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BS in Public Health (Occupational Safety and Health)
Program Description
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health offers two professional areas of study: Occupational Safety and Health and Health Promotion. Each concentration is designed to give students a well-rounded education in public health, while providing strong preparation in one of these areas.
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), a concentration in the BS in Public Health, prepares students to protect workers, the public, and the environment by studying factors that affect health and safety. Students learn to assess risk, manage workplace hazards, prevent injuries, investigate incidents, and address health and safety issues in workplaces and communities.
One of a kind in California. We proudly offer one of the West Coast's few four-year Occupational Safety and Health degree programs and the only one of its kind in California.
Build skills in hazard analysis, risk reduction, emergency preparedness, incident investigation, workplace training, and safety management.
Concentration graduates directly qualify for Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) and Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) certifications, which increase salary expectations.
Did you know OSH is a STEM degree that leads to lucrative careers with just a bachelor's degree? Courses in OSH can support pathways like pre-med, nursing, engineering, environmental health, and more.
Concentration Options
Follow the link below to review the Public Health course catalog.
"I chose the OSH field because I want to prevent workplace injuries from occuring and ensure that every employee returns home safe and health. The workers need a voice, and I will be the one to stand up for them." - Viktoriya Ionova, Sac State OSH alum
Program Requirements
Students must be a Public Health Major to enroll. All other courses do not have a major prerequisite/restriction.
- Total Units required for BS degree: 120
- Total Units required for Major: 56-58
Notes:
- ALL courses in the major require a grade of "C" of better.
- Writing Placement for Junior (WPJ) is a prerequisite to enroll in a Writing Intensive Course.
Note: Students graduating with a BS in Public Health (all concentrations) will not be subject to the University's Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. Students who change their major may be subject to the University's Foreign Language Graduation Requirement.
| Required Lower Division Courses (12 units) | Units | Course Prerequisites? |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 20 Biology: A Human Perspective OR BIO 10 Basic Biological Concepts | 3/3 | No |
| PUBH 50 Healthy Lifestyles | 3 | No |
| PUBH 98 Public Health Professions Seminar | 3 | No |
| STAT 1 Introduction to Statistics | 3 | See Catalog |
| Required Upper Division Courses (18 units) | Units | Course Prerequisites? |
| PUBH 100 Fundamentals of Safety & Health | 3 | No |
| PUBH 116 Public Health Policy, Management & Administration | 3 | No |
| PUBH 118 Introduction to Public Health | 3 | No |
| PUBH 147 Health Data Analysis | 3 | STAT 1 or STAT 10B |
| PUBH 148 Epidemiology | 3 | See Catalog |
| PUBH 151 Intro. to the US Healthcare System | 3 | No |
| Take ALL of the following (17 units) | Units | Course Prerequisites? |
| CHEM 6A Intro. to General Chemistry | 5 | See Catalog |
| PUBH 106 Occupational Health | 3 | No |
| PUBH 107 Occupational Safety | 3 | No |
| PUBH 108 Occupational Health & Safety Laws & Regulations | 3 | No |
| PUBH 109 Cause & Control of Occupational Loss | 3 | No |
| Take ONE of the following - Risk Management (3 units) | Units | Course Prerequisites? |
| FIN 138 Principles of Risk Management & Insurance | 3 | No |
| HROB 153 Employment Law | 3 | No |
| HROB 155 Conflict Management & Negotiation | 3 | No |
| MGMT 102 Business Communications | 3 | See Catalog |
| PSYC 108 Organizational Psychology | 3 | No |
| PUBH 154 Healthcare Organizational Behavior | 3 | No |
| Take ONE of the following - Environmental Science (3 units) | Units | Course Prerequisites? |
| ENVS 128 Environment & the Law | 3 | No |
| ENVS 130 Environmental Toxicology | 3 | CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A |
| ENVS 140 Energy, Society, & the Environment | 3 | No |
| ENVS 144 Sustainability Science & Policy | 3 | ENVS 10 or BIO 1 |
| ENVS 165 American Environmental History | 3 | No |
| Take ONE of the following - Other Electives (minimum of 3 units) | Units | Course Prerequisites? |
| BIO 39 Microbiology for Allied Health Students | 4 | See Catalog |
| BIO 140 Medical Microbiology & Emerging Infectious Diseases | 3 | BIO 39 or BIO 139 |
| CHEM 6B Intro. to Organic & Biological Chemistry | 5 | See Catalog |
| CM 20 Construction Materials & Processes | 3 | CM 10 & ENGL 1A |
| CRJ 169 Emergency Management | 3 | No |
| PHYS 5A General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound | 4 | See Catalog |
| PUBH 110 Issues in Occupational Health & Safety | 3 | PUBH 100 |
| PUBH 112 Disease Prevention | 3 | No |
| PUBH 119 Community Health Promotion | 3 | PUBH 118 |
| PUBH 190 Public Health Study Abroad | 3 | No |
| PUBH 195 Fieldwork - Health or Safety | 3-4 | Permission of Faculty Advisor |
GSP Qualified Academic Program
Safety Degree from California State University, Sacramento Becomes a GSP Qualified Academic Program
The BS in Public Health (Occupational Safety and Health) at California State University, Sacramento has been recognized as a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), one of the main credentialing organization for safety, health and environment professionals in the US. It will be only the second program in California to have such a recognition.
