Make A Real Change In The Lives Of Hundreds, Thousands – Even Millions – Of People.
Shenandoah’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health program prepares you to identify the causes of disease; understand the principles and practices of health promotion, disease/injury prevention and protection; understand national/international public health issues from historical, social, cultural and scientific perspectives; and integrate knowledge and methods into the practice of public health.
Public health involves all levels of a community to work toward the common goal of promoting health and well-being and preventing disease. The work of public health involves government, advocacy groups, policy, schools, healthcare providers, occupational settings, community groups, and most of all, you.
As a public health professional, you’ll work with government officials, advocacy groups, policymakers, schools, health care providers, occupational settings, and community groups toward the common goal of promoting health and well-being and preventing disease.
Through the program’s interdisciplinary nature, you can specialize or add a major or minor based on your individual area of interest and career goals.
Learn More About This Program
Among the most serious problems facing the American public both now and for many years to come is public health. Despite spending more on healthcare than any other nation in the world, we rank near the bottom on the list of similar, developed nations on all major health indicators.
- An aging population
- Emerging infectious diseases and re-emerging old diseases
- Navigating healthcare providers and treatment options
- Designer medications
- Ever-rising healthcare costs
- Increasing rates of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease
- Threats of bioterrorism
- Delivery of vaccinations and disease prevention to rural and poor population
These factors pose major challenges for healthcare recipients, their families, care providers, and those who pay for services and medications.
Shenandoah University's College of Arts & Sciences is your direct connection to a classic, broad-based education to satisfy both your intellectual curiosity and career goals. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, small classes and individualized learning opportunities, we put students at the center of all our decisions and events.
We blend the liberal arts with pre-professional courses and hands-on learning to prepare you for careers in the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. You’ll learn through small, engaging classes and relationships with faculty mentors; hone your skills to solve problems; and learn to use creativity and critical thinking to make informed decisions.
Minor in This Program
The Public Health minor is well suited to complement a number of other programs at Shenandoah and is particularly recommended for those interested in the health professions. Increasingly, graduate programs are looking for students with a well-rounded public health perspective on clinical medicine.
Declaring A Minor
Shenandoah students work with their Academic Advisor to declare a minor. Academic Advisors will continue to work with students to ensure that they fulfill all of the requirements to complete the minor.
Incoming students should not indicate their intended minor on their Shenandoah application. Applications are for intended majors only.
Internship Possibilities
While not required, students are highly encouraged to gain field experience in their junior or senior year in the public health program after the majority of course requirements are completed. Most internships are unpaid, though there are some paid opportunities.
Guidelines for 3-credit internship: PH-490
- Students must obtain their own internship position with guidance and approval by the Program Director before registering for the course
- Acquisition of an in-site mentor/advisor
- At least 120 hours of on-site work
- Written assignments, final paper and presentation graded by the Instructor
- GPA of at least 2.75 to register
Here are some sites where our PH students have interned in the past:
- Lord Fairfax Health Department – Environmental Health Division
- Lord Fairfax Health Department – Health Education programs
- American Red Cross
- ABBA Care of Winchester
- University of Michigan Future Public Health Scholars Program
- Healthy Families of Shenandoah Valley
- Research Assistantships with SU Public Health Faculty
- VA Hospital in Connecticut – Patient Quality Division
- Community Partners and Language Access Program – Valley Health
The Career Services staff helps Shenandoah students search and apply for internships related to their major and career goals. Internships differentiate you as an applicant in your future job searches, provide hands on experience in your field, allow you to sample different career paths for your major, and help you find a specific position that fits your passion before graduation.
Career and Salary Possibilities
Our graduates become community health educators, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, emergency preparedness coordinators, public health nurses, health program administrators or hospital administrators, health economists, health communications specialists, nutritionists, workplace health promotion directors, international health specialists and diabetes educators.
Career and Salary Examples for Public Health Majors:
- Community Health Educator: $42,614
- Epidemiologist: $63,921
- Biostatistician: $61,042
- Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
- Public Health Nurse: $56,064
- Health Program Administrator/Hospital Administrator
- Health Economist
- Health Communications
- Nutritionist
- Workplace Health Promotion Director
- International Health Specialist
- Diabetes Educator
The Career Services Office provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to assist Shenandoah students in their career search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.
Classes
Our program’s small classes and interactive learning environment mean you’ll receive individualized attention from experienced and caring faculty mentors. The flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum is tailored to your interests, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships, medical mission trips and faculty research projects.
The Shenandoah University community is full of people who genuinely care about you and want you to do well– they want you to go out and use your talents and contribute to the world in whatever way that you can. They are not worried about you pushing you towards a certain major or to join a specific club. Rather, they want you to grow as a person and find your place here at SU and in the world- and they are more that willing to help you.
Osinachi Ibe | Public Health, ‘17
Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from thesis development to proofreading and bibliography assistance. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.
Faculty
Imagine participating in interesting conversations led by engaging professors who’ve already done what you dream of doing. You’ll be in a small class — the average class size is approximately 12 students — with professors who know your name, care about your success and provide advice as you pursue your academic and career goals.
Related Programs
Students interested in this program should also look into these other majors, graduate degrees, minors, and certificates.
All majors within the College of Arts & Sciences require students to complete a minor in the program of their choice at Shenandoah.
These minors complement this program well:
You may want to think about enhancing your degree with these certificates that pair well with this program:
Continue your education by earning a graduate degree:
Continue your education by earning a graduate certificates:
Application Information
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admission materials, and find our admissions standards.
Public Health Fast-Track to MPH Program (3 + 2)
The Public Health Program offers an accelerated (3 + 2) Bachelor’s + Master’s Degree program to eligible undergraduates.
Students in the 3 +2 program are required to complete coursework toward a graduate degree during their last year of undergraduate studies and complete the remaining requirements during their + 1 year. The program is rigorous and demanding, and is designed to offer high-achieving undergraduate students a quick path to a graduate degree. The MPH program seeks students who demonstrate the potential to be successful in graduate school and who are committed to the public health profession.
Study Abroad
Make studying abroad the highlight of your college experience! Whether you go for a year, a semester, or just a few weeks. You will never forget learning in another culture! The Center for International Programs is here to help you plan your study abroad experience. Start your planning early to ensure the courses you complete abroad count toward your degree and you graduate on time.
Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program
The Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program offers Shenandoah students a short-term, faculty-led, study-abroad experience for academic credit. These short-term, credit-bearing, faculty-led programs are offered winter break, spring break, and during the summer. If a course is not within your major, it might be used as an elective.
Study Abroad
Shenandoah University is a member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a global network of 300 universities. This partnership allows students to study for a full semester or year at other member campuses abroad. By working closely with their academic advisors and the study abroad advisor, students can take classes taught in English abroad while receiving Shenandoah credit.
Shenandoah University also maintains direct partnerships with several universities around the world. These relationships allow students from SU to study abroad as exchange students and students from these universities to study at SU. All partner universities offer courses taught in English.
Public Health Abroad Course Catalog