Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health and well-being of communities. Where clinical professionals such as doctors and nurses focus on treating individuals after they become sick or are injured, public health professional are concerned with the health of entire populations, attempting to prevent problems from occurring or recurring through education, policy development, advocacy, service and research. Reflecting the interdisciplinary approach of the School of Public Health, students in the major will take courses originating from the various public health core disciplines, which include epidemiology, community health and prevention, environmental and occupational health, and health management and policy. The diversity in course offerings provides the students with the general foundations of each discipline within public health. Student learning is enhanced by faculty expertise from a wide array of backgrounds ranging from epidemiology, community health, global health, sociology, psychology, medicine, health policy, health economics, industrial hygiene and anthropology in addition to many more. As the students progress through the major, they will gain more breath and depth in the specific discipline of their choosing through the co-op experience as well as the capstone courses in their senior year. The School of Public Health is dedicated to the integration of social justice and human rights in academic public health and being a model for interdisciplinary collaboration and civic engagement. Additionally, a commitment to global engagement is core to the School's mission. The Global Public Health Initiative was created to provide opportunities for all public health student to gain rich and meaningful experiences working on health issues that transcend national boundaries or that may be influenced by circumstances or experiences in other countries. Goals and Objectives By the conclusion of the major, all students will be able to: 1. Illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of public health in disease prevention and health promotion on both individuals and populations. 2. Recognize the interconnectedness between physical and natural sciences and how each address population-based health challenges. 3. Illustrate the fundamental relationship between health and human rights and the role of social justice and ethics. 4. Highlight the important role that epidemiology and surveillance play in shaping and protecting the health of populations. 5. Recognize the importance of historical context regarding public health milestones as they shape policies and programs. 6. Obtain a greater understanding of the role of culture and values and how they influence relationships between social determinants of health and the built environment. 7. Identify and address population health challenges through the various public health concentrations. 8. Illustrate the overarching role that the social determinants of health have in promoting or hindering health. 9. Acquire a working knowledge of the US healthcare and healthcare delivery system.