Health Science Degrees in California (L-Z)

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University was founded in 1905 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The university consists of eight schools and more than 55 programs, including health, dentistry and pharmacy. The school is private and remains church affiliated. In 1866, Seventh-day Adventists founded the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, which was their first organized medical location. Today, the health system operated by the church is one of the largest in the nonprofit sector throughout the world. Adventist Health International is committed to partnering healthcare services with those in need, particularly in developing countries, and the organization is based at Loma Linda University.

The school is unique in that it combines medical sciences with a Christian education. The school occupies a 97 acre suburban campus in the quiet community of Loma Linda, surrounded by rolling hills. It is located approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles and is home to more than 4,000 students.

Health Information Management-RHIA

Health information administrators have the opportunity to develop policy, contribute to financial management, support decisions and complete research using scientific methods that include computer science, business management, law and an understanding of healthcare. Graduates serve the needs of patients, providers and administration with the possibility of placement in acute, outpatient, long-term and other care facilities. In addition, graduates have obtained employment in governmental agencies, legal office and with computer vendors.

The most recent graduating class from this program at Loma Linda had a 100 percent placement rate and salaries ranged from $38,000 to $50,000 per year. Some graduates were able to obtain positions at pay rates of between $85,000 and $150,000 per year. The university offers six different options within the field of Health Information, and some of those programs are available online.

Health Informatics

A newly offered option in health science at Loma Linda University is the Health Informatics degree. The healthcare industry has dramatically increased reliance on technology, and many healthcare providers are finding it necessary to hire employees with expertise in the technology necessary to provide quality patient care. With new regulations regarding reporting, responsiveness, and documentation, third-party payers, government agencies and even patients are demanding more transparency, and this requires additional technology to provide that transparency.

To apply for admission to Loma Linda University’s healthcare science programs, applicants should complete an application along with transcripts and SAT/ACT scores with a $60 application fee. Once accepted, students must also submit an additional transcript and complete a secondary application.

Contact Information

Health Informatics and Information Management
Loma Linda University
School of Allied Health Professions
Nichol Hall, Room 1905
Loma Linda, CA 92350
Email: askalliedhealth@llu.edu
Telephone: 909-558-1500
Link

San Diego State University

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the region, having been founded in 1897 as the San Diego Normal School whose focus was instructing elementary school teachers. The first campus was located over a downtown drugstore before moving to a 17-acre location on Park Boulevard. The initial curriculum focused on English, history and math until the school came under the leadership of Samuel T. Black who expanded course offerings significantly. In 1921, the name of the school changed to the San Diego State Teacher’s College, and ten years later, moved to seven Mission-style buildings on the eastern border of San Diego. In 1935, the state expanded the degree programs beyond teacher education, and the name of the school changed to San Diego State College, gaining university status in the early 1970s.

Today, the school has an enrollment of more than 35,000 students and is renowned for academic excellence. Students choose from 91 undergraduate, 78 masters and 22 doctoral programs. The school has a strong sense of community, and 50 percent of graduates remain in the San Diego area after completing their studies.

Health Science (Public Health)

The health science program at San Diego State includes classwork and field experience. Courses include subjects such as nutrition, psychology, sociology, health education and social work. Field placement could be at over 40 health-related agencies in the San Diego area, and some courses use the information students learn as part of the field experience in their curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to join several student associations especially devoted to those in the health science field. Long-range predictions how that the healthcare field is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, so career opportunities are plentiful for students who graduate from the program at San Diego State.

Contact Information

College of Health and Human Services
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4162
Telephone: 619-594-6317
Link

San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University began in 1899 as the San Francisco Normal School, a college for teachers. It was the first college to require students to have a high school diploma before being accepted. The first graduating class had 36 women, and the first man was admitted in 1904. In 1930, the first four-year program was initiated and the college gained university status in 1972. The school mascot is the Gator, which was selected by students in 1931. Originally, the mascot was the Golden Gater, meant as a play on the nearby Golden Gate Bridge.

Today, more than 2,700 students live on the San Francisco State campus, which is located in one of the most vibrant and beautiful cities in the country. Students say that the hands-on learning at the school is what led them to successful careers as they were able to apply talents not only learned in the classroom, but through community service, internships and participation with faculty. For athletic minded students, the school offers a variety of intercollegiate sports for men and women.

Health Education

The goal of the Health Education Department at San Francisco State is to promote health equity, social justice, along with individual and community health services through research, advocacy and preparation of students to go on to careers as public health leaders. The ultimate aim of the program is to provide students with practices in public health and prepare them to work in careers related to disease prevention and the promotion of health. Students must complete coursework and field experience which prepares them to facilitate changes in individual health behaviors and to work as an advocate for socio-economic policies that provide disease prevention and promote health for all members of the community.

