All of our undergraduate programs are designed to be completed within four years. Many students are interested in public health in a broad sense so we encourage you to review all of our four-year plans and checklists to see which major would be the best fit for you. We have walk-in advising hours as well as appointments that can be scheduled for prospective students if you would like to discuss any of these majors further.
Below you will find sample templates of how to structure your progress through any of our majors.
**Note** For each four-year plan that you review, you will see that I-Series courses and Diversity courses are not listed separately. As indicated on these templates, students should plan to take Distributive Studies courses that will double count for Big Question (SCIS), formerly I-Series, and/or Diversity courses if they are not already included as major requirements. For example, if a student chooses for to fill a Humanities course (DSHU) for the major, he/she should find a course that also satisfies the Big Question (SCIS), formerly I-Series or Understanding Plural Societies (DVUP).
Family Health
Family Health 4 Year Plan and Major Curricula
- Benchmark 1 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 2 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of three semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 3 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of four semesters into the major.
FMSC: Before Fall 2022
- Benchmark 1: PSYC100, SOCY100 or SOCY105 & COMM107, INAG110, COMM125, or COMM100
- Benchmark 2: One FMSC elective & STAT100 or EDMS451
- Benchmark 3: FMSC330 & FMSC290, ECON200 or ECON201
FMSC: Fall 2026 & Later
- Benchmark 1: Complete PSYC100 or SOCY100 or SOCY105 with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 2: Complete FMSC330 and the Statistics Requirement with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of four semesters into the major.
Public Health Practice
Public Health Practice 4 Year Plan & Major Curricula
HLTH: Fall 2026 & Later
- Benchmark 1: Complete BSCI170/171, SPHL100 and HLTH124 with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.Benchmark 2: HLTH140 & HLTH200
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Benchmark 2: Complete HLTH140, HLTH200, EPIB301 and HLTH212 or BSCI201 with “C-” or higher by the end of four semesters into the major.
Kinesiology
Kinesiology 4 Year Plan & Major Curricula
- Benchmark 1 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 2 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of three semesters into the major.
KNES:
- Benchmark 1: Complete KNES 200 with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 2: Complete BSCI202 & three (3) **KNES Core with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of four (4) semesters into the major.
Public Health Science College Park
Public Health Science College Park 4 Year Plan & Major Curricula
SPH Policy Agreement (PHSC CP)
- Benchmark 1 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 2 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of three semesters into the major.
PHSC- College Park: Fall 2026 & Later
- Benchmark 1: Complete CHEM131 and CHEM132 with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major
- Benchmark 2: Complete CHEM231 and CHEM232 with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of four semesters into the major.
Global Health
Global Health 4 Year Plan & Major Curricula
Benchmark 1 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.
Benchmark 2 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of three semesters into the major.
GBHL: Fall 2024 & Later
Benchmark 1: Complete GBHL200 and 2 other GBHL Supporting or Core courses or sets with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major
Benchmark 2: Complete GBHL210, BSCI170 and BSCI180 (or BSCI171), intermediate or higher world language, AND 4 other GBHL Supporting or Core courses with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of four semesters into the major
Benchmark Review Process
Major benchmarks are your responsibility to understand, remember, and schedule. Missing a benchmark may result in dismissal from your major so it is important to take them seriously. Please note, some benchmarks have changed depending on the semester you declared your major.
The School of Public Health has a committee that reviews benchmarks every semester. If you are not enrolled in or missing a benchmark course, you will be contacted by the CASA office. If you wish to remain in your current SPH major, you will have the opportunity to appeal this missing benchmark through the appeal process. The appeal form will allow you to explain what benchmark course(s) you are missing and provide justification as to why you should be able to continue in the major. Note that not knowing, forgetting or choosing to prioritize other courses are not valid reasons for missing your benchmarks. The committee is looking for extenuating circumstances as to why you did not meet the benchmark. If you are concerned about meeting your benchmarks, you should meet with an academic advisor as soon as possible.
Benchmark timelines are as follows:
- Benchmark 1 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of two semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 2 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of three semesters into the major.
- Benchmark 3 must be completed with grades of “C-” or higher by the end of four semesters into the major.
For benchmark related questions or concerns email sphbenchmarks@umd.edu.