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Program Overview
Rooted in science and social justice, public health is a prevention-oriented, multi-disciplinary field that promotes conditions to protect and improve the health of people and communities. Public Health workers are involved in a variety of roles including but not limited to outbreak investigation, humanitarian response, cancer and heart disease prevention, injury and violence prevention, environmental toxicology, advocacy, immunization, bioterrorism surveillance, food and drug quality, public health nutrition, zoonotic disease control, corporate wellness, and more.
The public health program consists of a 30-credit major or 15-credit minor that will provide students with the opportunity to learn more about the health issues facing communities.
The major/minor is appropriate for students who are:
- Interested in a broad career focus that may encompass governance, advocacy, social justice, diplomacy, environmental studies, international development, healthcare delivery, behavioral and social sciences, communication/media or health informatics
- Excited by the idea of prevention of disease at a broader scale than the individual patient
- Motivated by social justice and reduction of health disparities both locally and globally
Interested in a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree?
Rooted in science and social justice, a master’s in public health will lead you to one of many careers that are prevention-oriented, multi-disciplinary, and promote conditions to protect and improve the health of people and communities. Learn More
Accreditation
Fairfield University's four-year bachelor's program in public health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, https://ceph.org/.
Program Requirements
The coursework for the Public Health major and minor reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the field by having students take courses in biological sciences, environmental science, nursing, the humanities, social sciences, and administration.
Major Requirements
Students complete 30-credits, including a field internship and capstone experience.
In addition to the major requirements, students are required to take an immersion field internship. These internship opportunities provide students with transformative and hands-on experience in the field.
Students will have the opportunity to intern at diverse organizations such as intergovernmental agencies, humanitarian organizations, state public health agencies, and local hospitals.
Minor Requirements
The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies offers a minor in public health. The 15-credit minor in Public Health features 5 required courses that can be selected across three content areas (Foundational; Context; Skills and Methods). There are two required foundational courses (PB 101 & PB 216). You can choose two courses from the context offerings (NS 112, PB 201, BI 76, PY237) and one from the Skills and Methods offerings (PB 217, NS 330*, HS 200).
This minor aims to provide students with knowledge to begin to understand root causes of health inequities and advocate for improved health conditions worldwide.
| Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| PB 101 | Public Health and Social Justice | 3 |
| BI 216 | Introductory Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| Total | 6 | |
| Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| NS 112 | Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
| PB 201 | Public Health Disease and Injury | 3 |
| BI 76 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| PY 237 | Community Mental Health | 3 |
| Total | 12 | |
| Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| PB 217 | Biostatistics for Health Research | 3 |
| NS 330* | Population Health | 3 |
| HS 200 | Health Care Communication | 3 |
| Total | 12 | |
* NS 330- Population Health is for nursing majors ONLY
Admission
With a long history of preparing men and women for careers in the expanding fields of medicine and health studies and ranked as one of the nation’s best nursing schools, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies is dedicated to delivering an excellent, comprehensive education to our students.
Applications for the Public Health program are evaluated by the Office of Admission.
More About Public Health
Life After Fairfield
Life After Fairfield
Fairfield has a long history of success in preparing students with a solid foundation for the health professions. With the growing demand in the Public Health field, students can find a number of career opportunities in government agencies, and with contractors, think tanks, international agencies, humanitarian organizations and foundations as well as the corporate sector or in academia.
Learn about how Fairfield's Career Center can support your post-graduate goals, and how Fairfield's tight-knit alumni network can build career and mentoring opportunities that last a lifetime.
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Fairfield is dedicated to diversity and inclusion; to radical hospitality in service of racial, social, and economic justice.
Egan Newsletter
Egan Newsletter
Learn more about what our faculty, students, and alumni are doing, as well as stay up-to-date on our rankings and accolades, programs, and more.
Egan Update
Egan Update
We invite you to view the Egan Update, a year in review of Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies news.
Faculty & Staff
Faculty & Staff
Fairfield University’s Egan School boasts experienced faculty who inspire students to become leaders across social and healthcare environments. These students are actively engaged with faculty in practice, policy, scholarship, and service.