Students also have the opportunity to obtain a minor in Holistic Health Studies, which is a model program that focuses on holistic health practices in health and healing. This provides additional career options to students upon graduation.

Contact Information

HSS 326
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone: 415-338-0570
Email: hed@sfsu.edu
Link

San Jose State University

San Jose State University was founded in 1857 as Minns’ Evening Normal School, under the belief that a good teacher should try to elevate the school where they teach to a high standard of moral excellence. In 1862, the name of the school changed to the California State Normal School, still focusing on the education of teachers. In 1887, the school added training in manual arts, including lessons in using lathes, saws and planes. In an effort to attract more male students, football was added to the school in 1892. The Great San Francisco Earthquake in 1906 caused damage to the campus’ main building, and classes were held in temporary shacks or outside. In 1913, sewing and cooking classes were added to the curriculum. A fire in 1916 destroyed an estimated $17,000 in equipment used for the manual training and domestic science programs.

In 1941, the school’s football team was in Honolulu during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They helped police enforce blackouts and guarded the city water supply. In 1955, the college earned accreditation from the Association of American Universities, becoming San Jose State University. Today, the school is located on 154 acres in downtown San Jose between San Francisco and the Monterey/Carmel areas. The school now offers more than 134 bachelors and master’s degrees in 110 concentrations.

BS – Health Science

The undergraduate health science program at San Jose State offers a multi-faceted experience focused on multiple aspects of well-being. The faculty at San Jose State understands that health and wellness requires community collaboration and involvement, and they encourage students to become familiar with the community surrounding the campus. There are three health science pathways available for students at San Jose State, including:

• Health Science – Students must complete the Health Science core courses, as well as the six upper-division elective courses. In addition, students must complete the Aging and Society course. The program is designed for students who want to learn about multidisciplinary approaches to healthy while promoting community wellness and increased access to healthcare. It is a popular choice for students coming from another health-related major as previous coursework may be among the approved electives.
• Health Science with a Minor – Students must complete the core courses in Health Science and any minor offered at the college except Gerontology and Health Professions. It is a popular choice for students who wish to work in community health, but have a passion for an additional field of study. Students commonly minor in Kinesiology, Nutrition and Biology as these fields go hand-in-hand with Health Science.
• Health Science with a Concentration in Health Services Administration – This program requires students to not only complete the core courses, but also five concentration courses in Health Services Administration, as well as 200 hours of field experience in a health services administration capacity. This program is designed for students who wish to focus on careers in health policy, healthcare financing or quality measurements in healthcare.

Contact Information

San Jose State University
Department of Health Science and Recreation
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192
Telephone: 408-924-1000
Email: admissions@sjsu.edu
Link

University of California – Berkeley

The flagship campus of the University of California, Berkeley was founded in the era of the California Gold Rush. It is now known as one of the most prominent universities in the world, and, with 22 Nobel laureates to date, continues to establish itself as a leader in post-secondary education. The roots of the university begin in the mid-19th century, and were in the minds of the drafters of California’s constitution in 1849. It was almost two decades later when the private College of California and the Agricultural, Mining and Mechanical Arts College merged to form what is now the University of California-Berkeley.

The College of California, led by a former clergyman named Henry Durant, was modeled after Yale and Harvard. The school featured classes that included math, English and natural history, along with Latin and Greek. The college had very little funding, but it did own land in Oakland as well as near a small town that was eventually named for an 18th-century Irish philosopher, George Berkeley. At the same time, the Agricultural, Mining and Mechanical Arts College, created from land-grant legislation, had plentiful funding, but no land. On March 23, 1868, the Governor of the State of California signed a law to create and organize the University of California, and the school opened in 1869.

Bachelor of Arts in Public Health

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Health program at the university prepares students for graduate level studies in public health. Undergraduate students in the Colleges of Letters & Science at UC Berkeley are permitted to apply for a major in public health after completing lower-division requirements, and this often occurs at the end of the sophomore yar.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The Master of Public Health at University of California-Berkeley is a practice-based degree that guides students to leadership in public health practices. Graduates have held positions in health departments at the state, local and federal level, as well as for private and community based healthcare organizations. It is designed to be completed in two years. Students may specialize the Master of Public Health as follows:

• Master of Arts (MA) – The college offers a concurrent degree in biostatistics as part of a two-year program. Students study biostatistics, public health, biology and statistics, preparing them for employment in research, statistical or analytical positions. Students must complete an oral comprehensive examination.
• Master of Science (MS) – Students may elect to take a joint degree in epidemiology. This program is designed for students wishing to focus coursework in the area of epidemiologic research. This is a two year course of study, but must complete three months of epidemiological research and submit to a comprehensive oral examination, as well as complete a master’s paper.

