Bachelor of Science in Public Health

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Public Health is housed within the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences of the College of Public Health. The undergraduate curriculum prepares students for diverse careers in the public health field that focus on creating, implementing, and evaluating interventions and programs designed to improve the health status and quality of life for all individuals. As one of the few accredited undergraduate public health programs in the country, the department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in public health that serves as a national model in which students study the broad range of public health concerns, including individual disease prevention and injury/harm reduction behaviors, distribution and development of disease through epidemiological assessment and community program development, implementation, and evaluation. Students learn to use educational interventions to provide health information, gain experience in assessing the needs of target populations, clarify program goals and objectives, and develop strategies to motivate and involve their clients/patients in educational interventions. All Public Health majors take a set of common theoretical courses designed to promote an understanding of health, wellness, and disease prevention. After completing university-required General Education courses, Public Health students complete courses in the core disciplines of public health within the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences as well as courses in other important and related disciplines, such as epidemiology, environmental health, and health services. Students also participate in over 600 hours of fieldwork experience in public health agencies, organizations, or other entities to gain invaluable real-world experience in the field. The Public Health major trains entry-level public health workers to provide frontline preventive health information, services, and health behavior interventions at the community level, particularly in communities with high-risk populations. Majors receive intensive pre-professional training and direct public health work experience through internship experiences available throughout the city of Philadelphia.