SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND EDUCATION

Public Health, Bachelor's Degree

Earn an Impactful Public Health Degree from Saint Francis University

What can you do with a public health degree? Whether you prefer crunching numbers, want to work with people, or feel that research is your thing, there are public health degree jobs and careers for you. With your public health major, 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.

opportunities for research

individualized academic advising for focused career guidance

a full semester of field experiences within diverse organizations

The SFU Learning Experience

Public Health the Saint Francis Way

At Saint Francis, we offer a degree public health 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.
Students have practical experience in their field and work with seasoned practitioners across a variety of community and clinical settings.

Our Public Health Program prepares students for a variety of public health job by providing:

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 Path

Degree Path	Plan of Study	Course Catalog	Offered
Public Health B.S.	Plan of Study	Course Catalog - 24/25	On-Campus
Public Health B.A.	Plan of Study	Course Catalog - 24/25	On-Campus
Public Health (Accelerated MPH), B.S./B.A.	B.A. Plan of Study B.S. Plan of Study	Course Catalog - 24/25	On-Campus

Concentrations

Concentration	Plan of Study	Course Catalog
Public Health, Bachelor of Science Environmental Science Concentration	Plan of Study	Course Catalog - 24/25
Public Health, Bachelor of Science Epidemiology Concentration	Plan of Study	Course Catalog - 24/25
Public Health, Bachelor of Science Health Policy Administrator Concentration	Plan of Study	Course Catalog - 24/25
Public Health, Bachelor of Science Pre-Medicine Concentration	Plan of Study	Course Catalog - 24/25

Apply Now

With your public health degree, 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.

Experienced Public Health faculty who Love to Teach

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

Meet Our Faculty

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 major, 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

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 public health degree jobs locally, nationally, and globally.
With a public health degree, 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.
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.

Blog

Students participating in the Poverty Simulation

Poverty Simulation Event Highlights the Struggles of Those in Need

Mitchell Jubas | 10/21/2024

On October 18th, the Poverty Simulation Event gathered students and faculty from nursing, PT, social work, and public health to experience the challenges of poverty firsthand. Participants faced scenarios involving housing, healthcare, and limited resources, fostering empathy and raising awareness. The event highlighted the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and inspired attendees to take action in addressing poverty within their communities.

Public Health Alumni Spotlight

University Communications & Marketing | 09/12/2023

Amongst the public health scene are five SFU alumni who have embarked on inspiring journeys, each contributing uniquely to the field. Read the stories of Lucy Rojas, Christine Yakicic, Makenna Topka, Joe Theiss, and Hannah Anderson.

View All