How to Apply to Public Health at UC Riverside: The Majors List Has No Bachelor’s Major Named Public Health, and the Closest Match Is the BA in Global and Community Health in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The short answer: UC Riverside’s (UCR) undergraduate admissions major list has no bachelor’s major named “Public Health.” The admissions “Health and Medicine” page lists these direct paths: Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biology, Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Chemistry, Entomology, Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology, Global and Community Health, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Plant Biology and Psychology. The one closest in content to public health, and the focus of this guide, is Global and Community Health, a Bachelor of Arts offered by the Department of Society, Environment, and Health Equity (SEHE) in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS). The full UCR catalog (a 44 MB PDF) was not downloaded, so this guide cannot say that nothing public-health-related exists elsewhere on campus; it can only say the admissions site and the department pages show no public health bachelor’s major. The guide follows the pages for fall 2027 entry, split into U.S. applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. The broader life-sciences picture is covered in our separate overview article.

1. Degrees and options: Global and Community Health

• Degree and college: BA in Global and Community Health, in the SEHE department of CHASS. The department page says SEHE also offers a major and minor in Environmental Studies; its two undergraduate programs are Environmental Studies and Global and Community Health, each with a major and a minor.
• Focus: the department page says the major addresses social inequities and health, using community-engaged approaches to overcome health inequities and promote health justice. Students learn to read statistical data and communicate it to broader audiences, analyze relationships among local, national and global scales, and understand health disparities through arts, humanities and social science methods. It adds that the major “offers a humanities and social-science infused track toward a future career in medicine and allied professions such as public health, health advocacy and health administration.”
• Units: the BA is 52 units (13 courses).
• Lower division (4 courses, 16-17 units): SEHE 002 Health Equity and Health Justice; one data analysis course (SEHE 005 Statistics, Health and Society, STAT 004 Elements of Data Science, or equivalent); one lower-division health-related natural science course (the list includes BCH 010 Introduction to Nutrition, BIOL 030, BIOL 034, BIOL 040, BPSC 011, CBNS 004 Concepts in Medical Cell Biology, ENSC 001/002/004, GEO 007 Minerals and Human Health, PLPA 010 and others); and one lower-division health, inequities and global perspectives course (such as ANTH 020 Culture, Health, and Healing, MHHS 001 Introduction to Medical and Health Humanities or PHIL 009 Biomedical Ethics). The page adds that an upper-division course in the later list may be used to fulfill this requirement.
• Upper division (the page says 9 courses, 36 units): SEHE 101 Community Research and Anti-Oppressive Methods; one of SEHE 105/GSST 171 Environmental Health and Social Justice or SEHE 106(S) Movements & Advocacy in Environment & Health; four upper-division Global and Community Health courses (at least two must be SEHE courses; options include SEHE 110 Environmental Health in Southern California, SEHE 172 Public Health: Then and Now, SEHE 173 Disease and Society, SEHE 183 Anthropology of Global Health, ECON 129 Health Economics, ENSC 103 Environmental Pollution and Health, POSC 180(S) The Politics of Public Health, SOC 127 Sociological Determinants of Health, SOC 167 Medical Sociology and others); one course in gender, race and structural inequities; and a capstone: SEHE 190 Special Studies (minimum 4 units) or SEHE 198-I Internships (minimum 4 units). Counting the listed items gives 8, not the 9 courses the page states, and the page does not explain the difference, so ask the department.
• Minor (20 units): SEHE 002 (4 units) plus four upper-division SEHE courses (16 units), chosen from SEHE 101, 105, 106(S), 110, 116, 123(S), 129, 161, 162, 163, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 178, 181, 182, 183, 185ABC and 189.
• Internship or practice: the capstone can be the SEHE 198-I internship; its required hours are not on the pages read.
• Honors/research programs, combined bachelor’s/master’s (4+1), STEM designation: not on the department pages read; not published there. On the admissions major list some majors are marked as having an accelerated program; Global and Community Health is marked only as having a minor.
• Related paths (not public health majors): the Health and Medicine page lists Microbiology (career examples include public health consultant); Computer Science with Applications has a Health Track; and the School of Public Policy’s Public Policy major lists Health Policy among its elective policy areas. The pages do not describe these as public health majors, and they are not expanded here.
• Pre-health: the admissions site points to the Pre-Professional Advising Center (PPAC) and medical school pathway programs such as the Haider Early Assurance Program (conditions not read); see the PPAC website.

