About the School of Public Health

Founded in 1948, the School of Public Health (formerly known as the Graduate School of Public Health) is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. Public health is the science of protecting the health of populations and communities. Public health professionals address issues such as effects of climate change; population control of infectious disease; air, food and water safety; and health equity. This is in contrast to the role of clinicians such as nurses or physicians, who focus primarily on treating individuals - generally individuals who already have a health problem. Public health professionals apply tools from almost every field, but especially the quantitative, social, and biological sciences.

Since its founding, Pitt Public Health has ranked among the country’s top schools of public health. Over the years, we have successfully implemented a three- component mission of research, education, and service/practice. The school responds to today’s health threats by preparing the next generation of public health leaders to use innovation as the catalyst for problem-solving. The work of public health professionals has never been more important than in today’s world of emerging disease, environmental threats, changing demographics, and growing health disparities. Public health addresses broad issues that affect the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, populations, and societies-both now, and for generations to come.

Philosophy of Undergraduate Education

The primary objective of our undergraduate program is to educate the public health workforce of the future by providing the highest quality curriculum grounded in innovative science, principles of health equity and interdisciplinary approaches. Our vision at Pitt Public Health for the next decade is ambitious. We plan to conduct pioneering and high-quality research that addresses complex current and emerging public health issues; provide high-quality, inclusive, supportive, and progressive learning environments to prepare and inspire future public health leaders; promote action and promote equitable public health through practice, policy, advocacy, and professional engagement; and create sustainable pathways and a school climate for diverse faculty, staff and students to safely flourish and advance in public health. The BSPH program is key to unlocking the future of Public Health at Pitt.

Contact Information

Prospective First Year & External Transfer Students

Internal Transfer Students

Tuition rates and mandatory fee rates are available on the Undergraduate Tuition & Mandatory Fees page on the University website.

Full-time Students

Fall and Spring Terms: Undergraduate students registered for 12 to 18 credits in the Fall and Spring Terms are regarded as full-time students and are assessed the current undergraduate “flat” tuition rate for their academic center. Undergraduate students registered for fewer than 12 credits are considered part-time and are billed on a per-credit basis.  Students will be charged per credit for each credit exceeding the maximum full-time credit limit.

Summer Term: All students are billed on a per-credit basis in the Summer Term.

Minimum Academic Standard

In addition to the University-wide regulations and standards detailed in the section on General Academic Regulations in the University Undergraduate Catalog, each student in is expected to be familiar with these school-specific regulations and academic standards:

• It is the student’s responsibility to review her/his academic standing, to identify undergraduate program requirements and prerequisites for intended undergraduate program(s), and to monitor their completion.
• All required and prerequisite coursework must be taken for a grade, when letter grade option is available, unless approved by the Program Director. Students must receive a C or better in each required course and Public Health elective course to earn credit.
• For non-Public Health, non-required coursework, students must earn a grade of D- or better.
• All grades will remain on the transcript and will be calculated into the GPA unless or until a course repeat has been processed. After the repeat has been processed, the credits will be removed, but the grade will remain on the transcript, although not factored into the GPA. A repeat flag will also be noted on the transcript.
• Students who receive a grade below a C- in a required course must repeat that course and attain a grade of C or better.
• Failure to receive an acceptable grade after the second repeat of a required course may result in the student being dismissed from the BSPH program.

Transfer Credit Policy

At the time of application coursework completed outside the University of Pittsburgh is evaluated by a Pitt Public Health advisor to determine if it meets University and School of Public Health policy required for transfer.

• A maximum of 60 credits can be transferred into the University of Pittsburgh from a two-year degree program: and a maximum of 90 from a four-year college/university.
• Courses must be passed with a grade of C or better and must be earned at an appropriately accredited institution.
• Courses must have reasonable equivalents at the University of Pittsburgh to be eligible for transfer. When requested, students are responsible for supplying descriptions for courses taken elsewhere.
• Courses cannot be a repeat of any courses taken at Pitt.
• The number of credits granted for a given course cannot exceed the number awarded for the course on the transcript of the school where the course was taken, or the number earned for the corresponding course at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Credits earned on the quarter system will be converted into semester credits. A quarter credit is equal to two-thirds of a semester credit (e.g., five quarter-system credits equal three semester credits, and three quarter-system credits equal two semester credits).
• Pitt Public Health accepts credits, but not grades, for transfer. Consequently, any courses that are accepted for transfer will be used as credit toward graduation but will not be calculated into the student’s GPA at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Contact the Pitt Public Health Student Affairs Office at PHUndergrad@pitt.edu for information about transfer credit evaluation.

Audit (N Grade)

To audit a course, a student must register for and pay tuition for the course. The instructor for the course must sign the Grade Option/Audit Request form before the form can be processed. Completed forms must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. Students who audit a course are given an N grade, which means that the course is counted neither towards graduation nor the GPA. A student typically chooses to audit a course for personal enrichment.

