B.S. Public Health
Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Programs
Key Information
Campus location
Fort Lauderdale, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 33,510
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
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Introduction
Immerse Yourself in Public Health Settings as you Learn About Epidemiology, Health, and Health Care Systems
The COVID-19 pandemic is but one reason for the urgent need for public health experts worldwide. Here’s your opportunity to set a goal toward a future in one of the most in-demand fields in health care. There is a growing need for public health professionals to address emerging and re-emerging diseases, environmental health concerns, health care reform, social determinants of health, the proliferation of agents and weapons of mass destruction, sociopolitical factors affecting health and health care systems, and global health.
Nova Southeastern University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health program will provide you with a strong foundation of population health, social and environmental determinants of health, and strategies related to disease prevention and health promotion—all critical to addressing health threats and strengthening the public health workforce. Students who complete this program will have a solid foundation in public health that is crafted from a combination of hands-on experiences, global and domestic travel opportunities, and faculty-led instruction. Each semester expands your breadth of understanding of public health through challenging activities, interactive lectures, community-based outreach opportunities, and guest speakers from the public health sector.
Why Should You Major in Public Health at NSU?
- Be a part of the first program in the nation to offer a seven-year dual-admission option in the B.S.P.H./ Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) program.
- Distinguish yourself from the traditional medical school competition; benefit professionally and academically from the interprofessional training of KPCOM’s pre-med public health program.
- Participate in global, domestic, and Florida-based public health outreach opportunities with NSU-KPCOM faculty, medical students, and graduate public health students.
- Gain real-world experience through public health community-based experiences that reinforce the application of public health methods, principles, and practices.
- Benefit from the interprofessional education and experiences of our faculty and students, and gain insights on the prevention and mitigation of disease, and how to optimize patient care through an interprofessional lens.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
General Education Requirements (30 credits)
Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program.
Public Health Major Requirements (57 credits)
Core Courses (39 credits)
- Foundations of Public Health
- Principles of Health Behavior
- Public Health Biology
- Public Health Seminar
- Health Communication
- Community Health
- Concepts in Epidemiology
- Epidemiology: Distribution and Determinants of Health
- Public Health Leadership and Management
- Introduction to Global Health
- Policies, Systems, and Environments of Healthcare
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Community-Based Essentials of Public Health Planning
- Community-Based Health Project
Pre-Med Public Health Major Electives (18 credits required)*
- Human Genomics
- Introduction to School Health
- Public Health Research Methods
- Dimensions of Wellness
- Public Health Issues in Disasters
- Disparities and Health
- Understanding Mental Health as Public Health
- Inside Out: Exploring Mental Health and Well-Being
- Global Outreach and Applied Learning
- Domestic Outreach and Applied Learning
- Local Outreach and Applied Learning
- Population Health Outcomes and Analysis
- Ethical Issues in Population Health
- Independent Study in Public Health
*Students are permitted to take 9 of the required 18 major elective credits from the BSHN (Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition), HAWC (Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Coaching), and/or BSHI (Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics) course prefixes.
Experiential Learning/Internships
During your undergraduate studies, you’ll have a number of hands-on opportunities to gain real-world experience including participation in local health fairs, interactive lectures, domestic and global outreach opportunities, and guest speakers from the public health sector that lead to full immersion into community-based public health settings. All outreach trips involve participating with underserved populations in a public health capacity. Trips have included India, New Orleans, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico.
Case competitions are one of our most popular opportunities for pre-health majors. A case competition starts with a fictitious or real “problem.” Students then work individually or in teams to identify possible solutions and present them to a panel of judges. Each competition provides incentives for both the winners and participants, in addition to earning an ExEL unit credit.
Clinic Exploration Program
The Clinic Exploration Program (CEP) offers students the opportunity to shadow medical professionals on the job in many of NSU’s medical and health clinics. Program participants gain a broad perspective that shows how various medical fields work together and a practical, up-close review of several medical career options.
All undergraduate students may take part in CEP, no matter what major they pursue. Each rotation lasts two hours per week, for three weeks. Because this is a volunteer program, member commitments are flexible and voluntary.
Career Opportunities
Benefit From a Unique Learning Environment
NSU’s Public Health and KPCOM faculty share their expertise in areas relevant to public health, such as global health, social and behavioral health sciences, epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, and health care systems. The interprofessional education and experiences of our faculty will provide you with a realistic look into the benefits, rewards, and challenges of public health.
Average Starting Salary
Salaries for public health professionals vary by industry, occupation, level of education, and experience, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median annual wage for epidemiologists was $69,660, and the median annual wage of health educators was $54,220 in May 2018.
Shark Destinations
NSU’s Public Health degree gives you the opportunity to apply core concepts to a myriad of fields, including public health, clinical practice, research or a non-health profession such as business or engineering. You can pursue careers as a health educator, health care administrator, health policy researcher or legislator, government employee, program developer, environmental scientist, physician or another health professional, policy advocate and lobbyist, epidemiologist, health inspector, disaster and emergency specialist, non-profit coordinator and more.