2. How you get into the major

• On the application: UCR’s major list shows Global and Community Health under CHASS, with a minor available. The pages read do not say whether it is direct admission or declared after enrolling, whether enrollment is limited, or any minimum GPA, prerequisites or on-campus change-of-major conditions; not published there, so ask SEHE or CHASS student affairs.
• General first-year rules: the admissions pages say UCR’s selection process is the same for international and U.S.-educated applicants. The international page says UCR calculates an Academic Index Score (AIS) for all first-year applicants using high school GPA (with honors points), AP or IB courses, Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC), low family income and first-generation status.
• Transfer major preparation: the Majors Preparation Guide lists majors that need prerequisite coursework and does not list Global and Community Health; the page says not all majors are listed and to check ASSIST.org.

3. Prerequisites and curriculum

• High school preparation: not set on the major pages; the university’s minimum coursework is in section 4.
• Statistics and math: the major requires one data analysis course (SEHE 005 or STAT 004, or equivalent); no calculus requirement on the pages read.
• Biology and chemistry: the major requires one lower-division health-related natural science course chosen from a list (for example nutrition, disease and history, introductory environmental science); chemistry and physics are not required.
• AP/IB credit: the first-year page says AP scores of 3, 4 or 5 earn credit toward graduation at UCR; IB Higher Level scores of 5 or higher earn 8 quarter units, and an IB diploma of 30 or above earns 30 quarter units (international page). Which SEHE courses they replace is not published.

4. Rounds, deadlines and materials (first-year, fall 2027)

• UC application: opens August 1; the submission period is October 1 to November 30. The page prints no year, so confirm it applies to fall 2027 entry.
• Results and confirmation: admission notifications begin in March; the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) is due May 1; May 10 is the deadline for guaranteed housing (contract plus first payment); final high school transcripts July 1; AP, IB and A-Level scores July 15. March 2 is the priority date for the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (UCR school code 001316).
• Application fee: the UCR international page says $80 for each UC campus, with fee waivers. The University of California page says $80 per campus and $95 for international applicants, non-refundable, with waivers for up to four campuses for qualified U.S. citizens, permanent residents and AB540-eligible applicants. The two pages differ for international applicants, so go by what the UC application shows.
• Essays: Personal Insight Questions, 4 of 8, up to 350 words each, all weighted equally.
• Recommendation letters: not on the UCR pages read; not published there.
• Testing: UCR will not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission or scholarship decisions; submitted scores can be used as an alternative way to meet minimum requirements or for placement.

Minimum A–G coursework: history/social science 2 years; English 4; mathematics 3 (4 recommended, must include geometry); science 2 (3 recommended); language other than English 2 (3 recommended); visual and performing arts 1; college-preparatory elective 1. Minimum GPA: 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents, including international applicants, calculated on grade 10 and 11 A–G courses; grade 9 and 12 courses can meet subject requirements with a C or better. Approved honors-level courses (including approved AP, IB and transferable college courses) can receive extra weight.

5. The three readers

U.S. applicants

• Minimum A–G GPA 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents; materials as in section 4.
• 2026-27 estimated costs (Office of Financial Aid, new first-year students enrolling in 2026-27): for California residents, $46,539 in university housing, $44,329 off campus and $35,764 living at home. These include UC tuition and fees $15,588, campus and technology fees $1,202, UC student health insurance $2,824 and books and supplies $1,700, with housing and food by living situation. First term only: a Highlander Orientation Fee of $300 for new freshmen ($100 for new transfers) and a $315 Student Records Management Fee for all new students.
• Tuition Stability Plan: tuition is set per incoming class and then stays flat for up to six years.
• In-state preference: the pages show a lower GPA bar and lower costs for California residents, and no other in-state preference.

International applicants

• International applicants are non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents; the page says UCR’s selection process is the same for international and U.S.-educated applicants. UCR enrolls more than 1,700 international students from more than 88 countries, according to the international page.
• English proficiency (international page, for international first-years): any one of the following, taken by December of the final year of high school: AP English Language or Literature 3, 4 or 5; IB Standard Level English A 6 or 7 or Higher Level 5, 6 or 7; IELTS 6.5 or higher; TOEFL iBT 4.5 or better (1-6 scale, effective January 2026; 80 before); Duolingo 115; ACT English Language Arts 24; SAT Writing and Language 31; or a C or better in a UC-transferable college English composition course. UC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake or TOEFL MyBest and uses only the highest composite score from a single sitting; the page adds that a UC campus may require a score higher than the minimum and may request an interview.
• Academic bar: the international page gives a minimum GPA of 3.4 (equivalent to 85 percent on a 100-point scale), assessed on grade 10 and 11 A–G courses or on the grading scale of your educational system. Students in 13-year systems complete all 13 years first.
• Visa and funds: a valid passport, an F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant visa and documentation are required; after admission the International Students and Scholars (ISS) office supports visa and transition needs. The University of California page says a consul requires proof of enough money for all expenses and the source of funds. The UCR pages read give no funds amount; not published there, so see the ISS pages.
• International scholarships: the international page says international first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for the Achievement Scholarship for Nonresidents: up to $89,100 over four years for first-years and up to $44,550 over two years for transfers; admitted students must be confirmed nonresidents, meet UC eligibility requirements and submit their SIR, and must earn a 3.0 GPA each academic quarter to keep it. The UC Riverside Foundation also runs a scholarship database (scholarships.ucr.edu).
• Estimated costs for non-residents (first enrolling 2026-27): $85,809 in university housing, $83,599 off campus and $75,034 living at home, including UC tuition and fees $15,588, non-resident supplemental tuition $39,270, campus and technology fees $1,202 and UC student health insurance $2,824.
• Internship or work limits for the major: not published on the pages read; the capstone can be an internship, so ask ISS about arrangements for international students.