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

The Doctor of Public Health at UC Berkeley is an interdisciplinary degree that trains students to be leader in research, policymaking and as public health practitioners. Candidates must meet all competencies which emphasize the student’s ability to initiate, organize and pursue problems or needed interventions in public health. The program can be completed in three or four years for students holding an MPH from an accredited college or university, and who have at least two years of postgraduate experience in a professional public health setting.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

for students with an mph from an accredited college or university, a doctor of philosophy can provide knowledge for those wishing to seek public health research or teaching positions. it can last from two to five years, and students must successfully complete an oral qualifying examination as well as a dissertation.

Contact Information

University of Berkeley
School of Public Health
50 University Hall #7360
Berkeley, CA 94720-7360
Telephone: 510-643-0881
Email: sphclass@berkeley.edu
Link 

University of California-Irvine

The University of California Irvine campus has been in existence since 1965, combining research with academics in a beautiful, southern California setting. More than 29,000 students attend UC Irvine and it is considered one of the most dynamic of all the campuses within the university system. The campus was established under the California Master Plan for Higher Education in the 1960s along with the San Diego and Santa Cruz campuses. At the time the campus was built, the city of Irvine did not exist. Instead, the campus was named after James Irvine, a landowner who sold 1,000 acres to the college for $1 as the Irvine Company policy prohibited donation of property to a public entity.Times Higher Education ranked the campus first among universities in the United States, and three researchers from the college have won Nobel Prizes.

B.S. in Public Health Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences at UC Irvine offers an interdisciplinary approach to public health practice and research. Students have the opportunity, upon graduation, to pursue professions in public health in the public or private sector. Students are required to take courses such as biological science, chemistry, public health and five upper-division courses in subjects such as epidemiology, environmental and global health, as well as infections and chronic diseases. Students must complete an eight unit practicum with a grade of “C” or better.

B.A. in Public Health Policy

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Policy is designed for students interested in how policies are and should be made, as well as how they must be designed and implemented. The curriculum also includes information on how policies must be monitored and evaluated to determine their efficiency. Students take courses that include public health, biological science, and seven upper-divisions courses. Upper-division classes fall under either the Health Policy and Management or the Social and Behavioral Health Sciences topics. Students must also complete an eight unit practicum.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The goal of the Master of Public Health program at UC Irvine is to develop individuals into public health professionals that are able to reduce disability and suffering due to disease in culturally diverse communities. The focus is on the global outlook of public health principles, and students are able to assess health-risk factors in order to develop prevention strategies.

PH.D. in Public Health

Students admitted to doctorate level classes in the Public Health program conduct research alongside the gifted faculty at UC Irvine, assisting in the development of solutions to the health problems of today. Graduates have obtained careers in academic institutions, in research organizations and other areas of the public health profession. The program takes between four and five years to complete, through four modules:

•Preparatory
•Elective
•Research
•Submission and Defense of Dissertation

To be eligible for the program, students must have successfully completed at least a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Strong verbal and quantitative skills are necessary and must be evidenced by GRE General Test Scores.

Contact Information

Anteater Instruction & Research Offices
653 E. Peltason Drive
Suite 2010, 2nd Floor
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-3957
Phone: 951-827-1012
Email: stephapl@uci.edu
Link

University of California-Riverside

In 1907, the California legislature established the Citrus Experiment Station in order to better understand agricultural issues and help the state plan for the future. This research facility was located in the small town of Riverside, and it is believed that a local citrus grower, John Henry Reed, was the first to propose to legislators the need for a research facility in the area. On March 18, 1905, based on a bill drafted by Miguel Estudilla, a state assemblyman, and Reed, $30,000 was appropriated to establish the experiment station.

In 1948, the University of California Regents established the College of Letters and Sciences at Riverside, and the school opened in 1954. In 1959, the Riverside location was declared a general campus and courses of study were established. The Citrus Experiment Station continued to perform agricultural research even as the college grew, eventually becoming the College of Agriculture.

Public Policy: Health/Population Policy

The Bachelor of Science in Public Policy with a Health/Population Policy major is a new offering at UC Riverside. Public policy is the study of how policies are and should be made in order to adequately serve the public need. It also explains how health policies should be designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated to determine if the impact they are making is adequate. Public policy is inter-disciplinary, with health problems affecting the economics, philosophical beliefs, political decisions and quality of life in communities. Students who choose the Health/Population Policy pathway take courses in anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, psychology, sociology and women’s studies, among others.

