New Public Health major focuses on nurturing healthy populations

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Health and Human Development has launched a new undergraduate degree program — the Bachelor of Science in Public Health — to address a growing demand for trained professionals in public health-related fields due to community and global health challenges, aging populations, and an increased recognition of the importance of preventive approaches in healthcare.

The degree program is centered on the science behind public health topics and will develop students’ skills in epidemiology, health communication, public policy, global health and data analysis. Its focus is to empower students to improve the health of populations and communities — especially in rural settings — through disease prevention, promoting healthy behaviors, creating safe environments, and addressing factors that influence health at local, national and global levels.

New and current Penn State students can declare the major immediately and begin taking courses to fulfill degree requirements.

The Public Health major will prepare students to pursue a variety of growing career opportunities in government public health agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools and universities, research institutions, hospitals and healthcare organizations, and corporate wellness programs.

Students who successfully complete the degree program will be prepared to join the workforce directly in a variety of entry-level careers. Examples include positions such as community health educator, research assistant, public health program assistant, health policy implementation analyst, or program research specialist, along with other roles in areas like food safety, nutrition, recreation and agriculture, depending on students’ area of emphasis.

“The Public Health major is ideal for students who seek to understand the interconnected factors that shape population health and want to leverage science and data to make a difference in communities,” said Kari Kugler, associate teaching professor of biobehavioral health and director of the public health degree program. “We increasingly see the value of public health and its importance, and I am thrilled to be involved with this robust new degree program that will prepare future leaders in public health and health-related fields.”

Additionally, the Public Health major provides a strong scientific foundation for students intending to pursue graduate studies in public health or other advanced study, including medical school, dental school, physician assistant school, and other clinical and health-related fields like pharmacology and nursing.

Looking forward, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health will seek to establish an Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) program with the Master of Public Health program in the Penn State College of Medicine, allowing students to earn both degrees in five years.

The major also provides a strong requisite background for students who may be interested in pursuing the Certified Health Education Specialist credential.

Throughout the program, students will develop applied skills, including critical thinking and problem solving, research methods, data analysis, visualization and interpretation, written and oral communication, project management, leadership and teamwork, community engagement, cultural competence, and advocacy and policy analysis.

Core coursework covers fundamental principles of epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion and education, health policy and management, global health, public health ethics, and program planning and evaluation.

Penn State’s Public Health degree program is well-positioned to prepare students to address public health and health equity needs, especially in rural communities across the commonwealth. In Pennsylvania, nearly 75% of the state’s land area — or 48 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties — is classified as rural, where populations are made up of a significant number of older adults, while also becoming increasingly diverse, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data.

In addition to core coursework, the Public Health major requires students to earn a minor, as well as participate in an internship. These requirements, along with other experiential learning opportunities available throughout the major’s coursework, allow students to specialize in an area of interest that complements the public health degree and tailor their education to meet their personal and professional goals. With more than 200 minors to choose from across the University, students can choose to specialize in an area of particular interest, including global health, health policy and administration, data visualization, food systems, environmental engineering or marketing.

“The health and health care needs of society are growing and professionals with the ability to support population health — whether the population in question is a neighborhood, members of a particular health insurance plan, an occupational group, or individuals sharing a specific health need — will be in demand," said Craig J. Newschaffer, Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean of the College of Health and Human Development. "The College of Health and Human Development has long been a University Park academic home to faculty with a wide range of public health expertise, and capitalizing on that to launch this degree will create more opportunities for our students that will also benefit community well-being throughout the commonwealth and beyond."

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health is administratively housed in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development.

Those interested in learning more about the degree program can visit the College of Health and Human Development website or the University bulletin for more information. Students who would like to declare the major should discuss it with their academic adviser or contact Kari Kugler, director of the public health degree program, at kck18@psu.edu.