Public Health FAQs

Public Health FAQs

Advising
  • How do I know who my advisor is? — You will receive an email from the SAPH advising coordinator before early advising begins. Advisor assignments are not always permanent, so be sure to check your email. If you need academic advising before early registration, you can contact your advisor from last semester. New students and change-of-majors should contact the advising coordinator. Faculty are frequently away from UMBC, conducting their research, during the summer session. Please contact the advising coordinator during the summer!
Public Health GPA Requirement
  • Is the 2.5 GPA a requirement for the major GPA or UMBC cumulative GPA? — It is a cumulative GPA requirement.
  • What happens if I fall below the required GPA? — If this is your first semester below 2.5, you need to raise your cumulative GPA above 2.5 next semester in order to remain in Public Health. If this is your second consecutive semester below 2.5 cumulative GPA, you are no longer permitted to remain a Public Health major and must speak with someone regarding other major options. Please make an appointment with the Office of Academic & Pre-Professional Advising or the Career Center.
How to Change Current Major to Public Health
  • How do I change my major to Public Health? — Students need a cumulative 2.5 GPA to change to Public Health If you meet this requirement, you should make an appointment with our Coordinator of Advising, Debbie Sanford. 
How to Declare Public Health Minor
  • How do I declare the Public Health minor? — Students should submit the Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s office. Students do not need an advisor signature to declare a minor.
  • I am a PBHL minor and would like to change to a Public Health minor, how do I do that? — Follow the procedure above, removing PBHL and declaring Public Health as the Minor.
Public Health Dual Programs
  • If I’m in the Public Health program can I enter into the BA/MA with sociology? — Yes, refer to the BA/MA requirements and make an appointment to discuss with your advisor.
  • If I’m in the Public Health program can I use courses to enter into the BA/MPP? — Yes, refer to the BA/MPP requirements and make an appointment to discuss with your advisor.
  • Is there a program for the Public Health/SOWK major? — Yes, see the course listing for PBHL/SOWK double major. The Public Health/SOWK double major is still being finalized.
  • Are there any other dual degree programs that Public Health students can apply for? — Yes, there are other programs at UMBC that may be of interest to Public Health students. Contact your advisor for more information on Health IT, Emergency Health Services, and other graduate and accelerated programs at UMBC. There are also undergraduate certificates and minors, such as the Social Dimensions of Health certificate and the Health IT certificate that can complement your Public Health BA.
The Internship
  • Why is the internship a 6-credit or 3-credit course? — Credits are calculated based on the time spent at the internship. Students registering for the 6-credit course must complete 208 hours and students registering for the 3-credit course must complete 104 hours. 
  • Do internship credits also count as upper-level credits? — Yes! PBHL 470 and 471 are upper-level courses and are counted as upper-level credits.
  • Why do students register for PRAC 98 during the internship? — PRAC 98, a no-fee, no-credit course through the UMBC Career Center, provides professional develop training and University oversight for internships and internship sites. This is a required component of the Public Health internship.
  • How do I register for an internship and what are the internship deadlines and important dates? — Please refer to our “Internships” tab. 
  • How can I find out more information about the internship orientation sessions? — Students are sent emails for sessions early in each semester.  Check the Public Health myUMBC groups pages for postings.
  • Is an internship required for graduation? — No, students are required to complete experiential learning, but can substitute research experience for the internship. This is offered on a limited application basis.
The Public Health Curriculum
  • Your Degree Audit will display the PBHL requirements based on your start date at UMBC or the date that you changed your major to PBHL.
  • My past/current courses are listed as HAPP instead of Public Health (PBHL), what should I do? — As a Public Health major you will take the course numbers as listed on your curriculum plan, whether they are HAPP or PBHL. You do not need to do anything, either set of call letters will fulfill the requirements.
Career and Resume Help
Scholarship/Awards
Research
  • Can Public Health students participate in research at UMBC? — Yes, individual faculty members in SAPH may have opportunities for students to work on existing research as undergraduate research assistants. Students can also conduct their own research as part of a URA, URCAD presentation, independent study, or Fulbright Award. The UMBC Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships site has additional information on research on and off campus.
  • Ho do I get involved in Public Health research at UMBC? — Talk to your professors! Our faculty have ongoing research and may be accepting undergraduate student research assistants. Check out the SAPH SMaRT Scholars program in the Center for Health, Equity, and Aging (CHEA)for additional research training for the social sciences.
Student Organizations
  • Are there any student organizations that I can join as a Public Health major? — Yes, see information on the main Public Health page about our council of majors (Public Health COM) and the American Mock World Health Organizations (AMWHO). There are other organizations around campus that are engaged in health related activities. Check out the UMBC Campus Life website for more information on student organizations.