Public Health

Overview

Students learn to plan, implement, and evaluate disease prevention programs and activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. They learn to identify and examine environmental pollutants. They investigate how diseases spread. They make a difference in populations around the world. 

Public health is a diverse field with many career opportunities! In addition, an undergraduate degree in public health is the perfect launching pad for those interested in pursuing nursing, PA, dental, or medical programs.

Within the Public Health degree program, you have the opportunity to further your professional expertise by choosing from three areas of emphasis:

Environmental Health Sciences

With an emphasis in Environmental Health Sciences you’ll examine environmental pollutants and contaminants, how they are disseminated, and what populations are most susceptible to them. You will learn how risk analysis and policy decisions combat emerging global environmental health problems.

You will focus on a scientific understanding of the causes and prevention of environmental and occupational factors that effect human populations.

Epidemiology

Epidemiologists are interested in understanding the distribution and determinants of disease, disability, and other health-related events. They investigate risk factors and spend time preparing and analyzing data; communicating those results verbally, visually, and in writing.

Our NEW emphasis in Epidemiology teaches students how to collect and organize information from a variety of sources, assist senior staff to examine data and determine how to analyze it, and use statistical analysis to draw valid conclusions. 

Global Health (ONLINE)

The emphasis in Global Health examines the ways health disparities and specific risk factors affect local and global populations.

Your courses will connect anthropology, sociology, public health and global health into practical solutions for international agencies to advocate for individuals, increase access to healthcare, and ensure top health standards are met around the world. Beginning fall 2023 this emphasis area can be completed entirely online.

Community Health Promotion and Education

Choosing an emphasis in Health Education and Promotion will prepare you for a career that strengthens public health infrastructure and systems by educating the public, policymakers and workforce professionals on the most effective strategies for health promotion.

You’ll develop research, data collection and analysis skills and gain experience on planning, implementing and assessing health and disease prevention programs in a variety of settings and on an array of health-related topics.

What Can You Do With a Public Health Degree?

A degree in Public Health from Georgia Southern University prepares you to meet the growing demand for public health professionals that work locally and around the world to protect the health of entire populations. You’ll launch a rewarding career that serves the public through education and promotion of healthy lifestyles, policy-making and research for disease and injury prevention, and detection and control of infections diseases.