BS Public Health

As a multidisciplinary, practiced-oriented major, the BS in Public Health program is designed to build knowledge across a broad array of domains to prepare students for entry-level public health jobs, graduate work, or lifelong learning. Foundational domains include:

• Scientific knowledge in biological, life, social and behavioral sciences
• Basic concepts of human health and disease
• History, philosophy, values, and functions of public health
• Determinants of health and health disparities
• Role of data and application of quantitative reasoning
• Health systems in the U.S. and abroad
• Identifying and addressing population health problems
• Project planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Health policy, law, ethics, and economics
• Health communications and professionalism

The BS in Public Health program seeks to instill and reinforce the public health profession’s core values:

• An obligation to promote health and prevent harm
• A commitment to social justice
• A focus on communities and community-wide outcomes
• A belief in evidence-based practice underpinned by scientific reason
• An adherence to the highest standards of professionalism
• A celebration of diversity and respect for the rights, dignity and worth of individuals
• A preference for cooperation and collaboration
• A drive toward solutions

Public health looks at population health holistically and how factors such as where individuals and families live, work, and play; socio-economic and educational status; availability of healthy foods, and built environments (i.e., sidewalks, bicycle and walking trails, etc.) influence overall health.   For example, a doctor may prescribe medicine to treat a patient with heart disease and prescribe an exercise regimen.  Yet if the patient does not have access to a gym or a safe area in her community to walk, a public health professional might help create policies or work within a community to help provide access to safe recreational areas.

Given the many facets of public health, BSPH graduates can enjoy a wide variety of job options, including:

• Public Health Educator
• Community Health Worker
• Research Analyst / Research Assistant
• Clinical Research or Data Coordinator
• Environmental or Occupational Health Specialist
• Health Care Consultant or Administrator
• Health Advocate
• Project Manager
• Outreach Coordinator
• Public Health Inspector
• Data Science Research Professional and Software Developer
• Public Health Engineer
• Quality Compliance and Improvement Specialist
• Emergency Response or Preparedness Specialist
• Health Communications Specialist or Public Health Journalist
• Pre-Health (undergraduate major for pre-med, pre-pharmacy, pre-denistry, etc.)

Find more information about the possibilities of a public health career:

• Advice for Undergrads: Careers in Public Health
• Public Health 101 Series
• Discover: What is Public Health?
• CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS) Program

All classes are taught in-person at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus.   

A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required to apply.

Yes. Thinking about earning your Master of Public Health (MPH)? The Parkinson School also offers a five-year, dual-degree to earn both your bachers and masters degree with the BSPH/MPH dual-degree program.

No. However, if space is available, non-majors may enroll in public health courses.

No. However, students may use their elective coursework to pursue other public health topics of interest, such as health care administration, global health, biostatistics, and environmental health.