Major in Public Health

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Explore how to improve the health of communities through prevention, education, and action

Have you wondered who tracks and responds to outbreaks and helps communities recover and rebuild after natural disasters? Or who monitors pathogens in water supply systems and evaluates policies designed to improve health care access? Public health professionals work to improve the health of populations at local, national and global levels while addressing these health-related concerns or events.

An undergraduate degree in Public Health from Penn State provides the opportunity to understand the science behind these topics while developing skills in epidemiology, health communication, policy, global health and data analysis. If you are curious about the health challenges shaping our world and want to create solutions, public health offers a rewarding path to make a meaningful impact on the well-being of communities.

Why study public health?

The Public Health major prepares students to address complex population-level health challenges such as infectious disease outbreaks, chronic disease, health disparities, environmental and occupational hazards, and healthcare access. It is an ideal major for students who want to improve community health, especially in rural settings, and are interested in health care, health equity, and social justice.

Penn State’s Public Health degree program is well-positioned to prepare students to address public health and health equity needs, especially in rural communities across the commonwealth. In Pennsylvania, nearly 75% of the state’s land area—or 48 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties—is classified as rural, where populations are made up of a significant number of older adults, while also becoming increasingly diverse, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data.

: Public health is the science and practice of protecting and improving the health of populations and communities. It is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on improving the “health span” of human populations by preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviors, creating safe environments, and addressing the factors that influence health at the community, national, and global levels.

While health care primarily focuses on diagnosing and treating individuals after they become sick or injured, public health focuses on preventing illness, reducing risk factors, promoting wellness, and improving health outcomes for entire populations.

: Public health is an interdisciplinary field that draws upon the disciplines of science, social sciences, biostatistics, and communication sciences, and the coordination and collaboration across different sectors in society.

The main difference between Public Health and other health-related majors is the emphasis on the health of populations and communities. While many majors are focused on understanding the intersection of the biological, social, psychological, and environmental factors that lead to health outcomes, the Public Health major focuses on the population level and how to prevent, promote, and protect health through programs and policies.

: Students gain knowledge in core disciplines such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion and education, health policy and management, global health, public health ethics, and program planning and evaluation.

You will also develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving, research methods, data analysis, visualization and interpretation, written and oral communication, project management, leadership and teamwork, community engagement, cultural competence, advocacy and policy analysis.

Career opportunities

Graduates work in various settings:

government public health agencies
nonprofit organizations
schools and universities
research institutions and organizations
hospitals and health care organizations
corporate wellness programs

Entry-level jobs include:

community health educator
research assistant
public health program assistant
health policy implementation analyst
program research specialist
roles in food safety, nutrition, recreation, and agriculture (depending on area of emphasis)

Further, the major provides a strong background for students who may be interested in pursuing the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential.

Strong foundation for advanced study and training

The Public Health major provides valuable preparation for advanced study by helping students understand the multiple factors that increase and reduce susceptibility to illness and overall population health, healthcare inequities, and healthcare systems and policies. This preparation is ideal for students intending to pursue graduate studies in public health or other advanced study, including medical school, dental school, physician assistant school, and other clinical and health-related fields like pharmacology and nursing. Students must plan carefully to complete the prerequisite science courses required by medical schools.

Courses and experiences

Public health is an interdisciplinary field, and students can find career paths in many different sectors of society. With over 200 minors to choose from across the University, students can specialize in an area of interest that complements this generalist degree.

The curriculum includes applied learning experiences through the courses in the major, including community-based projects, data analysis, case studies, program development, research, and field experiences.

: With over 200 minors to choose from across the University, students can specialize in an area of interest that complements this generalist degree. This could include minors in other health-related fields, global health, health policy and administration, One Health, data visualization, food systems, environmental engineering, and marketing.

: An internship is a required component of the major. Students may intern with local and state health departments, hospitals and healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations, community health agencies, government agencies, school health programs, or corporate wellness programs.

: The curriculum provides flexibility for students to participate in study abroad, and students are encouraged to explore global health, healthcare systems, and public health interventions in other countries.

Take the next step

Ready to get started with your Public Health degree? Learn how to apply to Penn State.

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If you're ready to get started with a degree in public health, contact your academic adviser or the director of the major to learn how the degree fits into your academic journey.

Contact the director of the major

Major in Public Health

Explore how to improve the health of communities through prevention, education, and action

Why study public health?

What is public health? icon-olus-circle

How is the major different than other health-related majors? icon-olus-circle

What will I learn? icon-olus-circle