Public Health Major

Public Health Major

Promote health, wellness, and disease prevention.
IN THIS SECTION

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

VIEW THE CATALOG

Concentrations in Health Science

Explore sample courses in this program.
HC-201 Introduction to Public Health
This course is an overview and focuses on populations, prevention, and the evidence-based practice of public health.
3 credits
HC-202 Introduction to Global Health
This course is an overview and focuses on the developing world from a population and prevention perspective.
3 credits
HC-203 Introduction to Epidemiology
Basic epidemiologic concepts are covered and application of concepts to everyday problems, e.g., hazards in food supplies and risks associated with lifestyle.
3 credits
HC-220 Health Policy
Examination of the process and factors that influence formulation, implementation, and modification of health policy in the United States.
3 credits
HC-228 Health Ethics
Ethical issues in health including genetic research, euthanasia, medical intervention, and reproductive technologies as well as professional ethics.
3 credits
HC-234 Multiculturalism and Health
Examination of diverse ethnic/racial and cultural beliefs beliefs and practices affecting health and illness.
3 credits
HC-245 Introduction to Public Health Research
This course introduces students to health sciences research. Students develop critical skills including effectively navigating and interpreting information and distinguishing between high quality and low quality sources of evidence. Students gain an understanding of the importance of staying actively informed of current events relevant to public health and how informed public health professionals can seek out high quality news on public health and discern from misleading news information that is relevant to public health policy. Students also spend extensive time exploring the difference between information found on internet searches and social media versus reliable health agency information.
3 credits
HC-338 Peer Education Training
Emphasis on student development of practical skills to implement programming centered on peer education programs and focused on preventative health.
3 credits
HC-340 Global Perspective in Public Health
Seminar course for students accepted into a global service learning trip during the academic year. It is designed to prepare students through curriculum-based learning, the components of service learning, ethical partnering with vulnerable communities, and the cultural/historical/political and economic factors that impact health and healthcare policies within the population where immersion takes places. There is self-reflection and integration of learning through journal writing, critical thinking, exercises, formal preparation for service in the host country, and a final paper at the end of the semester.
3 credits
HC-345 Introduction to the US Health Care System
This course is an overview of the US health care system (USHCS) and its components. Subjects reviewed include how social determinants of health influence access to health care and the role of health care providers and their effect in the health care system. The history of USHCS, the financing of services, types of services offered, and access and quality of these services. Understanding these topics helps formulate an understanding of how the USHCS functions and the factors involved in the delivery of healthcare services.
3 credits
HC-430 Health Promotion Program Implementation and Evaluation
The success of a well-planned health promotion program depends on effective implementation and evaluation procedures. This course reviews the process of program planning and explores implementation and evaluation strategies. This course equips students to collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate evidence of a program’s effectiveness to relevant stakeholders. The course culminates with a written evaluation plan and mock poster presentation delivered to an audience of peers.
3 credits
HE-100 Personal Health
Physical, mental, and emotional aspects of well-being and how to maintain and increase the quality of one’s lifestyle.
3 credits
HE-120 Health and Nutrition
Nutritional needs, weight control, healthy diets, myths, and nutritional aids to better health.
3 credits
HE-140 Creative Arts and Health
An experiential and didactic introduction to the separate arts therapies: movement, art, music, and language arts, emphasizing the creative process.
3 credits
HE-170 Humans in Motion
Concepts of the human neuro-musculoskeletal system, which provides function and health across the lifespan under normal and stress conditions.
3 credits
HE-208 Systems of Addictions Treatment
This course provides an overview of counseling modalities and techniques used in addiction treatment and recovery settings, including for those with co-occurring disorders. A family systems approach is employed to understand how the criminal justice system, the mental health system, and the larger community relate. Legal and regulatory restrictions, ethical codes, and legal sanctions also are discussed.
3 credits
HE-225 Advanced Nutrition: The Prevention and Treatment of Obesity
This course examines the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of a major public health issue: obesity. The course builds on basic nutrition principles and their application to weight management and eating behaviors. Emphasis is on the consequences of obesity on cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Body weight regulation concepts include, but are not limited to, body weight assessment, energy metabolism, regulation of eating behavior, energy nutrients, and the role of diet/physical activity in weight management.
3 credits
HE-230 Human Sexuality and Sex Education
Focus on the need for and understanding of sex education, along with the process of implementing sexuality education, with emphasis upon teacher preparation.
3 credits
HE-275 Fitness for Life
Knowledge of health-related fitness components and their effect on total wellness; emphasis on developing personalized fitness program, namely cardiovascular endurance.
3 credits
HE-325 Sports Nutrition
The course is designed to examine the role of nutrition in exercise metabolism and to explore the link between basics of exercise physiology concepts and nutrition. This course includes the application of nutrition principles to maintain optimum health and to enhance athletic performance from a healthy, adequate, and personalized diet. Sports nutrition concepts include, but are not limited to, body composition, nutritional supplements, energy balance, and nutritional needs for physically active people and athletes.
3 credits