Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2025.1534403

Publication Title

Frontiers in Public Health

Volume

13

Pages

1534403 (1-9)

Abstract

Introduction: Undergraduate public health programs have adapted the required basic sciences based on medical and technological advances and the needs of the public health workforce. We aim to demonstrate how a benchmark analysis project was used to improve curriculum and develop a model where basic sciences in public health can be used to build pathways to clinical graduate programs like medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, etc.

Methods: Authors conducted a benchmark analysis of Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) Degrees (or public health-related degrees) in the southern region of the United States (US) to explore required basic sciences. Authors searched the Council on Education for Public Health’s website to identify accredited, baccalaureate public-health related degrees. The US Census Bureau’s Geographic Levels was used to define the southern region of the US. Inclusion criteria for public health-related programs included the following characteristics: (1) accredited as of October 2023, (2) located in the southern region of the US, and (3) Bachelor of Science. Authors used the American Medical College Application Service Application Course Classification Guide to categorize basic sciences into three categories: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Data were extracted to an Excel document for further review and analysis.

Results: There were 38 accredited, baccalaureate public health-related programs in the southern region of the US that met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen programs (47.4%) had at least one concentration or track. Most programs required General or Introductory Biology (n=12), Anatomy & Physiology (n=9), General or Introductory Chemistry, or Microbiology (n=5). Physics was counted twice as a required course while Cellular Biology (or Molecular Biology) and Organic Chemistry were counted once each across 38 programs.

Discussion: There are substantial differences across required basic sciences for BSPH Degrees in the southern region of the US. We offer a model of required basic sciences for BSPH leadership and students to consider adopting as they market BSPH Degrees for students interested in clinical careers and for those students not interested in clinical professions. This project and proposed model demonstrate that a BSPH Degree is a viable route to clinical careers, depending on a student’s academic and professional interests.

Rights

© 2025 Brown, Feliciano, and Martinez.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original authors and the copyright owners are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Data Availability

Article states: "The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation."

Original Publication Citation

Brown, E., Feliciano, M., & Martinez, D. (2025). Clarification of public health pathways toward clinical careers: A pilot study describing a benchmark analysis project. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1-9, Article 1534403. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1534403

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