The combined Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and Sociology integrates social science theory and perspectives with public health concepts to approach complex health inequities. Students have an opportunity to gain foundational sociological knowledge and skills and apply theory to public health approaches for addressing poor health outcomes. Students explore the ways that societal constructs—such as race, class, and gender—intersect with health. This combined major will appeal to students who want to pursue graduate study and research in sociology, public health, public policy and administration, and education.  

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Public Health Requirements

Public Health Core

PHTH 1260The American Healthcare System4
or PHTH 1261 Comparative Healthcare Systems
PHTH 2300Communication Skills for the Health Professions4
or PHTH 2301 Communication Skills for the Health Professions—Global
PHTH 2350Community and Public Health4
or PHTH 2351 Community and Public Health - Global
PHTH 2515Healthcare Policy and Administration4
PHTH 4120Global Perspectives on Discrimination and Health4
PHTH 4540Health Education and Program Planning4

Science Requirement

Biology
Complete one of the following options:8–10
Option 1
BIOL 1141
Microbes and Society
or BIOL 1143
 Biology and Society
BIOL 1147
The Human Organism
Option 2
BIOL 1111
and BIOL 1112
General Biology 1
and Lab for BIOL 1111
BIOL 1113
and BIOL 1114
General Biology 2
and Lab for BIOL 1113
Psychology
PSYC 1101Foundations of Psychology4

Public Health Social Science Requirement

Introductory Course
Complete one of the following: 4
COMM 1225
Communication Theory
ECON 1115
and ECON 1125
Principles of Macroeconomics
and Recitation for ECON 1115
ECON 1116
and ECON 1126
Principles of Microeconomics
and Recitation for ECON 1116
ENGL 1300
Introduction to Health and Humanities
HUSV 1101
Social Change and Human Services
INTL 1101
Globalization and International Affairs
PHIL 1101
Introduction to Philosophy
POLS 1160
International Relations
Upper-Level Course
Complete one course (categories provided for reference):3–4
Society and Behavior
COMM 3201
Health Communication
COMM 4102
Health Communication Campaigns
CRIM 3040
Psychology of Crime
HLTH 5280
The (in)Visibility of (dis)Ability in Society
PHTH 5222
Health Advocacy
PSYC 3402
Social Psychology
PSYC 3404
Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3450
Learning and Motivation
Globalization and Global Health
AFCS 3424
Epidemiology of Pandemic Diseases and Health Disparities in the African Diaspora
ECON 3404
International Food Policy
INTL 3200
Cities in a Global Context
or INTL 3201
 Cities in a Global Context (Abroad)
INTL 3400
International Conflict and Negotiation
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
Environmental Health and Climate Change
COMM 3500
Environmental Issues, Communication, and the Media
ECON 3423
Environmental Economics
INTL 5100
Climate and Development
or PPUA 5100
 Climate and Development
PPUA 5238
Climate Change and Global Urbanization
Law, Policy, and Human Rights
ECON 3424
Law and Economics
PHIL 5001
Global Justice
PHIL 5002
Ethics and Public Policy
POLS 3307
Public Policy and Administration
Healthcare Administration and Management
ECON 3413
Health Economics and Healthcare Policy
MGMT 3340
Healthcare Management, Innovation, and Design
ORGB 3201
Organizational Behavior
PHTH 4511
Healthcare Management
PHTH 5232
Evaluating Healthcare Quality
PHTH 5234
Economic Perspectives on Health Policy

Sociology Requirements

Required Sociology Courses
SOCL 1101Introduction to Sociology4
SOCL 3300Social Theory4
Electives
Complete three electives from the following with courses beyond those taken in the requirements above:12
SOCL 1102 to SOCL 2999
Complete four additional SOCL courses from the following range: 16
SOCL 3000 to SOCL 5999