G Grades

At the discretion of an instructor, a G grade may be awarded when students who have been attending a course and making regular progress are prevented from completing the course due to extenuating personal circumstances. Students who are assigned a G grade are required to complete course requirements no later than one year after the term or session in which the course was taken, or by an earlier deadline established by the instructor. After that year, the grade will automatically change to NG; an NG grade cannot be changed, and the credits will no longer appear as “in progress.” The student will be required to re-register for the course if it is needed to fulfill requirements for graduation. The School of Public Health encourages students with G grades to work with their instructors to complete the requirements for the course as soon as possible.

Academic Standing

The School of Public Health is committed to the success of its students and has guidelines in place to connect students with the appropriate resources at the earliest sign of academic difficulty. A student’s academic standing is comprised of three factors: term GPA, cumulative GPA, and progress toward a degree. Students in the School of Public Health are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA and term GPA of 2.00 or above for each term of enrollment. In addition, full-time students are expected to successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits during each term of enrollment. Part-time students are expected to successfully complete a minimum of 3 credits during each term of enrollment.

Academic Alert is a marker designed to notify students who show signs, early on and throughout their academic career, of jeopardizing successful progress toward the completion of their undergraduate degree. Students who receive two consecutive Academic Alerts will be placed on Academic Probation.

Students are placed on Academic Probation after earning a GPA between a 1.50 and a 1.99 over two consecutive terms or have one semester at or below a 1.49 cumulative GPA. Students may also be placed on Academic Probation if they fail to make progress toward their degree (e.g., failing to earn any academic credits).

Students currently on Academic Probation who earn a term GPA below a 2.00 or fail to make progress toward their degree will be subject to Academic Suspension. After being suspended, students are not eligible to re-enroll for one calendar year. Following suspension, students are required to apply for reinstatement at the School of Public Health Dean’s Office. Students returning from academic suspension are reinstated on academic probation and are required to develop an academic success plan upon their return. These reinstated students’ records are reviewed after each subsequent term of enrollment.

Students who have been reinstated from Academic Suspension must earn at least a 2.00 GPA for each term that they enroll until they have achieved a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or above. If a student fails to earn a 2.00 term GPA, they are subject to Academic Dismissal from the University. Dismissed students are not eligible for reinstatement.

Probation and Eligibility for Financial Aid

The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA) monitors financial aid eligibility. Students on probation should contact OAFA at 412-624-7488 for more information.

Credit Policies

The following section details the School of Public Health’s rules regarding allowable credits and courses for students earning a degree in the School of Public Health.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credits

See the AP credit section of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Web site.

Summer Courses Taken Elsewhere

School of Public Health students in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of at least 2.00) may attend a summer or special session of another accredited institution in order to supplement their program, provided they receive prior approval from their School of Public Health advisor. Students may not repeat any course taken at the University of Pittsburgh (passed or failed) at another institution. A maximum of two courses (no more than 8 credits) may be taken in a single period of enrollment elsewhere. 

Repeating a Course/Duplication of Course Content 

If a student repeats a course, they must complete a course repeat form and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs. Please note the following.

• The original grade remains on the transcript but is not counted in the calculation of the GPA.
• Any grade earned in the repeated course will be factored into the GPA, even if it is lower than the original grade.
• The repeated course does not increase the number of credits counted toward meeting degree requirements unless an F is replaced by a passing grade.
• W, R, N, or NC grades reported for the repeated course will not be identified as a course repeat, thus the original grade earned will continue to be counted in the GPA. Incomplete (G) grades will not be identified as repeated courses until the course work is completed.
• No sequential course may be repeated for credit after a higher numbered course in that sequence has been passed with a C or higher grade.
• No course can be repeated at any other institution.
• Students may repeat a course no more than two times.

Students may not earn duplicate credit for courses that substantially duplicate the content of courses taken previously. For example, duplicate credit cannot be earned for the following:

• Both a regular version of a course and an honors version of that course.
• Courses that are cross listed with a course the student has already taken.
• Courses taken under a newly assigned course number if already taken under an old course number.
• Certain specific courses that duplicate material.

Students with questions about repeating courses or duplicating course content should consult with their academic advisors.

International Baccalaureate

The School of Public Health recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher-Level Examinations and may grant advanced standing and/or credit for various fields for scores on the Higher-Level Examinations, which range from five to seven. Advanced standing is determined individually by subject according to departmental policy. Students should send the results of their IB examinations directly to the Office of Student Records. No credit will be given for Subsidiary-Level Examinations.

Normal Credit Load

A normal credit load is 12 to 18 credits per academic term (e.g. fall and spring). Students should complete a minimum of 15 credits per term in order to graduate within four years.

