Public and Community Health

Now more than ever, public and community health professionals are called on to help solve our most challenging public health crises – including the COVID-19 pandemic, high rates of chronic disease, the opioid epidemic, health disparities, and climate change.  Whether it’s working at the individual, family, community, or policy level, public health professionals play an essential role to support the health and wellness of all people in our society.

This concentration is designed to be multidisciplinary in which students to consider the social, behavioral, biological, and environmental determinants of population health. Students take courses in health promotion and disease prevention; global and environmental health; public policy, law, and ethics; communications; nutrition science; food, culture, and society; community nutrition; and research methods.  The capstone of your program is an internship experience where you demonstrate your learning and gain valuable hands-on experiences. Together with a faculty member, you will identify a placement that appeals directly to your interests and aspirations. 

The Public and Community Health concentration can lead you to an exciting career path in health and wellness fields.  You will be prepared to work in a wide variety of programs, organizations, and businesses. Common careers and opportunities for Health and Wellness – Public and Community Health majors include:

  • Community health worker
  • Corporate wellness coordinator
  • Entrepreneur
  • Health/wellness coach
  • Health and/or nutrition educator
  • Journalist
  • Health marketing specialist
  • Policy advocate or policy maker
  • Program coordinator or manager
  • Public health consultant
  • Researcher
  • Youth development program leader or director (e.g., camps, clinics, YMCA programs)

You may also choose to pursue graduate studies in fields like:

  • Biostatistics
  • Dentistry
  • Epidemiology
  • Health education
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Nutrition science or policy
  • Psychology
  • Public administration
  • Public health
  • Public policy or political science
  • Social Work