Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Curriculum
The public health curriculum builds on a strong liberal arts foundation in the biological sciences, communications, social sciences and statistics. Public health coursework begins in year one and focuses on health equity, social justice, social determinants of health, health promotion and disease prevention. In addition, students complete a concentration in addiction prevention, community health education, healthcare management, or health and society.
The bachelor of science in public health degree is accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH), the independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit academic public health programs.
Choose from four degree concentrations:
- Community Health Education: Learn to provide health education to diverse populations and communities. Secure your eligibility for initial professional credentialing as a .
- Addiction Prevention: Learn to provide alcohol and substance abuse prevention services such as program evaluation and planning, and public policy and environment change. Secure your eligibility for initial professional credentialing as a substance use counselor or prevention practitioner from the New York State .
- Healthcare Management: Learn to coordinate health programs, or to complete advanced study in healthcare administration.
- Health and Society: Study social justice and neurobiology as it relates to behavioral health and interventions for special populations.
Pursue a second major, integrated into the bachelor of science in public health degree requirements. These popular second majors can be completed without adding additional credit to your degree:
- B.A. in Policy Studies
- B.A. in Law, Society and Policy
- B.A. in Psychology
- B.S. in Environment, Sustainability, and Policy
- B.A. in Health Humanities
- B.S. in Neuroscience
Immersive community-based learning requirements are incorporated across all four years of the program culminating with the senior year capstone internship experience. Internships allow you to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world public health challenges in diverse settings.
Our dedicated staff of public health internship coordinators will connect you with internships that match your unique interests and leverage our network of community partnerships. Depending on your choice of concentration, you will complete 150 to 330 hours of community-based learning.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Get Involved in Student-Led Public Health Initiatives
麻花影视 is home to more than 300 extracurricular groups, so you'll never run out of ways to learn and lead. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- is a 麻花影视 Health Services-based, student-operated organization. Its emergency medical technician (EMT)-certified student volunteers respond to 1,500 medical emergencies each year.
- travels annually to rural, under-resourced villages in Central America to provide medical care, sustainable resources and education.
- The provides health education and health resources to 麻花影视 and the surrounding community.
Advance Public Health Through Research
Research broadens our understanding so we can implement effective, equitable health policies and interventions. At 麻花影视, you can research a wide range of public health problems locally and around the world, including environmental toxicants, infectious disease, addictions, community-level violence, health disparities, and trauma and stress. Publish as an author or co-author on scholarly articles. Present your findings at conferences. Collect and analyze data using leading technologies and equipment in multiple laboratories, centers and institutions at and the neighboring and .
Discover Public Health Across the World
consistently ranks among the highest-quality international study programs in the country. 麻花影视 offers short- and long-term options in more than 60 countries, including internships, community engagement projects and language study at all levels.
Options to explore public health abroad and participate in international internships are available in Denmark (), Sweden (), Kenya (), India () or Australia (, , or ).
Launch Your Career in Public Health
Entry-level positions in public health are in high demand, such as:
The public health B.S. is also a strong foundation for advanced degrees:
- Public Health: Seventy-five percent (75%) of alumni who go on to graduate school choose public health graduate degrees such as the master of public health (MPH).
- Clinical Health: The public health B.S. coursework meets admission requirements for post-graduate programs in medicine, dentistry, nursing and others.
- Law and Policy: Shape the policies and laws that affect our health with a graduate degree in law (J.D.), public administration (MPA) or political science.
Learn more about this program