Any term credit load more than 18 credits requires the approval of the Director of Advising and approval of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Students must initiate a petition for a credit overload with their advisor. A credit overload (more than 18 credits) will result in additional tuition charges.

Statute of Limitations

All of the credits required for a degree, whether earned in residence or transferred from another institution, must have been earned within 12 years prior to the date on which the degree is awarded. However, when given evidence that the previous courses still provide adequate preparation for courses yet to be taken and still represent a reasonable part of the total academic program, this limitation may be waived. In such cases, the waiver is for a specific period during which the program must be completed.

Online Courses

Students may count a maximum of 24 credits of online coursework completed at Pitt toward their degree. First-year students may not take online courses in their first term. For students who begin in the summer or fall, they may not take online courses until the spring. For students who begin in the spring, they may not take online courses until the summer.

Adding and Dropping Courses

Generally, students enrolled in the School of Public Health are not required to have their academic advisor’s approval before adding or dropping a course. However, all first-year students are strongly urged to consult their academic advisor before adding or dropping a course.

Withdrawing from Courses

Withdrawing from one or more courses may impact a student’s financial aid status. Withdrawal from a course must be done by the withdrawal deadline, which is posted on the Office of the University Registrar’s Web site.  All students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor before withdrawing from a course.

Graduate Classes

Undergraduates with sufficient preparation are encouraged to take advantage of the rich variety of graduate courses offered by the Departments and Schools within the University. Students enrolled in the School of Public may use credits in graduate courses toward their undergraduate degree. These may not be counted as credits toward a graduate degree except for students admitted into a 4+1 degree program. To enroll in a graduate course, students must obtain the written consent of the instructor of the course, have a 3.00 cumulative GPA, and have the approval of the Director of the undergraduate program. See the University’s allowable credits and course limitations regulations for details.  If students are in their senior year and have completed all of the BSPH requirements, they make take graduate level SPH courses (at the permission of the instructor) that would count towards a graduate degree in SPH.

Academic Honors

Dean’s List

Each term, a list is compiled of students whose academic record in the preceding term indicates outstanding academic achievement. To be placed on the School’s Dean’s List, a student must have earned at least 12 letter grade credits (not including courses taken on the Satisfactory/No-Credit option) with a term GPA of at least 3.50. As well, no grade earned during the term in review may be lower than a C. Both full-time and part-time students are eligible for placement on the Dean’s list. For part-time students, grades from the current and preceding two terms (which must total at least 12 letter grade credits) are used to determine eligibility for the Dean’s list. If a grade is changed after the Dean’s list is generated for the term, it is the student’s responsibility to contact SPH BSPH office for an individualized reevaluation of eligibility.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements for a bachelor’s degree from Pitt Public Health are as follows:

• Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 approved credits (including advanced standing)
• 120 service learning hours completed
• Minimum cumulative GPA 2.000
• All general education requirements and completion of all BSPH requirements
• The GPA will be calculated as a composite of all courses taken at the University of Pittsburgh and counting toward completion of the degree
• No outstanding D, F or G grades in a required course
• Student must be considered an “active student” at time of graduation; s/he must have been registered for at least one credit at the University of Pittsburgh within the last three terms or sessions
• Students may not enroll in courses outside the University of Pittsburgh in the semester they are graduating
• An application for graduation must be filed in the Pitt Public Health Office of Student Affairs, based on the deadlines determined for that term. Email notification of these deadlines will be sent to students in the prior term and will posted on the Pitt Public Health Undergraduate Graduation website and the BSPH student communication Canvas page.

A student with outstanding financial obligations to the University is not eligible to receive the diploma, official academic transcripts, or any certification of completion of the academic program.

Graduation with Honors

A baccalaureate degree student attaining an outstanding scholastic record will be graduated with University honors if a minimum of 60 letter-graded credits have been earned at the University of Pittsburgh. The GPA used for the awarding of honors at graduation will be calculated as a composite of courses taken at the University of Pittsburgh and counting toward completion of the degree. The following recognition of academic standing with honors applies:

Cum Laude 3.250 - 3.490

Magna Cum Laude 3.500 - 3.740

Summa Cum Laude 3.750 - 4.000

Honors Cords

In most cases, grades for the term you are graduating in will not be due until after Recognition day is held. Therefore, whether you qualify for an honor cord will be based on your cumulative GPA from the semester prior to graduation.

Academic Integrity

Students have the responsibility to be honest and to conduct themselves in an ethical manner while pursuing academic studies. All individuals (students, faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and staff) at Pitt Public Health abide by the University’s policy on academic integrity as well as the Pitt Public Health academic integrity procedures.

Special Academic Programs/Opportunities

• Bioethics Certificate  
• Dual Degree-currently there is no dual degree option with other University of Pittsburgh schools.
• 4+1 Program-BSPH students are not eligible to apply for the SPH 4+1 program