The combined Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and Cultural Anthropology integrates concepts and theories from cultural anthropology with public health concepts to approach complex health inequities. Students have an opportunity to gain foundational anthropological knowledge and skills and apply theory to public health approaches for addressing poor health outcomes. Students explore how culture and social structures affect health promotion strategies and outcomes. This combined major will appeal to students who want to pursue graduate study and research in anthropology, public health, public policy and administration, and education.  

  • Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
  • Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Public Health Requirements

Public Health Core Courses

PHTH 1260The American Healthcare System4
or PHTH 1261 Comparative Healthcare Systems
PHTH 2210Foundations of Biostatistics4
PHTH 2300Communication Skills for the Health Professions4
or PHTH 2301 Communication Skills for the Health Professions—Global
PHTH 2350Community and Public Health4
or PHTH 2351 Community and Public Health - Global
PHTH 2515Healthcare Policy and Administration4
PHTH 4120Global Perspectives on Discrimination and Health4
PHTH 4202Principles of Epidemiology in Medicine and Public Health4
PHTH 4540Health Education and Program Planning4

Science Core Courses

PSYC 1101Foundations of Psychology4
Biology
Complete one of the following options:8–10
Option 1
BIOL 1141
Microbes and Society
or BIOL 1143
 Biology and Society
BIOL 1147
The Human Organism
Option 2
BIOL 1111
and BIOL 1112
General Biology 1
and Lab for BIOL 1111
BIOL 1113
and BIOL 1114
General Biology 2
and Lab for BIOL 1113

Social Science Selectives

Introductory Course
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 1225
Communication Theory
ECON 1115
and ECON 1125
Principles of Macroeconomics
and Recitation for ECON 1115
ECON 1116
and ECON 1126
Principles of Microeconomics
and Recitation for ECON 1116
ENGL 1300
Introduction to Health and Humanities
HUSV 1101
Social Change and Human Services
INTL 1101
Globalization and International Affairs
PHIL 1101
Introduction to Philosophy
POLS 1160
International Relations
Upper-Level Course
Complete one course (total) from any of the following groups: 3–4
Society and Behavior
COMM 3201
Health Communication
COMM 4102
Health Communication Campaigns
CRIM 3040
Psychology of Crime
ECON 3420
Urban Economic Issues
HLTH 5280
The (in)Visibility of (dis)Ability in Society
PHTH 5222
Health Advocacy
PSYC 3402
Social Psychology
PSYC 3404
Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3450
Learning and Motivation
Globalization and Global Health
AFCS 3424
Epidemiology of Pandemic Diseases and Health Disparities in the African Diaspora
ECON 3404
International Food Policy
INTL 3200
Cities in a Global Context
or INTL 3201
 Cities in a Global Context (Abroad)
INTL 3400
International Conflict and Negotiation
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
Environmental Health and Climate Change
COMM 3500
Environmental Issues, Communication, and the Media
ECON 3423
Environmental Economics
INTL/PPUA 5100
Climate and Development
PPUA 5238
Climate Change and Global Urbanization
Law, Policy, and Human Rights
ECON 3424
Law and Economics
PHIL 5001
Global Justice
PHIL 5002
Ethics and Public Policy
POLS 3307
Public Policy and Administration
Healthcare Administration and Management
ECON 3413
Health Economics and Healthcare Policy
MGMT 3340
Healthcare Management, Innovation, and Design
ORGB 3201
Organizational Behavior
PHTH 4511
Healthcare Management
PHTH 5232
Evaluating Healthcare Quality
PHTH 5234
Economic Perspectives on Health Policy

Cultural Anthropology Requirements

Required Cultural Anthropology Courses

ANTH 1101Peoples and Cultures4
ANTH 2305Global Markets and Local Culture4
ANTH 3410Ethnographic Field Experience4
ANTH 3421Foundations of Anthropological Theory4

Area Courses

Complete two area studies courses at the ANTH 4000 level.8

Cultural Anthropology Electives

Complete three additional courses with the ANTH subject code.12

Supporting Course Requirements

Introduction to College
Complete one of the following:1
ANTH 1000
Anthropology at Northeastern
HSCI 1000
College: An Introduction
Writing Courses
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
Complete one of the following:4
ENGW 3306
Advanced Writing in the Health Professions
ENGW 3308
Advanced Writing in the Social Sciences
Capstone
Complete capstone through an ANTH senior seminar, a capstone course, a capstone project, or through an Honors Project:3–4
Anthropology Senior Seminar
ANTH 4600
Senior Seminar
Capstone Course Options
HINF 5301
Evaluating Health Technologies
PHTH 4515
Critical Issues in Health and Public Health Policy
PHTH 4616
Addressing Rural Health Inequities
PHTH 5214
Environmental Health
PHTH 5230
Global Health
PHTH 5236
Food, Nutrition, and Health
PHTH 5603
Qualitative Methods
Capstone Project Options
HSCI 4720
Health Science Capstone—Service (must complete 0-credit pre-requisite HSCI 4700)
HSCI 4730
Health Science Capstone—Research (must complete 0-credit pre-requisite HSCI 4700)
Honors Project Option
Must meet GPA requirement and complete both courses:*
HSCI 4970
and HSCI 4971
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
*HSCI 4970 will count as 4 semester hours toward general electives.

Integrative Course

ANTH 3441Medical Anthropology4

General Electives

Complete 12 semester hours of general electives.12

Co-op

A co-op is not required; however, students may choose to complete one or two six-month co-op experiences during their course of study. Students must consult their advisor regarding the prerequisite course for co-op.

Public Health Major Requirement

A grade of C or higher is required for all courses and selectives required for the major.

Public Health and Cultural Anthropology Major Credit Requirement

Minimum of 95 semester hours required

Program Requirement

130 total semester hours required

Sample Plan of Study: Four Years/ Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1—Bouvé Students 

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114ANTH 11014ANTH elective4Vacation
HSCI 10001PSYC 11014PHTH core course4 
PHTH 12604BIOL course—see options4  
BIOL course—see options4Elementary language course4  
Elementary language course4   
 17 16 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
HSCI 2000 (*)1Co-op0Co-op0Social science course4
ANTH 23054 General elective4PHTH core course4
PHTH 22104   
Intermediate language course4   
PHTH core course4   
 17 0 4 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ANTH 34104Co-op0Co-op0ENGW 33064
ANTH 34214 General elective4PHTH core course4
ANTH 34414   
ANTH area course4   
 16 0 4 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Capstone course4ANTH elective4  
PHTH core course4PHTH core course4  
ANTH area course4Social science course4  
ANTH elective4General elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 130

Sample Plan of Study: Four Years/Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall—CSSH Students

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ANTH 10001ANTH 11014ANTH elective4Vacation
PHTH 12604ENGW 11114PHTH core course4 
PSYC 11014BIOL course—see options4  
BIOL course—see options4Elementary language course4  
Elementary language course4   
 17 16 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ANTH elective4ANTH 23054Social science course4Co-op0
PHTH core course4PHTH 22104General elective4 
ANTH area course4ANTH elective4  
Intermediate language course4PHTH core course4  
 EESH 2000 (*)1  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ANTH 34104PHTH core courses8Co-op0
General elective4ANTH 34214  
 ANTH 34414  
 ENGW 33084  
 4 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0ANTH 46004  
General elective4ANTH area course4  
 PHTH core course4  
 Social science course4  
 4 16  
Total Hours: 130
*

Students that choose to complete at least one co-op experience must complete either Professional Development for Bouvé Co-op (HSCI 2000) or Professional Development for Co-op (EESH 2000) (based on home college) prior to co-op.