BS Global and Community Health at University of California, Santa Cruz

Programme overview

The goal of the Global and Community Health (GCH) B.S. major is to serve the needs of students who aspire to a wide range of careers in the science of medicine and direct patient care. Students in the GCH B.S. major will learn about the biological bases of health and disease and how biology interacts with social, political, economic, and environmental factors to create patterns of disease in communities and societies.

Faculty: Physical and Biological Sciences Division | Department: Global and Community Health B.S. (PBSci) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Santa Cruz, CA, United States

What you will study

Required courses listed in the catalogue include Development and Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Experimental Biology Laboratory, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity.

Career pathways

The goal of the Global and Community Health (GCH) B.S. major is to serve the needs of students who aspire to a wide range of careers in the science of medicine and direct patient care.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Catalogue preparation guidance for the major (admission to the university is separate): To qualify for the global and community health B.S. major, students must pass the following courses or their equivalents with a grade of C+ or better in each course. Some courses may be satisfied via exam credit.

Domestic applicants: USD 14,202 a year (2026-27). UC undergraduate Tuition for California residents first enrolled in 2026-27 (Tuition Stability Plan cohort rate); one rate for all undergraduate majors. Excludes Student Services Fee, campus fees, UC SHIP health insurance and records fee. Non-residents ad Source

Fall quarter entry (classes for fall 2026 began September 24, 2026); winter quarter entry (winter 2027 instruction begins January 4, 2027).

UC Application for fall 2027 opens October 1, 2026 and the filing deadline is November 30, 2026; the application is available online from August 1, 2026. Fall 2027 first-year decisions appear on the Admissions Portal late February to mid-March 2027; transfer decisions April 1-30, 2027. Transfer Academic Update due January 31, 2027; UCSC TAG filing period September 1-30, 2026.

UC Santa Cruz does not use ACT/SAT scores in its comprehensive review and selection process. Applications are made through the UC Application. Minimum GPA is 3.00 for California residents and 3.40 for non-residents and international applicants.

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