About Public Health Studies
A public health major is a degree path that prepares students to foster and defend individual and community health and well-being. Public health students develop the critical thinking and analysis skills necessary to confront issues such as health disparities, foodborne diseases and drug overdoses. Majors learn about investigating threats to health, safety and well-being of populations, how to advocate for change and ensure public health policies are carefully implemented. The field of Public Health Studies is expected to grow at a rate of 16% from 2021 to 2031, a rate faster than average of 7.7% for all occupations.
Mission
The Public Health Studies major provides students with a solid foundation in public health, a field that encompasses all organized community efforts aimed at the prevention of disease and the promotion of health. Students explore the social determinants of health, health programming, and the underlying physiologic and molecular mechanisms of disease.
Program Learning Goals
- Discuss the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts and functions across the globe and in society.
- Apply basic epidemiologic principles, including concepts of rates, causation, and public health surveillance.
- Describe the socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
- Describe the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
- Apply the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment and evaluation.