Your learning experience will incorporate technologies like smartphone applications for creating public service announcements and other health marketing techniques. You’ll have the opportunity to post research findings and create discussions about critical health topics on student-created blogs. Beyond the classroom, you’ll complete a semester-long fieldwork practicum at community organizations in Worcester and beyond.
We offer comprehensive undergraduate programs in public health and health education (with or without teacher certification). As a high-achieving health sciences student, you may qualify to earn dual bachelor’s degrees in public health and nursing through our formal agreement with the MCPHS University. If you select this option, you will complete your first 83 credits at WSU. With a satisfactory pre-admission interview at MCPHS University, you will transfer to either their Worcester, Mass. or Manchester, N.H., campus to complete their accelerated nursing program. Completion of 40 credits earns you a degree in public health from WSU; completion of the program's 64 credits earns you a nursing degree from MCPHS University.
You also can take advantage of our evening courses. In fact, our
health education major and
public health major can be completed entirely at night, if that best suits your lifestyle. Whatever program of study you choose, we’ll tailor your education to fit your career interests and goals.
Even if you don’t major in health sciences, you can specialize in an area of interest within our department. We offer minors in public health, health education, health fitness, and sports coaching as well as an interdisciplinary concentration in public health and social justice.
As a health sciences graduate, you’ll be eligible to take the
Certified Health Education Specialist exam administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. To learn more about the general field of health education and various types of work and employment opportunities, visit the
Society of Public Health Education and view the home page video, “What Is a Health Ed Specialist?”