About
The Program in Public Health curriculum focuses on multidisciplinary approaches to public health practice and research, exploring both quantitative and qualitative aspects of public health at all levels of analysis. Undergraduates explore topic areas including epidemiology, genetics, health informatics; chronic and infectious diseases; environmental and global health sciences, social and behavioral health sciences; and health policy and administration. The program places emphasis on learning through research on critical issues including vector biology, exposure assessment, air and water pollution, natural disasters and emergency health response; toxicology and environmental microbiology, occupational health and industrial ecology, community and neighborhood health assessments, risk mapping and health disparities, maternal and child health, comprehensive and alternative medicine, health promotion and communication, and international health.
Public Health education is most firmly embedded in knowledge systems through research and practice. Public Health students enroll in PH 198 Directed Studies and PH 199 Individual Research to engage in groups (PH 198) or individual (PH 199) research working directly with faculty on public health topics in a research laboratory or in the field. Through a collaboration with the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Program also offers opportunities for students to enroll in PH 194 Clinical and Translational Science Preparatory course series that trains students to work with faculty members in clinical and healthcare settings.
How to Get Involved in Public Health Research (PH 198/199)
Have you taken a class taught by one of the faculty that inspired you? Are there articles published by the faculty that you can read to learn more about the topic or subject that you find interesting? Would you like to gain experience and training opportunities on how to think about real-world problems?
Engaging in research provides you with many opportunities how to think critically and apply classroom concepts into real world situations. If you are interested public health research, a good place to start is to do some research of your own and to read about the research interests of the faculty A summary of Faculty research summaries can be found right here:
Once you have determined that you want to engage in research, you may consider enrolling in PH 198/199.
Note: Some faculty have specific instructor perquisites for PH 198/199 research.
How to Enroll in PH 198/199 Research
- Make sure that you have satisfied both the general requirements listed above AND the specific instructor prerequisites listed in the ” ” document.
- Students interested in PH 198/199 research should submit an application that includes the following information:
– CV or Resume
– Statement of Research Interest (or abstract) on why you want to do this work (not to exceed 1-page)
– Name of the instructor with whom you want to do your research
– Quarter you want to start your research (usually 1 quarter in advance)
– All PH 198/199 research applications considered for review must be sent electronically to phpracticum@uci.edu, Subject Heading: PH 198 or PH 199. You will be contacted by phone or by email if your application will be considered for further review by the faculty. - Meeting with the Faculty Sponsor: Once you meet with the faculty sponsor and agree on a research project and number of units, the faculty will notify the Student Affairs Office to authorize your enrollment in PH 198 or PH 199 the following quarter.
- Regulatory Requirements. Regulatory requirements may vary depending on the needs of the research project. The faculty sponsor will identify these requirements which must be completed before participating or engaging in any research. Regulatory forms for PH 198/199 may be downloaded here.
- Submit completed regulatory forms and requirements to Public Health Student Affairs, Anteater Instruction and Research Building (AIRB), Suite 2010, for verification. Once verified, you will be given an authorization code to enroll in PH 198 or PH 199.
Public Health Honors Research (192):
The Public Health Honors Program provides an opportunity for selected outstanding students in the program to pursue advanced work in independent research and earn honors in Public Health upon graduation. Successful completion of the honors program requires three quarters of commitment, while enrolled in PUBHLTH H192A-PUBHLTH H192B-PUBHLTH H192C. Students are also expected to enroll in supervised Undergraduate Research (PUBHLTH 199) with their research mentor. The program concludes with a presentation and submission of an honors culminating thesis.
