Public Health - Program Overview

PUBLIC HEALTH

Promote.

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities through education, research and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. In public health, the focus is on health promotion and disease/injury prevention. Public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or recurring through education programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research. Public health also works to limit health disparities.

CONTACT: Jeremy Knous Ph.D.

Department Chair College of Health and Human Services, H260B (989)-964-2632 hhs@svsu.edu

SVSU Undergraduate Public Health Major The Public Health Undergraduate Major is designed to provide students with an understanding of public health principles and practices. This major includes two study tracks, Health Promotion and Health Administration.

Fieldwork provides students with an opportunity to gain experience in public health practice to prepare them for future employment and graduate school.

SVSU Master in Public Health Program The Master in Public Health (MPH) program provides students with a sound academic background to practice competitively as a public health professional.

Students complete coursework to attain requisite depth and breadth in the five core areas of public health knowledge including biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, public health services and social and behavioral sciences.

Public Health Professionals are in High Demand According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for health educators and community health workers is projected to grow at a rate of 16% between 2016 and 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations (7%). The primary reasons for this growth are due to a greater emphasis on improving health outcomes and reducing the costs of health care through education related to healthy habits, behaviors and the use of healthcare services.