Foster a Healthy Future For All People
Imagine a world with no child labor regulations, no seatbelt laws, and no anti-pollution policies. Public health researchers, policy-makers, and educators make our lives safer by improving our living conditions, regulating health care and safety, and educating us to make healthy choices. SWAGÊÓƵ’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health provides a solid foundation in a broad range of public health areas, from chronic disease management and environmental hazard mitigation to childbirth education and epidemiology. Join us in caring about the greater good of humankind, and make a real impact on our society.
What is Public Health?
According to , public health is defined as "all organized measures to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole. Its activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and focus on entire populations, not on individual patients."
Why SWAGÊÓƵ for your B.S. in Public Health
As a comprehensive health sciences university with a wide range of health professions programs, we are able to engage our students with cross-disciplinary study and interprofessional experiences that enrich your education – and your resume.
- Exceptional research opportunities for undergraduates
- Service learning and community experience
- Exciting internships for on-the-job learning
- Multiple study abroad options
- Opportunity to pursue an online SWAGÊÓƵ Master in Public Health (M.P.H.) degree
- Access to professional conferences and leading experts
What will you study? B.S. in Public Health Curriculum Overview
The Public Health degree is part of SWAGÊÓƵ’s Department of Health Promotion Studies. Your coursework will expand on five core areas within the public health sphere:
- Health Policy: Developing laws and regulations to promote and protect health
- Environmental Health: Assessing how the environment affects health
- Social and Behavioral Health: Studying how people make health decisions and how to encourage healthier behaviors
- Epidemiology: Learning how and why diseases are distributed in a population
- Biostatistics: Analyzing population-level data to identify health trends
Curriculum
| WCHP Common Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 104/104L – General Biology w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 208/208L – Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 209/209L – Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology II w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 309 – Pathophysiology | 3 |
| ENG 110 – English Composition | 4 |
| IHS 130 – Interprofessional Health Care First-Year Experience | 3 |
| IHS 310 – Ethics for Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
| MAT 120 – Statistics or MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences | 3 |
| NUTR 220 – Nutrition | 3 |
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 250 – Lifespan Development | 3 |
| SOC 150 – Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| One (1) Creative Arts course (with prefix ARH, ART or MUS) | 3 |
| One (1) Explorations course | 3 |
| One (1) Social Global Awareness Course | 3 |
| Total Credits | 49 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 242/242L – Applied Microbiology w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 440 – OneHealth | 3 |
| ENV 104 – Environmental Issues | 3 |
| EXS 120 – Personal Health & Wellness | 3 |
| IHS 212 – Health Determinants | 3 |
| OS 200 – Medical Terminology and Health Literacy (formerly HWOS 200) | 3 |
| OS 341 – Health & Wellness in Aging Society (formerly HWOS 341) | 3 |
| OS 434 – Substance Misuse & Prevention (formerly HWOS 434) | 3 |
| PSC 325 – Politics in Public Health | 3 |
| PUB 200 – Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| PUB 205 – Epidemiology | 3 |
| PUB 300 – Global Health | 3 |
| PUB 305/OS 316 – Research Methods (formerly PUB 305/HWOS 316) | 3 |
| PUB 310 – Social, Behavioral & Enviro. Factors in Public Health | 3 |
| PUB 400 – Public Health Planning & Evaluation | 3 |
| PUB 405 – Health Care Organization & Policy | 3 |
| PUB 410 – Internship Experience/Research/Practicum | 3–6 |
| PUB 420 – Community Health Assessment | 3 |
| SOC 355 – Medical Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 58–61 |
| Open Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
​To learn more about the program view the Academic Catalog.
Career Paths for Public Health Majors
As a Public Health major at SWAGÊÓƵ, you will come to understand highly complex health issues that affect communities, and you’ll develop the skills needed to generate solutions. Through service learning and internships, you’ll discover how to work collaboratively to communicate strategies to diverse audiences. Careers in public health include numerous rewarding professions, such as:
- Governmental Health Program Manager
- Public Health Educator
- Nonprofit Public Health Director
- Hospital Administrator/Infection Control Officer
- Health Researcher
- Community Health Program Manager
- Environmental Health Officer
- Epidemiologist
Career Advising in the Public Health Program
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
Public Health Careers By The Numbers
Expected rate of job growth in the community health field from 2016 to 2026
new community health jobs expected to open in U.S. between 2016 and 2026
B.S. in Public Health Facilities
Alfond Forum
The Harold Alfond Forum, which opened in 2012, includes a 105,000-square-foot athletics complex featuring: an ice hockey rink with 900 seats; a basketball court with 1,200 seats; classroom space; a fitness center; and multi-purpose indoor practice courts that can also be used for performances and other events, with a combined seating capacity of 3,000. It also houses the Athletic Training and Applied Exercise Science programs, which have custom-designed teaching and laboratory spaces.
Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center
The Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center has a presence on SWAGÊÓƵ's Portland and Biddeford campuses. In Portland, it occupies two floors in the Blewett Science Building, adjacent to skills laboratories and classrooms. In Biddeford, it has dedicated space in the Harold Alfond Forum. The center offers three simulation labs with adjoining fully-equipped control rooms, a task training lab, and a debriefing classroom. The center also has dedicated space for staff offices, welcoming visitors, and storage. All of the labs are flexible and fully equipped for audiovisual recording, presentations, and debriefing.
Center to Advance Interprofessional Education and Practice
SWAGÊÓƵ is one of a handful of private universities with a comprehensive health education mission that includes medicine, pharmacy, dental medicine, nursing, and an array of allied health profession programs. In SWAGÊÓƵ’s social work program, you will take part in interprofessional education initiatives that prepare you to work with other aspiring health professionals to practice comprehensive and collaborative team-based care. Through service-learning and field experiences, you benefit from exercises that also include students from other SWAGÊÓƵ health discipline programs.
WCHP Office of Service Learning
Service-learning initiatives connect students, faculty, and professional staff with opportunities to engage in meaningful and mutually beneficial service activities within a variety of community settings. Service-learning instills for students a lifelong commitment towards helping others, while positively impacting individual, family, and community health outcomes among populations served. Examples of service-learning include working with the homeless population, implementing health fairs, and developing age-appropriate recreational activities at a local Boys and Girls Club.
Experiential Learning in the Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health
You’ll draw upon multidisciplinary seminars and engage in problem-based learning as you gain practical experiences and participate in real-life community projects. At SWAGÊÓƵ, you don’t just study public health — you do public health.
- Office of Service Learning puts you in the field
- Required 135-hour experiential learning or research practicum
- Internships for hands-on learning opportunities
- Global travel for international experience
Watch: SWAGÊÓƵ Students in Ghana
Internships for Public Health Majors
Our students work with many different organizations to gain critical real-world experience. Sites include:
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Maine Public Health Association
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute
- Maine Area Health Education Center
- New England Public Health Training Center
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education
- Public schools
- Community parks and recreation programs
Cross Cultural Health Immersion
- Travel to Ghana, Africa and learn how to integrate western health practices with folk medicine.
- Broaden your worldview and begin the process of becoming a culturally sensitive health professional.
- Evaluate health education curricula relevant to the population need.
- Connect with SWAGÊÓƵ students from other health professions programs.
Accreditation
The SWAGÊÓƵ B.S. in Public Health is a new degree offering. We will file for accreditation through the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Apply Today
Ready to begin your future in SWAGÊÓƵ’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health? Get started today.
