Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Those who have health have hope. Those who have hope have everything.
Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Dr. Thomas E. Dobbs, and Shannon Cohn speak at a private screening of Below The Belt, a documentary film on endometriosis and women's health.
About this Program
Public health is an exciting field dedicated to protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, eliminating health disparities, and responding to environmental threats.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health offers two unique emphasis areas to choose from:
- Health Science. Graduates from the Health Science emphasis work in a range of careers in hospitals, clinics, sports facilities, and other healthcare settings. Students can also leverage their knowledge as the foundation for advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, respiratory therapy, nursing, and public health.
- Community Health. Graduates from the Community Health emphasis work in a range of careers in public, private, or nonprofit sectors, educating communities or connecting individuals to crucial services as a patient advocate or health educator.
Public Health majors get hands-on experience designing health programs to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities across the country.
On this Page…
Program Information
Program Type
Major
Minor
Area of Study
Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology
School
Duration
4 years
Degree
B.S. in Public Health and Health Sciences
Program Location
Emphases
Community Health;
Health Science
Required Credit Hours
120
Public Health Coursework
The BS in Public Health requires 33 major credit hours. The following courses are required of all public health majors:
- PH 191: Personal and Community Health
- PH 195: Foundations of Public Health
- PH 300: Environmental Health
- PH 319: Global Health
- ES 350: Research Methods in HESRM
- PH 305: Program Planning and Evaluation
- PH 352: Basic Epidemiology
- PH 528: Public Health Policy
- PH 555: Health Equity
- IMC/Jour 585: Health Communication
- PH 470: Practical Applications in Public Health
In addition to the 33-hour Public Health core curriculum, public health majors who select the community health emphasis must complete the following 43-44 hours of coursework:
In addition to the 33 hours of Public Health core curriculum, public health majors who select the health science emphasis must complete the following 43-44 hours of coursework:
- Bisc 206 / 207: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II OR Bisc 310 Human Anatomy/Bisc 330 Introductory Physiology (8 hours)
- PSY 301: Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
- PSY 311: Psychopathology (3 hours)
- ES 396: Allied Health Terminology (3 hours)
- 10-11 hours of elective courses
Offering a joint B.S. plus MPH degree (4+1) provides public health majors the opportunity to progress through a bachelor’s and master’s degree more quickly and at less cost than if they were to pursue these degrees separately.
Requirements:
- Public Health Major
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- 90 completed undergraduate credit hours
- PH 195: Foundations of Public Health
- PH 305: Program Planning and Evaluation
- PH 352: Basic Epidemiology
- PH 300: Environmental Health
- PH 312: Behavioral Aspects of Weight Management
- PH 319: Global Health
- ES 350: Research Methods in HESRM
- PH 391: Special Topics in Health (can be taken twice for credit)
- PH 440: Behavioral Aspects of Exercise
- PH 528: Public Health Policy
- PH 555: Health Equity
- IMC/JOUR 585: Health Communication
- PH 595: Human Health and Illness
Interested in pursuing a minor in Public Health? Make sure to talk to your academic advisor.
What does public health look like on the job market?
Median income for Medical Investigators in 2022.
Median income for Disaster Recovery Managers in 2022.
Jobs for Emergency Management Directors in 2022.
Jobs for Epidemiologists in 2022.
Dylan Barker
- Service and Community Engagement
Why did you choose UM?
See Dylan’s Answer
Cate Drane
- Service and Community Engagement
When did you choose your major?
See Cate’s Answer
Haile Cambliss
- Service and Community Engagement
What are your career goals?
See Haile’s AnswerWhat can you do with a public health degree?
- Epidemiologist
- Community Health Worker
- Health Education Specialist
- Program Evaluator
- Health Administrator
- Wellness Coordinator
- Prevention Specialist
- Program Manager
- Surgeon General
- Health Policy Analyst
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Meet your support team!
We are here to answer any questions you may have about a degree in Public Health.
Vanessa W. Moore
Academic Advisor
We're always happy to help
Whether you're interested in applying or you're already a student, we're only an email or a call away!
Mary Allison Ford-Wade
Interim Chair of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Associate Dean of Community Engagement, and Professor of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?