SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND EDUCATION

Public Health, Bachelor's Degree

Introduction

Earn an Impactful Public Health Degree from Saint Francis University

 

Whether you prefer crunching numbers, want to work with people, or research is your thing, there’s a public health career for you. With your public health degree, you can move immediately into a rewarding public health career. Still, more options are available to those interested in further graduate study or specialized training.

 

Offered: On-Campus and On-line both with Clinical Components

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opportunities for research

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individualized academic advising for focused career guidance

General Engineering

a full semester of field experiences within diverse organizations

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The SFU Learning Experience

Public Health the Saint Francis Way

At Saint Francis, we offer a degree program embedded in the liberal arts tradition. That means:

  • emphasizing personal and professional ethics, and based upon the University’s nationally-recognized Franciscan mission.
  • practical experience in their field and work with seasoned practitioners across a variety of community and clinical settings.

Our Public Health Program provides students with:

  • A full semester of field experiences within diverse organizations;
  • Highly qualified public health faculty, representing a broad range of public health specialties;
  • Individualized academic advising for focused career guidance;
  • Small class sizes which allow for personal attention and support; and
  • Opportunities for research.

In 2022 our Public Health graduates demonstrated 100% pass rates of the Public Health Program, 100 Item Competency Exam.  

CURRICULUM & COURSES

What You’ll Learn in the Public Health Program

Public Health is an evidence-based science of protecting and improving the health of human populations through education, research, and community-wide interventions. The Public Health program at Saint Francis University consists of an interdisciplinary curriculum to best foster the examination of population health from a broad, integrated, liberal arts perspective. 

 

Tailor your degree with specialization paths:

  • Environmental Science
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health Administration
  • Pre-Med
  • Degree Paths
  • Learning Objectives
  • Degree Path

    Degree Path

    Plan of Study

    Course Catalog

    Offered

    Public Health B.S.

    Plan of Study Course Catalog On-Campus

    Public Health B.A.

    Plan of Study Course Catalog On-Campus

    Public Health (Accelerated MPH), B.S./B.A.

    B.A. Plan of Study

    B.S. Plan of Study

    Course Catalog On-Campus

    Public Health B.A.

    Plan of Study Course Catalog On-line

    Concentrations

    Concentration

    Plan of Study

    Course Catalog

    Public Health, Bachelor of Science Environmental Science  Concentration

    Plan of Study Course Catalog

    Public Health, Bachelor of Science Epidemiology Concentration

    Plan of Study Course Catalog

    Public Health, Bachelor of Science Health Policy Administrator Concentration

    Plan of Study 

    Course Catalog

    Public Health, Bachelor of Science Pre-Medicine Concentration

    Plan of Study Course Catalog

     

     

  • With a degree in public health, you will be able to:

     

    • Gain an understanding and appreciation of how social determinants of health affect the population from a regional, national, and global health perspective.
    • Apply critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and evidence based research skills to assess population needs, assets, and capacities affecting community health.
    • Evaluate public health policy issues with respect to access, quality, and cost and demonstrate an understanding of health disparities within vulnerable populations.
    • Use a collaborative community approach in the planning of public health programs in diverse communities and effectively communicate disease prevention orally and in writing.
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Experienced faculty Who Love to Teach

Dr. Theresa M. Horner
814.472.3357
THorner@francis.edu

Career Outlook in Public Health

With your public health degree, you can move immediately into a rewarding public health career. Still, more options are available to those interested in further graduate study or specialized training. A public health degree can serve as the foundation for careers in most master's programs.   

As a graduate with a Public Health Degree, you can enter fields such as:

  • Behavioral Science & Health Education
  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental & Occupational Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy & Administration
  • International Health

 

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Public Health and Saint Francis University

  • What is Public Health?

    Public Health begins with an undergraduate degree that prepares you to work with people to improve health, prevent disease and make a difference in their lives. It is a fast growing field with a wide variety of entry level jobs locally, nationally, and globally.  

  • What will I learn to do?

    You will learn to understand how people make decisions about their health and using that knowledge, you can support them in making healthy changes. You can also help people navigate the complex health system, answer questions about health insurances, design health programs, manage projects, and interpret and translate scientific information for the public. You will become an expert in identifying valid health data and effective programs, compiling and writing grants, making complex decisions, solving health-puzzles, and creating health education and marketing materials like movies, flyers, posters and more.

  • Where can I get a job after graduation?

    Many organizations hire public health professionals, such as government organizations, universities, hospitals, doctor's offices, nonprofit organizations, or schools. As a public health professional, some of the many areas you can work in include maternal and child health, disaster response and preparedness, infectious disease investigation, research, environmental health, workplace safety, child abuse awareness and reduction, community health, etc