Public Health Program

The Department of Health and Human Performance offers both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in public health. Students declaring the B.A. in public health major are able to declare a concentration in either Global Health or Maternal and Child Health as part of their public health academic experience.

Programs of Study - Major Requirements:

What is public health?

"Identifying the health problems that impact populations, working with a variety of stakeholders (e.g. community members, government officials, medical professionals, academics) to plan solutions to these problems, and assuring that everyone has the knowledge and potential to live a healthy lifestyle."

- Christy Kollath-Cattano, Ph.D, Public Health Program Director & Assistant Professor

About the Public Health Program

The Public Health Program is interdisciplinary. All Public Health majors must take four core courses (Introduction to Public Health, Global Health, Epidemiology, and Health Communication) as well as courses in health policy, environmental health and ethics. All students must complete an internship or independent study. 

Through experiential learning opportunities — including study abroad, internships, independent studies, and participation in faculty-led research — students will have the opportunity to collaborate with community partners and to learn public health by doing public health.

B.S. in Public Health Major

The B.S. in Public Health is recommended for students needing a strong science background to enter graduate or professional school or those who want to obtain a challenging entry-level position in health promotion, health education, or many other Public Health careers. This degree is also for students interested in becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health majors must take seven additional Public Health classes and Human Anatomy and Human Physiology.

What can you do with a B.S. in Public Health?

This program will prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, including, but not limited to:

  • Epidemiology and biostatistics.
  • Health policy, management, and administration.
  • Health promotion and education.
  • Nursing.
  • Maternal and child health.
  • Global health.
  • Environmental health.
  • Occupational safety and health.
  • Nutrition.
  • Emergency preparedness.

Possible places of employment include local and state health departments, federal organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, for-profit and non-profit health agencies, hospitals, insurance companies, among others.

B.A. in Public Health Major

The B.A. in Public Health is an interdisciplinary program that draws on expertise from an array of academic and practical approaches. Students in the program choose concentrations in specialized tracks, including Global Health and Maternal and Child Health. These concentrations offer B.A. majors a foundational background in public heath, as well as an interdisciplinary perspective on target issues in public health (global health and maternal and child health) that correspond to student interest and graduate level programs.

The program offers students the opportunity to investigate public health from humanities and social sciences perspectives and gain exposure to fields such as health advocacy, health communications, international studies, women’s and gender studies, health policy and law, and medical humanities.

The Public Health B.A. program is recommended for students who are considering careers in areas such as non-profit or for-profit health agencies, health promotion programs, health policy, and health communication. This degree also prepares students for a variety of jobs in the health sector or for advanced degrees in public health or other health-related fields.

Continuing Education in Public Health

Public health-focused post-graduate degrees include:

  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
  • Master of Health Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Science (MS)
  • Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Doctor of Science (ScD)

Other post-graduate degrees which students might pursue include:

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
  • Physician Assistant (PA)
  • Physical Therapist (PT)
  • Occupational Therapist (OT)
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Registered Nurse (RN)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Juris Doctor (JD)

Contact Information

Christy Kollath-Cattano
Public Health Program Director
Office: Bell 407B
E-mail: kollathcattanocl@cofc.edu