Urban Public Health BS

Turn public health challenges into community breakthroughs.

Urban Public Health students tabling at wellness event.

Request Info

About the Program

Immerse yourself in hands-on, student-centered learning that empowers you to improve health and fight disease locally and globally. Faculty in the Department of Urban Public Health publish groundbreaking research in The Lancet, Nature Medicine, Hypertension, Health Education & Behavior, and the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, giving you expert insight directly from industry leaders. Study public health science, communication, data analysis, and problem solving while exploring how social and cultural forces shape community health. With a focus on equity, inclusion, and innovation, the program fosters creative thinking and prepares you to address complex public health challenges. Through internships and a senior capstone, you’ll collaborate with communities, agencies, and organizations, putting your skills into practice both at home and beyond.

Here’s your chance to:

Develop sharp analytical skills to uncover health disparities and design impactful initiatives in partnership with communities to address the challenges that matter most.
Build a strong foundation for medical school, graduate programs, and your career in the field.
Participate in community-engaged research led by faculty, collaborating as a student researcher and coauthor on published papers.

Outside of the classroom, faculty drive pioneering research in environmental health, nutrition, neurotoxicology, urban public health, and health equity. They serve on editorial boards for prestigious journals such as Neurotoxicology and Teratology and the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, and have earned research funding from major institutions including the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our program is deeply rooted in urban public health, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities found in city environments. From community-based interventions to policy-driven research, faculty and students work together to shape healthier, more equitable futures.

average salary

ZipRecruiter, 2025

student to faculty ratio

University Survey, 2025

on-campus institutes providing research & learning opportunities

University Survey, 2025

students talk sitting on stones at UMass Boston.

Fall Open House

Future Beacons! Join us for Fall Open House on October 24 or November 7. Prospective undergraduate students are invited to tour campus and learn how UMass Boston is made for you.

RSVP for Open House

Student, Balsam, standing in front of green leaves.

Take Advantage of Small Class Sizes & Access to Impactful Research

More intimate classroom settings afford you a more interactive learning experience—plus opportunities to assist in research aimed at solving upstream health issues for entire populations.

Career Possibilities

Graduates with a BS in Public Health work in health departments, hospitals, nonprofits, and academia as community health workers, educators, or policy analysts. Wherever you go, your work will create healthier communities.

Here’s where this degree can take you:

Data Scientist
Health Educator
Public Health Inspector
Epidemiologist (entry level)
Health Policy Analyst
Community Health Care Worker
Environmental Health Specialist
Public Health Administrator
Research Assistant in Public Health or Health Science
Public Health Consultant (entry level)
Health Science Specialist (entry level)

Student Stories

Group of students tabling at Walk with Grace event.

Urban public health is very special since its main focus is on equity and in places where people work, live, and can grow. This major meets people in the heart of diversity. So far in the major, I’ve loved seeing how policy can intersect to address and approach real-world challenges. I find it exciting to be part of a field that can turn difficulties into action for a more healthy, and fair community.

Rocio

Plan Your Education

How to Apply

First Year Student Deadlines: Fall

Early Action I: November 1
Early Action II: January 1
Regular Decision: February 15

Transfer Student Deadlines:

Fall Semester (Domestic): June 15
Spring Semester: December 15

Please review the first-year and transfer apply pages for important information about application requirements, deadlines, and application status check.

Apply as a First-Year Student

Apply as a Transfer Student

Financing Your Education

Become a Beacon and pursue your passion in UMass Boston’s diverse, supportive environment. Many students across our 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs receive financial aid—providing access to an education that’s exceptional and affordable. For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu.

Apply for Financial Aid

Undergraduate Scholarships

Scholarships for Transfers

Program Details

Curriculum

Core Courses (12 credits)

Complete the following four courses.

PUBHTH 101 - History and Foundations of Public Health 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 102 - Introduction to Environmental Health 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 220 - Introduction to Epidemiology 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 240 - Social Determinants of Health 3 Credit(s)

Upper Level Core Courses (15 credits)

Complete the following five courses.

PUBHTH 330 - Racism as a Public Health Problem 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 350 - US Healthcare Systems 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 355 - Health Communications 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 356 - Urbanization and Public Health 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 360 - Applied Biostatistics 3 Credit(s)

Elective Courses (6 credits)

Complete two courses from the following list.

PUBHTH 400 - Research Methods for Public Health 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 465 - Special Topics in Urban Public Health 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 498 - Independent Study in Urban Public Health 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 365 - Special Topics in Urban Public Health 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 380 - Public Health Issues in Aging Societies 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 203 - Pandemics and Climate Change 3 Credit(s)
PUBHTH 265 - Special Topics in Urban Public Health 3 Credit(s)

Capstone (6 credits)

This requirement must be completed in residence at UMass Boston.

PUBHTH 480 - Capstone in Urban Public Health 6 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Learning Outcomes

The learning objectives of the curriculum include competencies in the:

concepts and applications of basic statistics,
foundations of biological and life sciences,
history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society,
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,
concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations,
underlying science of human health and disease, including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course,
cultural, socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities,
fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation,
fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system, as well as the differences between systems in other countries,
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, and
basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology.

Graduation Criteria

~60/120 credits from public health courses including community-engaged practicum/ ~60/120 credits from General Education and elective courses

Contact

Contact the Department of Urban Public Health

Wheatley Hall, 3-120
Phone: 617.287.7500
Fax: 617.287.7527

Email Urban Public Health

Academic Community

Explore the department and college that supports your journey in Urban Public Health.