This recognition will help the students graduating from this concentration to get Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation without any separate examination. It will also waive the requirement to pass the Associate Safety Professional (ASP) Examination, which is prerequisite for getting the Certified Safety Professional (CSP), and give students an alternative route to get CSP certification.
How to Apply for GSP? https://www.bcsp.org/graduate-safety-practitioner-gsp
For more information, please contact Nitin Roy, Assistant Professor, at nitin.roy@csus.edu.
Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) Program
The BS in Public Health (Occupational Safety and Health) program at Sacramento State is recognized for the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) program.
IHMM’s Student Associate Safety & Health Manager (ST/ASHM™) credential recognizes students who wish to demonstrate their development of knowledge and skills in safety and health management in the workplace while pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degree. Student ASHMs are also eligible for the IHMM Dr. John H. Frick Memorial Scholarship, a $32,000 program to assist our student certificants with the costs of their education.
After your Student ASHM designation, you earn your Associate Safety & Health Manager [ASHM] designation along with your degree.
IHMM’s Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM™) credential recognizes professionals who are recent Bachelor’s degree graduates with a focus in health and safety-related fields. This credential puts the holder on the fast-track to the Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM®) credential.
Scholarship Program: https://hazmatsociety.org/student-scholarships/
For questions about the ASHM and Student ASHM program, please contact Dr. Nitin Roy, Assistant Professor, at nitin.roy@csus.edu or Kaylene Cagle at kcagle@ihmm.org.
Careers
The Occupational Safety and Health concentration comprises an enormous range of possible career pathways and areas of application. Below is a sample of the common areas of expertise and related job titles that program graduates could pursue:
- Environmental Health & Justice: Environmental Health Specialist, Environmental Engineer, Hydrologist, Water Safety Engineer, Sustainable Systems Designer, Sustainability Strategist
- Disaster & Humanitarian Response: Disaster Response Coordinator, Humanitarian Logistics Officer, Crisis Data Analyst, Emergency Prepardeness Specialist
- Occupational Safety, Health & Workplace Wellbeing: Industrial Hygienist, Occupational Safety Specialist, Safety Inspector, Workplace Wellness Coordinator, Corporate Safety Director
- Public Safety & Injury Prevention: Violence Prevention Strategist, Injury Prevention Specialist, Emergency Medical Services Director, Consumer Protection Specialist
- Food Systems & Nutrition Innovation: Food Policy Analyst, Consumer Safety Officer
Note: some options listed may require training additional training, coupled with a degree in Public Health.
For detailed labor market insights for each program, visit the Sacramento State Catalog.
- Visit the Public Health catalog page.
- Select any program listed under Degree Programs.
- Review the Career Data section.
Where/How to Obtain Advising
Faculty Advisor - Mentoring/Professional Development
Students who are declared in the Public Health major are assigned a specific faculty advisor. Students can find their faculty advisor on their Student Center and are encouraged to see their advisor for academic advising, career exploration, specific mentoring, and professional resources. Students should see their advisor during their office hours. The current list of faculty office hours is available on the department's main page under Student Resources.