Contact Information

College of Public Health
University of California, Riverside
900 University Avenue
Riverside, CA 92521
Phone: 951-827-1012
Email: discover@ucr.edu
Link

University of California – San Diego

The University of California San Diego campus is research-focused and service-oriented. It has been recognized as one of the top 15 research universities in the world. Originally, the University Regents planned for the campus to be a graduate and research institution for math, science and engineering. In 1956, citizens voted to transfer 59 acres of land on the coast near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. After the school requested a transfer of 550 acres of undeveloped land, as well as 500 acres formerly known as Camp Matthews from the federal government, the director of Scripps, Roger Revelle, exposed real estate practices that were unfair to minorities and members of some religious groups, threatening the site selection. In an effort to appease outraged citizens, the University of California agreed not to use La Jolla as the name of the campus, choosing San Diego instead.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health at UC San Diego focuses on building a healthier world through public health. The program seeks to improve human health through the delivery of knowledge to students in the program through studies in disease prevention, public protection from exposure to harmful conditions, and information on promoting health throughout the world. UC San Diego offers a unique training environment that combines classes with leading public health researchers and practitioners with laboratory experience in a location close to the largest natural land border crossing in the world.

Joint Doctoral Program: Public Health – Epidemiology

UC San Diego offers a joint doctoral program in Public Health with an epidemiology focus. To qualify, students must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language, provide three letters of recommendation and submit a statement of purpose requirements. Epidemiology deals with the causes and prevention of human diseases, and it is the oldest Public Health doctorate track as it was first offered in 1990.

Joint Doctoral Program: Public Health – Global Health

The same requirements exist for the Global Health pathway at UC San Diego. This track includes research and studies related to health on a global scale, and like the other two doctorate programs, is a joint degree program conducted by UC San Diego and San Diego State University.

Joint Doctoral Program: Public Health – Health Behavior

Like the other two pathways, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and submit a statement of purpose. The health behavior track places emphasis on producing graduates with a complete understanding of concepts and analysis of health behavior. Students learn about behavior change theories, strategies for applying theories to populations, research methods, interventions and health behavior in under-served populations.

Contact Information

Laura Hurt
Undergraduate Student Affairs Advisor
University Center 202, Suite 400
La Jolla, CA 92093
Phone: 866-271-2381
Email: publichealth@ucsd.edu
Link 

University of California – San Francisco

The University of California San Francisco campus is the leading university that focuses solely on health. The college began when South Carolina surgeon, Hugh Toland, founded a private medical school in San Francisco. Toland came to the area as part of the California Gold Rush, but had little success. Instead, he set up a surgical practice, growing wealthy as a result of his expertise as a surgeon rather than striking rich with gold. Eventually, he opened a medical college, which he sold to the University of California.

Today, the faculty at UC San Francisco includes five Nobel laureates who have contributed to advanced knowledge of cancer, aging, stem cell research and neurodegenerative diseases. There are more than 2,900 students enrolled, and, in 2009-2010, UC San Francisco became the first university to have faculty who won the Nobel Prize, Albert Lasker Award and Shaw Prize in one academic year.

Master’s Program in Global Health Sciences

The Global Health Sciences Master’s Program at UC San Francisco is a one-year program for those in the health science profession who desire additional expertise or want to pursue leadership in the global health field. Students are prepared for employment in research, policy, academia and other professions in global health. Students learn through lectures, seminars, case studies, debates and team-based projects in a hands-on atmosphere. In addition, the ten week Capstone course focuses on the student’s particular area of interest.

Contact Information

Global Health Sciences Department
University of California, San Francisco
50 Beale Street, 12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-597-8200
Email: education@globalhealth.ucsf.edu
Link 

University of San Francisco

The founding president of the University of San Francisco, Anthony Maraschi, S.J., arrived in the city as an Italian immigrant in 1854, and the following year, borrowed $11,500 to build a Jesuit church and school on the south side of Market Street. The original college was known as St. Ignatius Academy and it was located on the site of the current San Francisco Centre. The college was chartered in 1859, and in 1880, moved to a new building on Van Ness Avenue. After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, the college moved to temporary quarters in what was known as the “shirt factory” in what now houses the St. Mary’s Medical Center. In 1914, the current St. Ignatius Church was completed at the corner of Fulton Street and Parker Avenue, and a new building built nearby in 1927. The college moved to its present location in 1927.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Health Care Systems Leadership (BSN to DNP)

Graduates of the program are able to design models of healthcare delivery, evaluate clinical outcomes and work in healthcare management for a diverse population. Applicants to the program should be nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The program integrates coursework in nursing, business, informatics and administration for the healthcare industry. The rigorous curriculum allows students to gain exposure to multiple perspectives, investigate theory and research topics, and gain an understanding of practice issues in healthcare.

Contact Information

University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
Phone: 415-422-5555
Email: admission@usfca.edu
Link 

Health Science Degrees in California (A-K)

For more information on Health Science Degrees, see ” Top 10 Best Online Health Science Degree Programs“.