Public Health, Bachelor of Science

The Department of Public Health at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) offers a public health degree that will prepare you for a career in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, government agencies, and other health organizations. Public health workers protect population health through activities such as improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease, epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioral health, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, and substance abuse. Public health professionals come from diverse educational backgrounds and can specialize in an array of fields in local, national, and international communities.

Coursework

Through this program, you will acquire: an understanding of how public health services impact health at the state, national, and global levels; an appreciation of health as a global issue; skills in epidemiology and data surveillance for monitoring disease; strategies to assess population health needs; an awareness of and sensitivity to multicultural differences in health practices; ethical standards, leadership skills; strategies to influence public policy to meet the needs of diverse populations; and tools to implement and evaluate interventions to improve physical and mental health.

Gain Valuable Credentials As You Earn Your Degree

Students in this bachelor's degree program can choose to earn the Certificate in Communications for Health and Social Care Professionals instead of taking the prescribed program electives.

Undergraduate certificates are awarded separately from your degree upon successful completion of the required courses.

Contact your academic advisor for more information.

Get a Head Start on Your Master's Degree

Graduate with a bachelor’s degree and already have part of your master’s completed.

With the 4+1 accelerated combined degree program option, you can earn your Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health (MPH) in less time. The 4+1 degree program — 4 years to your bachelor's plus 1 year to your master's — allows your foundational MPH graduate-level work to count towards your bachelor's degree, effectively shaving a year off your combined degrees.

Learn more about the accelerated program option.

Internships

You will have the opportunity to participate in a professional internship with a health services organization.

Careers in Public Health

• Health policy development
• Community outreach
• Disease prevention and control
• Clinical trials
• Environmental quality and protection

Or continue your education with a graduate degree.

Program Breakdown