Supporting Course Requirements

Introduction to College
Complete one of the following:1
HSCI 1000
College: An Introduction
SOCL 1000
Sociology at Northeastern
Writing Courses
First-Year Writing
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
Complete one of the following:4
ENGW 3306
Advanced Writing in the Health Professions
ENGW 3308
Advanced Writing in the Social Sciences
Statistics and Research Methods
Complete one statistics course and one research methods course (both must be from the same college):8
Bouvé Courses
PHTH 2210
Foundations of Biostatistics
PHTH 4202
Principles of Epidemiology in Medicine and Public Health
CSSH Courses
SOCL 2320
Statistical Analysis in Sociology
or INSH 3102
 Introduction to Statistics in the Social Sciences
SOCL 2321
Research Methods in Sociology
or INSH 3101
 Research Methods in the Social Sciences

Integrative Requirement

SOCL 3441Sociology of Health and Illness4

Capstone

Complete one of the following:3-4
HINF 5301
Evaluating Health Technologies
HSCI 4720
Health Science Capstone—Service 1
HSCI 4730
Health Science Capstone—Research 1
HSCI 4740
Health Science Capstone Seminar
HSCI 4970
and HSCI 4971
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2 2
PHTH 4515
Critical Issues in Health and Public Health Policy
PHTH 4602
Private Guns, Public Health
PHTH 4616
Addressing Rural Health Inequities
PHTH 4717
Advancing Health Justice Through the Law
PHTH 5214
Environmental Health
PHTH 5230
Global Health
PHTH 5236
Food, Nutrition, and Health
PHTH 5603
Qualitative Methods
SOCL 4600
Senior Seminar
1

Must complete Health Science Capstone Introduction (HSCI 4700) (0 semester hour) as prerequisite.

2

Junior/Senior Honors Project 1 (HSCI 4970) will count as 4 semester hours general elective.

General Electives

Complete remaining hours to meet minimum by taking general electives.

Co-op

A co-op is not required; however, students may choose to complete one or two six-month co-op experiences during their course of study. Students must consult with their advisor regarding the prerequisite course for co-op.

Public Health Major Requirement

A grade of C or higher is required for the public health core, science requirement, public health social science requirement, and HSCI and PHTH capstone courses. Students who take HSCI 1000 and HSCI 2000 must achieve a C or higher.

Public Health and Sociology Major Credit Requirement

Minimum of 87 semester hours required

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Plans of Study

Four Years/Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer First Half— Bouvé Students 

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114PSYC 11014SOCL elective (1000–2999)4General elective4
HSCI 10001SOCL 11014PHTH 23504General elective4
PHTH 12604BIOL course4-5  
BIOL course4-5Elementary language course4  
Introductory language course4   
 17-18 16-17 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
HSCI 200011Co-op0Co-op0PH social science course (introductory) 4
PHTH 22104  PHTH 25154
SOCL 33004   
PHTH 23004   
Intermediate language course4   
 17 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ANTH 23054Co-op0Co-op0PHTH 41204
ENGW 33064  PHTH 45404
SOCL 34414   
SOCL elective (1000–2999)4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Capstone course3-4PH social science course (upper)3-4  
SOCL electives (3000–5999)8SOCL electives (3000–5999)8  
PHTH 42024General elective4  
 15-16 15-16  
Total Hours: 128-132

Four Years/Two Co-ops in Summer Second Half/Fall—CSSH Students 

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
PHTH 12604ENGW 11114General elective4General elective4
PSYC 11014SOCL 11014PHTH 23504General elective4
SOCL 10001BIOL course4-5  
BIOL course4-5Elementary language course4  
Introductory language course4   
 17-18 16-17 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
SOCL 33004ANTH 23054General elective4Co-op0
SOCL elective (1000–2999)4EESH 200011SOCL elective (3000–5999)4 
PHTH 23004SOCL 23204  
Intermediate language course4PH social science course (introductory) 4  
 PHTH 25154  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENGW 33084PHTH 45404Co-op0
 SOCL 34414PHTH 41204 
 PH social science course (upper)3-4  
 SOCL elective (3000–5999)4  
 0 15-16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0SOCL 23214  
 SOCL electives (3000–5999)8  
 Capstone course3-4  
 0 15-16  
Total Hours: 128-132
1

Students that choose to complete at least one co-op experience must complete either Professional Development for Bouvé Co-op (HSCI 2000) or Professional Development for Co-op (EESH 2000) (based on home college) prior to co-op.