Public Health, B.S.

A public health major is a perfect fit for service-oriented students who like to ask the bigger questions about health, understand why health differs across populations, and address health disparities and social justice on a community level in diverse local, national and global settings. Public health is a natural fit with the Jesuit mission as a service-oriented field. Public health professionals address challenging health-related issues in today's world, such as: How can social media be used to track disease outbreaks? How do we address the growing burden of cancer in low/middle-income countries? What policies and interventions are most effective for addressing the opioid crisis? How do we ensure safe drinking water in communities across the globe? Curriculum Overview SLU's Bachelor of Science in Public Health curriculum contains 36 credits of major courses that include contemporary challenges in health care, global health, evidence-based practice, epidemiology, biostatistics, advocacy/policy, and the biological basis of public health. Students also take six credits of public health electives, drawn from courses offered across disciplines. In the senior capstone course, students complete a culminating project and portfolio to demonstrate their achievement of program learning outcomes. The University Core curriculum requirements and general education credits fulfill the remainder of the 120 credits required for graduation. Many students use their elective courses to pursue secondary majors, minors, or pre-med requirements. Learning Outcomes Graduates will be able to demonstrate foundational knowledge of public health in relation to human cultures, history, science, and policy. Graduates will be able to identify health characteristics, determinants, and needs across diverse populations. Graduates will be able to recognize ways to implement evidence-based approaches to public health issues in communities. Graduates will be able to communicate public health issues with an emphasis on social justice and the core disciplines of public health. Careers A B.S. in public health prepares students for entry-level careers in a variety of settings, including departments of health, government agencies, nonprofit and community health organizations, hospitals, academic centers, advocacy organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, and consulting agencies. It is also excellent preparation for graduate school. Examples of career options in public health include: Working with a community organization or health department to implement and evaluate community health interventions about issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer Doing infection prevention work in hospitals and other healthcare settings Conducting surveillance of chronic and infectious diseases for local, regional, or state health departments Analyzing and developing health policy for a governmental agency Conducting public health research in an academic setting Monitoring clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry Analyzing health outcomes for insurance companies Collaborating with school districts to bring opportunities for physical activity into elementary and high schools Designing public health media campaigns, such as those to encourage wearing a seat belt or discourage tobacco use Researching the effect of air pollution on a population’s health and advocating for policy change Implementing programs aimed at violence prevention or women’s empowerment Studying the barriers to healthy eating at both the personal and societal levels Working for a nongovernmental organization that designs clean water and sanitation systems in developing countries