2021 are technically required to take only two major electives, but must take a third if they waive or are exempted from the major's post-intermediate language requirement (see below). This language requirement does not apply to students who matriculate in and after fall 2021, and therefore they always take three major electives. To clarify:
- The major requirement of one foreign language course (4 points) above the intermediate level applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 do not take this additional course.
- Students in the former category may petition for a waiver from the requirement, or may use an NYU language placement or language exemption exam to meet this requirement. If they successfully waive or exempt out of the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point major elective (see below) to satisfy the total number of credits required for the major. For more details, consult the archived PDF of the 2020-2022 CAS Bulletin at bulletin.cas.nyu.edu, or discuss with a major adviser.
- Students in the latter category are all required to take a third elective in the major (see below) to replace the discontinued (for them) 4-point post-intermediate language requirement and satisfy the total number of credits required for the major.
Students must also study away for one semester.
Programs of study are planned with the director of undergraduate studies in the chosen CAS department. The e-mail address for general inquiries from CAS students is cas.gph@nyu.edu.
General Policies Applying to the Combined Global Public Health Majors
CAS students are allowed to count 16 points from the other schools of the University toward the baccalaureate degree. Four of the six core UGPH-GU courses required for the combined GPH majors are treated as liberal arts courses and therefore do not count against the 16-point allowance: UGPH-GU 10, 20, 30, and 50. (These four courses are exempt from the 16-point rule both for declared GPH majors and also for CAS students who simply take one or more of them as electives.) The two required GPH core courses UGPH-GU 40 and 60 are not exempt from the 16-point rule, and together use up 8 points of each student's 16-point allowance. Any other UGPH-GU courses besides 10, 20, 30, and 50 will also count against the 16 points.
Students may request additional non-CAS, non-liberal arts credits beyond the 16-point limit through the College Advising Center, 726 Broadway, 7th floor; 212-998-8130.
No UGPH-GU courses can count toward the 64 credits that internal or external transfer students are required to complete in CAS (-UA) courses.
Students must earn a C or better in all courses for their combined major and maintain a 2.0 major GPA. Courses graded Pass/Fail cannot be counted toward the major.
The GPH tracks with anthropology, history, and sociology all satisfy the College Core Curriculum requirement in Societies and the Social Sciences. However, the two GPH concentrations in science do not satisfy this requirement. None of the UGPH-GU courses can exempt students from any part of the Core's Foundations of Contemporary Culture.
Transfer Student Policies Applying to the Combined Global Public Health Majors
Transfer students to CAS must complete at least half of their entire combined GPH major at NYU, with at least half of the CAS coursework required for the major completed at NYU. In addition, GPH stipulates that transfer credit cannot be used for more than one of the six core GPH requirements (the other five must always be completed at NYU). The internship course (UGPH-GU 60) can never be satisfied with transfer credit.
Applicants to schools of the health professions who are pursuing one of the science GPH majors must complete at least five of the required prehealth science courses at NYU in order to be eligible for a committee interview and letter from the CAS Preprofessional Advising Center.
Some transfer students may therefore be required to complete more than half of their GPH major at NYU to satisfy these policies, regardless of transfer coursework presented.
Global Public Health/Anthropology
This major provides interdisciplinary training that embraces the natural convergence of society, culture, and health, and draws on the Department of Anthropology's strength in bridging the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The joint major in global public health and anthropology prepares students to analyze various cultural traditions through the lens of health; to examine complex relationships within economic, political, cultural, physical, and biological environments; and to apply anthropological approaches to public health problems. The joint major is designed to prepare students for multidisciplinary careers in a variety of settings and/or for advanced academic training in public health, anthropology, or other related fields.
Students in this combined major must consult with the DUS or other departmental adviser to work out a course plan, especially as this major requires students to study away for one semester. The following are the fifteen courses (60 points) that must be completed with a grade of C or higher [please note that the post-intermediate language requirement for the major applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; if they are granted a waiver or exemption from the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point elective in the major. Students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 have no post-intermediate language requirement for this major, and are all required to take three major electives]:
Global public health requirements (six courses/24 points):
- Health and Society in a Global Context (UGPH-GU 10; no prerequisites)
- Biostatistics for Public Health (UGPH-GU 20). This satisfies the College Core Curriculum requirement in Quantitative Reasoning.