Note: Faculty are unavailable during summer and winter session.
HHS Student Success Center - GE/Academic/Declare
The Health & Human Services Student Success Center advises all Pre-majors in Public Health and serves an array of students from first-time freshman to graduating seniors. Please visit the center for in-person or virtual drop-in hours. If you have questions, please email them directly at: chhs_success_center@csus.edu
Undeclared/Expressed Interest Advising
The Academic Advising Center offers one-on-one advising to help current Sacramento State students explore major/minor opportunities. The Center engages students in a developmental process that helps clarify and implement individual educational plans consistent with their skills, interests, and values.
Professional Associations & Student Clubs
Sac State Student Clubs
American Society of Safety Professional (ASSP) - Student Chapter
Public Health Professional Associations
American Public Health Association (APHA)
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH)
Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)
World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)
Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
Department Contact Information
Phone
(916) 278-6441
Office Hours
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Except Holidays (Campus Closed)
Department Location
Solano Hall 3002
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819
Mailing Address
Department of Public Health
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street, MS 6073
Sacramento, CA 95819
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
How do I declare or change my major to Public Health, Health Services Administration, or Hospitality and Tourism Management?
Please complete the change/declaration of major survey to submit your request: https://csus.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_djcg8N8i8tgYuZT. Please allow 2-4 weeks for the major change to be reviewed and processed.
Once the change of major is processed by the Office of the Registrar, you can verify the change in your My Sac State>Student Center>Academics.
How do I make an appointment with my faculty advisor?
Students who have been assigned a faculty or program advisor are encouraged to meet with their advisor during designated office hours. For current faculty office hours, please visit our department webpage and refer to the Faculty Office Hours (PDF).
Prospective or undeclared students should consult with an advisor at the HHS Student Success Center for further guidance and support.
How can I change my faculty advisor?
Please see Joanna Sampanis, College Advisor & Retention Specialist, at the HHS Student Success Center for further assistance.
What should I do if the course I want to register for is full?
We strongly recommend that you submit a Course Add/Drop/Withdraw Petition form for the specific course and section you wish to enroll in once the new semester begins. Please note that any add permits submitted prior to the first week of the semester will be processed by the department initially. Submission of a petition does not guarantee enrollment in the course.
Which courses completed at a community college are eligible for transfer to Sacramento State?
For additional information and assistance regarding transfer credits, please visit the Transfer Credit webpage. If additional assistance is needed, please see an adcvisor at the HHS Student Success Center.
Can I pursue a Second Bachelor's Degree in the program?
Students can pursue a Second Bachelor's Degree in any of our undergraduate programs in the department. Sac State students would need to complete only at least 24 new Upper Division units. Students from other schools would need to complete 30 units at Sac State.
To apply, please visit Apply to Sacramento State. Be sure to select the Undergraduate Application and indicate that you are applying for a Second Bachelor's Degree by checking the appropriate box.
I’m an incoming freshman student and would like to change my major—what steps should I take?
Please visit the Hornet Launch Program webpage and submit the "Freshman Change of Major Form" and follow the steps. For further assistance, please contact the HL team at hornetlaunch@csus.edu.
I am an incoming transfer student and am interested in changing my major. What steps should I follow to initiate this process?
Please contact the New Student Orientation office at orient.reservations@csus.edu or (916) 278-7841 to reschedule your orientation session. Transfer students interested in changing their major should consult with an academic advisor to complete the Change of Major e-form. Additional support will be available during Orientation to assist with your transition to the new major.
How do I submit official transcripts to Sacramento State?
Transcripts may be sent electronically directly from the college/university you attended. Inquire at the college/university to check if the service is available. Official electronic transcripts can be sent from college/university to incomingtranscripts@csus.edu
- Current Sacramento State students: You are required to submit official transcripts from ALL colleges you have attended AFTER enrolling at Sacramento State. Transcripts must show ALL college coursework completed and courses currently in progress. Sacramento State Transcripts are not required.
- New Transfers: Visit the Admissions & Outreach website for transcript deadlines & other important dates.
- Returning Sac State students: Only send transcripts from colleges attended since leaving Sac State.