Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health

The health professions are an important focus at Marian University, where being of service to others and making a positive impact on the community is an important part of our Franciscan values.

While a doctor treats individual patients who are sick, those who work in public health are focused on the prevention of illness and injury among groups of people. Protecting the health of women and infants, teens, adults, the elderly, and the general public as a whole in the communities where we all live, learn, work, and play is their priority. 

If you want to major in public health, two tracks are available: 

1. The first track focuses on social, behavioral, and community health and leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Health degree.
2. The second track focuses on environmental and community health and leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health degree.

If you plan to major in business, education, or another field, you can add a minor in public health to your plans of study.

Why choose public health at Marian?

Students who major or minor in public health learn how to promote good health practices. They explore a variety of behavioral, environmental, social, and related issues related to public health.

As a public health professional, you'll be involved in work that increases life expectancies, reduces infant and child mortality, reduces the spread of communicable diseases, and other important health and wellness activities.

From conducting research to education and awareness about ways to maintain good health, public health professionals are community advocates.

• They track disease outbreaks, develop programs to prevent injury, and explore why some types of people are more likely to suffer from poor health than others.
• In addition, they promote programs, policies, and practices for the greater good, like smoking cessation, wearing seat belts, and providing evidence-based solutions for local, regional, national, and international health challenges.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of jobs in public health are expected to grow 13 percent faster than average through 2024. 

What career paths are available?

A degree in public health can open doors beyond the most common career path, which is working for municipal and state government agencies. In fact, earning a degree in public health can lead to career paths in corporate, small-business, educational, non-profit, and other settings. These are just a few examples of the areas in which public health graduates can work.

• Public: Federal, state, and local health departments and groups focused on epidemiology, health care regulation, air and water quality, drug addiction, smoking cessation, food protection, nutrition, immunizations, special services for the deaf and blind, and health services for low-income individuals.
• Education: Hospitals, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and other settings where children, adults, veterans, mothers, the elderly, immigrants, and others need to be informed and educated about healthcare best practices.
• Private: Construction, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and insurance companies focused on employee safety, corporate wellness, or health-related regulatory issues.
• Non-profit: Research, administration, and managerial roles for groups like social service agencies, AmeriCorps, religious organizations, and others focused on human services and human health.