- Epidemiology for Global Health (UGPH-GU 30)
- Health Policy in a Global World (UGPH-GU 40)
- Environmental Health in a Global World (UGPH-GU 50)
- Undergraduate Experiential Learning in Global Public Health (UGPH-GU 60)
Note well: UGPH-GU 10 is the prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 20, 30, 40, and 50. UGPH-GU 30 is an additional (recommended) prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 40. In addition, UGPH-GU 10, 20, and 30 are firm prerequisites for UGPH-GU 60.
One foreign language course above the intermediate two level (one course/4 points):
- This requirement applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 do not take this additional course.
- Students in the former category may petition for a waiver from the requirement, or may use an NYU language placement or language exemption exam to meet this requirement. If they successfully waive or exempt out of the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point major elective (see below) to satisfy the total number of credits required for the major. For more details, consult the archived PDF of the 2020-2022 CAS Bulletin at bulletin.cas.nyu.edu, or discuss with a major adviser.
- Students in the latter category are all required to take a third elective in the major (see below) to replace the discontinued (for them) 4-point post-intermediate language requirement and satisfy the total number of credits required for the major.
Anthropology core courses (three courses/12 points):
- Culture, Power, Society (ANTH-UA 1)
- Medical Anthropology (ANTH-UA 35)
- Global Biocultures (ANTH-UA 36)
Anthropology elective courses (three courses/12 points), chosen from:
- Human Evolution (ANTH-UA 2)
- Language, Power, and Identity (ANTH-UA 16)
- Conversations in Everyday Life (ANTH-UA 32)
- Human Variation (ANTH-UA 51)
- Evolutionary Medicine (ANTH-UA 55)
- Emerging Diseases (ANTH-UA 80)
- Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality (ANTH-UA 112)
- Disability Worlds (ANTH-UA 113)
- Race, Difference, and Social Inequality (ANTH-UA 323)
- Introduction to Forensic Anthropology (ANTH-UA 326)
- Human Rights and Culture (ANTH-UA 331)
- The Social Life of Food (ANTH-UA 410)
Major electives (three courses/12 points):
- Three additional electives must be completed in the GPH program or anthropology, by advisement. For students who matriculate in and after fall 2021, the third elective replaces the discontinued (for them) post-intermediate language requirement in this major.
- Students who matriculated before fall 2021 technically have a major elective requirement of only two courses/8 points; however, if they waive or exempt out of the major's post-intermediate language requirement, they must take a third major elective for 4 points.
All majors must also study away for one semester.
Global Public Health/Biology
Students pursuing this combined major complete a concentration in biology that emphasizes one of the following areas: genetics and genomics, infectious diseases, or environmental health. This major provides a unique opportunity for students to explore cutting-edge life science and how recent advances can help address some of the world's most complex health challenges. Graduates are well-prepared to pursue professional studies in medicine, dentistry, public health, and nutrition, as well as academic and research positions.
Departmental advising is absolutely crucial for students pursuing this demanding major. Students must satisfy all requirements of the College Core Curriculum (the First-Year Seminar, foreign language, expository writing, and Foundations of Contemporary Culture). Careful planning is necessary to ensure that all major, prehealth, and College Core Curriculum requirements can be completed in four years.
Students in this combined major must consult with the DUS or other departmental adviser to work out a course plan, especially as this major requires students to study away for one semester. The following are the twenty-two courses (94 points) that must be completed with a grade of C or higher [please note that the post-intermediate language requirement for the major applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; if they are granted a waiver or exemption from the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point elective in the major. Students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 have no post-intermediate language requirement for this major, and are all required to take three major electives]:
Global public health requirements (six courses/24 points):
- Health and Society in a Global Context (UGPH-GU 10; no prerequisites)
- Biostatistics (BIOL-UA 42), taken in lieu of Biostatistics for Public Health (UGPH-GU 20).
- Epidemiology for Global Health (UGPH-GU 30)
- Health Policy in a Global World (UGPH-GU 40)
- Environmental Health in a Global World (UGPH-GU 50)
- Undergraduate Experiential Learning in Global Public Health (UGPH-GU 60)
Note well: UGPH-GU 10 is the prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 20, 30, 40, and 50. UGPH-GU 30 is an additional (recommended) prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 40. In addition, UGPH-GU 10, 20, and 30 are firm prerequisites for UGPH-GU 60.
One foreign language course above the intermediate two level (one course/4 points):
- This requirement applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 do not take this additional course.