Applicants from China (separate section)

• Whether the Gaokao is considered: the pages read do not say; not published there. Contact international admissions through admissions.ucr.edu/ask.
• Transcripts and graduation documents (the “China” entry on the University of California requirements-by-country page): if you follow the Chinese national curriculum, list all courses and marks from grade 9 (year 3 of lower middle school) through grade 12 (years 1 to 3 of upper middle school) exactly as they appear on your official academic records, and be prepared, if accepted, to submit your upper middle school Graduation Certificate and official lower and upper middle school records (grades 9-12). If you follow the IGCSE/GCSE/GCE curriculum you must complete at least 5 IGCSE/GCSE/GCE O-Levels and at least 3 academic GCE A-Level exams. IB students follow the page’s IB instructions.
• Exit-exam (huikao) materials: not on the pages read; not published there.
• English scores: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo and other options as above; whether other tests are accepted is not published.
• Other school notes for Chinese applicants: none on the UCR pages beyond the UC-wide China entry above; the UCR international page links to country requirements and an admissions inquiry form (admissions.ucr.edu/ask).

6. Costs and scholarships, a note

Costs are in section 5. The cost page says nearly 80% of UC Riverside undergraduates are awarded financial aid, and 99% of those students receive need-based scholarships and grants that do not need to be repaid; it also offers a Scholarship Universe matching tool. These mainly serve students who apply for aid. Scholarships specific to Global and Community Health are not on the pages read.

7. Transfer

• Basics: at least 60 semester (90 quarter) UC-transferable units; at least a 2.4 GPA in UC-transferable courses (2.8 for non-residents), with some majors requiring more; the 7-course pattern (two English composition, one mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning, four from at least two of arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences), completed by the end of the spring term before fall enrollment; no more than 14 semester (21 quarter) Pass/Not Pass units.
• CHASS transfer requirements: the international page says CHASS transfers complete IGETC or the UCR CHASS breadth pattern, check prerequisites for the major on ASSIST.org, and should aim above the 2.8 minimum GPA. Global and Community Health is not in the Majors Preparation Guide list.
• Dates and platform: the application opens August 1; TAG applications September 1-30; the UC application October 1 to November 30; Transfer Academic Update by January 31; admission notifications begin in April; SIR by June 1; final transcripts July 1.
• International transfers: the international page has an “International Transfer” section: besides the minimum admissions requirements for California Community College transfers, international college transfers must also follow international-specific instructions; the minimum GPA is 2.8. The University of California requirements-by-country page covers country-specific records. International transfers are also automatically considered for the Achievement Scholarship for Nonresidents (up to $44,550 over two years).
• Transfer link to Global and Community Health: not published; ask the department and advisors.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• UC application due November 30, $80 fee, 4 of 8 Personal Insight Questions; no SAT/ACT
• There is no public health bachelor’s major; the closest is the CHASS BA in Global and Community Health (52 units with a data analysis course and a capstone)
• A–G: math 3 years, science 2 years; GPA 3.0 for California residents, 3.4 for non-residents

International applicants (including China):

• English: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 4.5, Duolingo 115 and other options; the international application fee is $80 on the UCR page and $95 on the UC page
• China: report all grade 9-12 courses exactly as on records, then submit the Graduation Certificate and official records if admitted; the Gaokao, huikao and funds amount are not published; international first-years are automatically considered for the Achievement Scholarship (up to $89,100)

Transfer students:

• 60 semester units; 7-course pattern; non-resident GPA 2.8; Global and Community Health is not in the Majors Preparation Guide

Sources: UC Riverside Department of Society, Environment, and Health Equity; Major in Global and Community Health (BA); Minor in Global and Community Health; Undergraduate Admissions: Majors; Health and Medicine paths; First Year; International; Transfer; Majors Preparation Guide; 2026-27 estimated costs; University of California pages: Application fees and waivers; Requirements by country; Financial requirements for visas. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are the estimate for students first enrolling in 2026-27). Some pages print dates without a year, so confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry; check UC Riverside’s website for the latest.