Public Health

Public Health is a dynamic, fast-growing field at the forefront of improving lives and advancing health equity around the world. The Public Health (PBHL) Program at the College of Charleston offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary education that tackles today’s most pressing health challenges—from chronic disease and health disparities to global pandemics and environmental threats.

Our strong partnerships with local, national, and global public health organizations open doors to high-impact research, immersive internships, and real-world fieldwork. Whether you're drawn to advocacy, policy, program development, or community health, you'll graduate with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and critical thinking skills needed to lead meaningful change and make a lasting difference in diverse public health settings.

Why Study Public Health?

As a public health major, you'll 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 develop practices and policies to improve the health of people in communities regionally, nationally and globally.
  • Mission of the Public Health Program

    The primary mission of the interdisciplinary public health program is the academic preparation of students interested in all aspects of public health.  Students will be able to identify, research, and apply public health concepts in a variety of content areas (e.g. global, epidemiological, and health communication).

  • Customize Your Public Health Degree

    Customize your education by choosing either a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Health—both grounded in a rigorous core curriculum. Enhance your academic experience through hands-on learning opportunities, including internships, study abroad programs, independent research, and collaborative faculty-led projects. Whether you’re interested in health education, policy development, global health, or healthcare systems, our program gives you the flexibility and support to shape your future in public health.

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  • Experiential Learning in Public Health

    Public Health Sciences and Administration students gain valuable hands-on experience through faculty-mentored research, professional internships, and global learning opportunities. Whether analyzing health disparities, evaluating public health programs, or exploring policy solutions, students can engage in meaningful research, earn course credit, and present their work at academic conferences.

    Internships provide real-world experience in healthcare organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, and community health settings across the Charleston area. Students can also broaden their perspective through study abroad programs that explore global health systems, policy, and practice—preparing them to make an impact both locally and globally.

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  • Opportunities Beyond Graduation

    Our B.S. in Public Health prepares graduates for careers in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, occupational safety and health, nursing, and other clinical health professions. The B.A. in Public Health equips students for roles in health advocacy, communication, global health, maternal and child health, health policy and law, and medical humanities. Graduates find employment in a variety of settings, including local and state health departments, federal agencies like the CDC and NIH, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, and insurance companies. Students in either the B.S. or B.A. program are also well-positioned for graduate study in public health and related disciplines.

    Common public health-focused 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)

    Students may also pursue professional degrees such as:

    • 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)

    We also offer an accelerated 3+2 pathway in partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), allowing qualified students to earn both a B.S. in Public Health and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in just five years—saving both time and tuition while gaining a competitive edge in the field.

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Ready to Apply

Admission to the Public Health program begins with acceptance to the College of Charleston. No separate application is required—just declare Public Health as your major. Take the first step and apply today!

Apply to the College of Charleston