- Students in the former category may petition for a waiver from the requirement, or may use an NYU language placement or language exemption exam to meet this requirement. If they successfully waive or exempt out of the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point major elective (see below) to satisfy the total number of credits required for the major. For more details, consult the archived PDF of the 2020-2022 CAS Bulletin at bulletin.cas.nyu.edu, or discuss with a major adviser.
- Students in the latter category are all required to take a third elective in the major (see below) to replace the discontinued (for them) 4-point post-intermediate language requirement and satisfy the total number of credits required for the major.
Biology core courses (four courses/16 points):
- Principles of Biology I and II (BIOL-UA 11, 12)
NOTE: Biology majors are not required to register for the 1-credit Principles of Biology Lab (BIOL-UA 123). It is intended for prehealth students not majoring in biology. - Molecular and Cell Biology I and II (BIOL-UA 21, 22)
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that students in this combined major take the optional 1-credit Molecular and Cell Biology Lab (BIOL-UA 223) concurrently with MCB I (BIOL-UA 21).
Biology emphasis area (two courses/8 points):
- Students select two upper-level biology courses from one of these three areas:
- Genetics and genomics
- Infectious diseases
- Environmental health
A current list of courses satisfying each area is maintained on the official web site of the Department of Biology.
Additional required courses in science and mathematics (seven courses/34 points):
- Chemistry (four courses/20 points):
- General Chemistry and Laboratory I and II (CHEM-UA 125, 126)
- Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I and II (CHEM-UA 225, 226)
- Physics (two courses/10 points):
- General Physics I and II (PHYS-UA 11, 12)
- Mathematics (one course/4 points):
- Calculus I (MATH-UA 121)
Major electives (three courses/12 points):
- One additional biology elective must be completed by all students pursuing this major. A current list of courses approved as electives is maintained on the official web site of the Department of Biology.
- A second (and, for some students, also a third) elective must be completed that either is one of these approved biology electives or an elective approved by the GPH program, as follows:
- Students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 must take three major electives in total. The third elective replaces the discontinued (for them) post-intermediate language requirement in this major.
- Students who matriculated before fall 2021 technically have a major elective requirement of only two courses/8 points; however, if they waive or exempt out of the major's post-intermediate language requirement, they must take a third major elective for 4 points.
All majors must also study away for one semester.
Global Public Health/Chemistry
Students pursuing this combined program concentrate in chemistry—the central natural science that interfaces physics and mathematics with the life sciences.
Departmental advising is absolutely crucial for students pursuing this demanding major. As with all majors and minors offered by the Department of Chemistry, Principles of Biology I and II (BIOL-UA 11, 12) are not required for this major; however, prehealth students must take this sequence in addition to the major requirements outlined below. In addition, students must satisfy all requirements of the College Core Curriculum (the First-Year Seminar, foreign language, expository writing, and Foundations of Contemporary Culture). Careful planning is necessary to ensure that all major, prehealth, and College Core Curriculum requirements can be completed in four years.
Students in this combined major must consult with the DUS or other departmental adviser to work out a course plan, especially as this major requires students to study away for one semester. The following are the twenty-one courses (90 points) that must be completed with a grade of C or higher [please note that the post-intermediate language requirement for the major applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; if they are granted a waiver or exemption from the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point elective in the major. Students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 have no post-intermediate language requirement for this major, and are all required to take three major electives]:
Global public health requirements (six courses/24 points):
- Health and Society in a Global Context (UGPH-GU 10; no prerequisites)
- Biostatistics for Public Health (UGPH-GU 20)
- Epidemiology for Global Health (UGPH-GU 30)
- Health Policy in a Global World (UGPH-GU 40)
- Environmental Health in a Global World (UGPH-GU 50)
- Undergraduate Experiential Learning in Global Public Health (UGPH-GU 60)
Note well: UGPH-GU 10 is the prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 20, 30, 40, and 50. UGPH-GU 30 is an additional (recommended) prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 40. In addition, UGPH-GU 10, 20, and 30 are firm prerequisites for UGPH-GU 60.
One foreign language course above the intermediate two level (one course/4 points):
- This requirement applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 do not take this additional course.
- Students in the former category may petition for a waiver from the requirement, or may use an NYU language placement or language exemption exam to meet this requirement. If they successfully waive or exempt out of the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point major elective (see below) to satisfy the total number of credits required for the major. For more details, consult the archived PDF of the 2020-2022 CAS Bulletin at bulletin.cas.nyu.edu, or discuss with a major adviser.
