Public Health

Public Health is a rapidly growing field and plays a critical role in the lives of people worldwide. Our public health program offers a comprehensive understanding of the issues impacting communities and populations. With strong local, national, and international ties to public health programs, you will be exposed to unique academic, research and internship opportunities including but not limited to, advocacy, program implementation and hands-on fieldwork.

The Department of Health and Human Performance offers both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in public health. Students declaring the B.A. in public health major are able to declare a concentration in either Global Health or Maternal and Child Health as part of their public health academic experience. Both degrees focus on a core public health curriculum and offer experiential learning opportunities, including study abroad programs, internships, independent studies, and participation in faculty-led research.

Why Study Public Health?

Public Health is a growing and important field of study which aims to improve conditions and behaviors that impact human health. As a public health major, you will discover the science and art of promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing the spread of disease, and ultimately prolonging the lives of individuals in a community. You'll research public health issues and educate the community on your findings. Through these findings you'll be able to develop practices and policies that will improve the health of people in communities regionally, nationally and globally.

Faculty-Led Research in Public Health
With faculty devoted to exceptional learning experiences, and as part of a university that offers boundless research and grant funding opportunities, our students are able to participate in paid faculty-led and independent research in their specified area of study. Students participating in research also have the chance to publish and present their findings at local, regional, and national conferences. Interested students are encouraged to reach out to faculty to express an interest in assisting with research. Students can earn repeatable course credit towards their Public Health degree for serving as a research assistant.
Examples of research topics studied include:
- environmental exposure to man-made chemicals and resultant health effects involving two study populations: bottlenose dolphins and college-aged students.
- assessing the effectiveness of a substance use and mental health service usage educational campaign among college students.
- development and evaluation of community health programs to increase physical activity and healthy eating.
- effects of heat index in the southeast among occupationally exposed populations.
- developing and pilot testing a smoking cessation decision aid that includes an in-depth focus on e-cigarettes.
Internships in Public Health

With strong local, national, and international ties to public health organizations, our students are exposed to internship opportunities with organizations such as MUSC, the Green Heart Project, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Centers for Disease Control, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, and Planned Parenthood, among many others.
Interested public health majors should contact our Internship Coordinator, Becky Kyryliuk, for more details about this experiential learning possibility.
Study Abroad in Public Health

Through several class offerings, such as Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Communication, Immigration and Public Health, and Global Health, students have the opportunity to participate in faculty-led student abroad programs where they can put their academic knowledge to practical use. Past programming has allowed our public health students to travel to Barcelona, Lisbon, Amsterdam, France, and Switzerland.
Summer 2024 Study Abroad in Barcelona: Apply Here!
Opportunities Beyond Graduation
Our B.S. in Public Health will allow graduates to obtain positions within the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, occupational safety and health, nursing, and other clinical health professions. Graduates of our B.A. in Public Health will gain employment in fields such as health advocacy, health communications, global health and international studies, maternal and child health, health policy and law, and medical humanities. Possible places of employment include local and state health departments, federal organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, for-profit and non-profit health agencies, hospitals, insurance companies, among others. Students obtaining either the B.S. or B.A. will also have the opportunity for continuing education in the following areas:
Public health-focused post-graduate degrees include:
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
- Master of Health Administration (MHA)
- Master of Science (MS)
- Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Science (ScD)
Other post-graduate degrees which public health students might pursue include:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Physical Therapist (PT)
- Occupational Therapist (OT)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Juris Doctor (JD)

Learn about each of our Public Health degrees

Our interdisciplinary public health program allows you to choose between a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Whether you choose the B.S. or B.A. degree in public health, you will practice critical and analytical thinking, and will learn to identify and resolve current and emerging public health issues that impact communities. You will also gain awareness of the differences between communities, how cultural values impact health status, and how to best engage with key stakeholders from those populations. Find which degree is right for you.

Public Health, B.S.
The B.S. in Public Health is recommended for students needing a strong science background to enter graduate or professional school or those who want to obtain a challenging entry-level position in health promotion, health education, or many other Public Health careers.
This program will prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, including, but not limited to:
- Epidemiology and biostatistics
- Health policy, management, and administration
- Health promotion and education
- Nursing
- Maternal and child health
- Global health
- Environmental health
- Occupational safety and health
- Nutrition
- Emergency preparedness
Program of Study
Public Health, B.A.
The B.A. in Public Health draws on expertise from an array of academic and practical approaches. Students in the program choose concentrations in two specialized tracks, including Global Health and Maternal and Child Health. These concentrations offer B.A. majors a foundational background in public heath, as well as an interdisciplinary perspective on target issues in public health (global health and maternal and child health) that correspond to student interest and graduate level programs.
The Public Health B.A. program offers students the opportunity to investigate public health from humanities and social sciences perspectives and is recommended for students who are considering careers in areas such as non-profit or for-profit health agencies, health promotion programs, health policy, and health communication. This degree also prepares students for a variety of jobs in the health sector or for advanced degrees in public health or other health-related fields.
This program allows students to gain exposure to fields such as:
- Health advocacy
- Health communications
- International studies
- Women’s and gender studies
- Health policy and law
- Medical humanities
Program of Study - Public Health, B.A. (Global Health Concentration)
Program of Study - Public Health, B.A. (Maternal & Child Health Concentration)