Get the skills to start your career
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how important public health strategies are. The Major in Public Health will give you the skills to start your career path in this field. You will examine the social, behavioral, and environmental determinants associated with pressing health problems and learn how to plan, implement, and evaluate appropriate health promotion programs and preventive services to improve population health. You will also examine health inequalities and other emerging health challenges that impact both local and global communities. Through cooperative, multi-disciplinary experiences, you will receive preparation in wellness, health promotion, holistic disease prevention, and community health services. As a high achieving health sciences student, you may qualify to earn dual bachelor’s degrees in public health and nursing through our partnership with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
- Acquire knowledge and practical skills that prepare you to pursue a career in a public health–related profession
- Understand the importance of prevention strategies in improving health and well-being
- Develop a data analysis plan for evaluation and research related to health promotion
- Complete a semester-long fieldwork practicum at a community organization in Worcester or beyond
Concentrations in Health Science
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Make a difference to the future of public health with the Major in Public Health with a Concentration in Health Education. Through cooperative, multi-disciplinary experiences, you’ll receive training in the disciplines of wellness, health promotion, holistic disease prevention, and community health services. You’ll examine the social, behavioral, and environmental determinants associated with pressing health problems and learn how to plan, implement, and evaluate appropriate health promotion programs and preventive services to improve population health. In this program, you may also pursue a minor in secondary education. As a graduate, you’ll be eligible to take the Certified Health Education Specialist exam administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
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The Public Health - Pre-Nursing Program is a dual-degree based on a formal affiliation agreement that admits a limited number of students into an articulated program that begins with 83 credits at WSU in the Public Health/Pre-Nursing program and continues with the accelerated Bachelor of Nursing program at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University ("MCPHS University") Worcester or Manchester, NH campus. At the completion of the appropriate 37 credits (of the 63 required) at MCPHS University, the student transfers those credits back to WSU and earns a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. The student then completes the additional number of appropriate credits (26) at MCPHS University to earn the B.S. in Nursing. Students should see the advisor in the Health Sciences department assigned to the program.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health requires the following 83 credits at WSU followed by the 63 credits in Nursing which will be taken at the MCPHS University campus in either Worcester or Manchester, NH.
See the diverse career paths that a degree in Health Science can prepare you for
Explore a growing range of professional opportunities with your Health Science degree from Worcester State––according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs outlook in Health Science-related fields is up by 17%, higher than average.