- Students in the latter category are all required to take a third elective in the major (see below) to replace the discontinued (for them) 4-point post-intermediate language requirement and satisfy the total number of credits required for the major.
Chemistry core courses (eight courses/36 points):
- General Chemistry and Laboratory I and II (CHEM-UA 125, 126). The one-semester Accelerated General Chemistry and Laboratory (CHEM-UA 129; 6 points) may be taken by qualified students and substitutes for this sequence.
- Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I and II (CHEM-UA 225, 226) or Majors Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I and II (CHEM-UA 227, 228)
- Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy and Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics (CHEM-UA 651, 652)
- Biochemistry I and II (CHEM-UA 881, 882)
Additional required courses in science and mathematics (four courses/18 points):
- Mathematics (two courses/8 points):
- Calculus I and II (MATH-UA 121,122). Advanced Placement credit for Calculus II (a score of 5 on BC Calculus) is not accepted for this major requirement. Students with this AP credit must either (1) take Calculus II at NYU and forfeit 4 of the 8 AP credits, or (2) register for one of the following: Mathematics of Chemistry (CHEM-UA 140), Calculus III (MATH-UA 123) or Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 140), using the BC credits as a prerequisite.
- Physics (two courses/10 points):
- General Physics I and II (PHYS-UA 11, 12). Credit for AP Physics C: Mechanics is accepted for PHYS-UA 11 and credit for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is accepted for PHYS-UA 12, but only for students who are not prehealth. No other AP or equivalent international credit is accepted. (Because of medical, dental, etc., school admissions requirements, students on the prehealth track cannot use AP Physics C credit to place out of either or both semesters of General Physics.)
Major electives (three courses/12 points):
- Three additional electives must be completed in the GPH program or chemistry, by advisement. For students who matriculate in and after fall 2021, the third elective replaces the discontinued (for them) post-intermediate language requirement in this major.
- Students who matriculated before fall 2021 technically have a major elective requirement of only two courses/8 points; however, if they waive or exempt out of the major's post-intermediate language requirement, they must take a third major elective for 4 points.
All majors must also study away for one semester.
Global Public Health/History
The global public health/history major provides a unique opportunity to unite the study of human experience in relation to particular times and places with the study of health of populations around the world. The major draws on the expertise of the CAS Department of History in providing students with the tools needed to analyze and interpret many different kinds of evidence—cultural, social, economic, and political—and to organize them into a coherent whole, presented clearly in written or oral form. Students will study a variety of topics, such as environmental history, ethnicity, sexuality, epidemiology, health policy, gender, and social movements. NYU’s global public health/history major provides a unique set of skills that may be applied in a variety of careers including law, teaching, public health, business, film, international affairs, and medicine and science.
Students in this combined major must consult with the DUS or other departmental adviser to work out a course plan, especially as this major requires students to study away for one semester. The following are the fifteen courses (60 points) that must be completed with a grade of C or higher [please note that the post-intermediate language requirement for the major applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; if they are granted a waiver or exemption from the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point elective in the major. Students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 have no post-intermediate language requirement for this major, and are all required to take three major electives]:
Global public health requirements (six courses/24 points):
- Health and Society in a Global Context (UGPH-GU 10; no prerequisites)
- Biostatistics for Public Health (UGPH-GU 20). This satisfies the College Core Curriculum requirement in Quantitative Reasoning.
- Epidemiology for Global Health (UGPH-GU 30)
- Health Policy in a Global World (UGPH-GU 40)
- Environmental Health in a Global World (UGPH-GU 50)
- Undergraduate Experiential Learning in Global Public Health (UGPH-GU 60)
Note well: UGPH-GU 10 is the prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 20, 30, 40, and 50. UGPH-GU 30 is an additional (recommended) prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 40. In addition, UGPH-GU 10, 20, and 30 are firm prerequisites for UGPH-GU 60.
One foreign language course above the intermediate two level (one course/4 points):
- This requirement applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 do not take this additional course.
- Students in the former category may petition for a waiver from the requirement, or may use an NYU language placement or language exemption exam to meet this requirement. If they successfully waive or exempt out of the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point major elective (see below) to satisfy the total number of credits required for the major. For more details, consult the archived PDF of the 2020-2022 CAS Bulletin at bulletin.cas.nyu.edu, or discuss with a major adviser.
- Students in the latter category are all required to take a third elective in the major (see below) to replace the discontinued (for them) 4-point post-intermediate language requirement and satisfy the total number of credits required for the major.
History requirements (two courses/8 points):
- One workshop (HIST-UA 900-999; excluding 994, 996, 980 and 997)
- One capstone seminar (HIST-UA 400-499)
History electives (four courses/16 points):
- Four courses numbered above HIST-UA 101. Students must take at least one pre-1800 course and at least one course in each of these three regions: U.S., non-Western, and European. All must be advanced.
Major electives (three courses/12 points):
- Three additional electives must be completed in the GPH program or history, by advisement. For students who matriculate in and after fall 2021, the third elective replaces the discontinued (for them) post-intermediate language requirement in this major.
- Students who matriculated before fall 2021 technically have a major elective requirement of only two courses/8 points; however, if they waive or exempt out of the major's post-intermediate language requirement, they must take a third major elective for 4 points.
All majors must also study away for one semester.
Global Public Health/Sociology
This major draws on the Department of Sociology's strength in theoretical creativity and substantive empirical research on important social issues. Global public health/sociology graduates may go on to a diverse array of careers in law, health, public administration, and social service, as well as further graduate study in sociology, public health, or related disciplines.
Students in this combined major must consult with the DUS or other departmental adviser to work out a course plan, especially as this major requires students to study away for one semester. The following are the fifteen courses (60 points) that must be completed with a grade of C or higher [please note that the post-intermediate language requirement for the major applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; if they are granted a waiver or exemption from the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point elective in the major. Students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 have no post-intermediate language requirement for this major, and are all required to take three major electives]:
Global public health requirements (six courses/24 points):
- Health and Society in a Global Context (UGPH-GU 10; no prerequisites)
- Biostatistics for Public Health (UGPH-GU 20). This satisfies the College Core Curriculum requirement in Quantitative Reasoning.
- Epidemiology for Global Health (UGPH-GU 30)
- Health Policy in a Global World (UGPH-GU 40)
- Environmental Health in a Global World (UGPH-GU 50)
- Undergraduate Experiential Learning in Global Public Health (UGPH-GU 60)
Note well: UGPH-GU 10 is the prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 20, 30, 40, and 50. UGPH-GU 30 is an additional (recommended) prerequisite or corequisite for UGPH-GU 40. In addition, UGPH-GU 10, 20, and 30 are firm prerequisites for UGPH-GU 60.
One foreign language course above the intermediate two level (one course/4 points):
- This requirement applies only to students who matriculated before fall 2021; students who matriculate in and after fall 2021 do not take this additional course.
- Students in the former category may petition for a waiver from the requirement, or may use an NYU language placement or language exemption exam to meet this requirement. If they successfully waive or exempt out of the requirement, they must take an additional (third) 4-point major elective (see below) to satisfy the total number of credits required for the major. For more details, consult the archived PDF of the 2020-2022 CAS Bulletin at bulletin.cas.nyu.edu, or discuss with a major adviser.
- Students in the latter category are all required to take a third elective in the major (see below) to replace the discontinued (for them) 4-point post-intermediate language requirement and satisfy the total number of credits required for the major.
Sociology requirements (four courses/16 points):
- Introduction to Sociology (SOC-UA 1)
- Sociological Theory (SOC-UA 111)
- Research Methods (SOC-UA 301)
- Advanced Seminar in Sociology (SOC-UA 934 through 939)
Sociology electives (two courses/8 points), to be chosen from the list below. Electives not listed require the approval of the director of undergraduate studies:
- Sex and Gender (SOC-UA 21)
- Race and Ethnicity (SOC-UA 135)
- Wealth, Power, Status: Inequality in Society (SOC-UA 137)
- Social Policy in Modern Societies (SOC-UA 313)
- Sociology of Medicine (SOC-UA 414)
- The Family (SOC-UA 451)
- Immigration (SOC-UA 452)
- Cities, Communities, and Urban Life (SOC-UA 460)
Major electives (three courses/12 points):
- Three additional electives must be completed in the GPH program or sociology, by advisement. For students who matriculate in and after fall 2021, the third elective replaces the discontinued (for them) post-intermediate language requirement in this major.
- Students who matriculated before fall 2021 technically have a major elective requirement of only two courses/8 points; however, if they waive or exempt out of the major's post-intermediate language requirement, they must take a third major elective for 4 points.
All majors must also study away for one semester.