Health Sciences BS
Build a strong health-care foundation that prepares you for advanced study in allied health professions like PA, PT, OT, nursing, athletic training, optometry, dentistry or cardiovascular perfusion.
Public Health BS
Become a changemaker by analyzing the factors that shape our health and mastering the skills needed to tackle our biggest challenges.
Why Public Health at ACPHS?
With curriculum that emphasizes biological, social, behavioral and data sciences, a bachelor’s in public health prepares you for diverse careers with the tools to thrive and pivot in a rapidly changing health landscape. Our graduates improve population health through career pathways in health policy, epidemiology, clinical practice, healthcare administration and more.
What Is Public Health?
Public health is about protecting and improving health by bringing prevention and medical breakthroughs to all populations. Instead of focusing on one person at a time, public health emphasizes the big picture of health and works to prevent disease in everyone.
Public health professionals use research, policy, programs, and education to help people live longer, healthier lives. Whether working in hospitals, government agencies, or community organizations, public health professionals play a key role in improving health.
Public Health Facts & Stats
Questions? Contact the Program Director
Maggie Doll, PhD, MPH
Phone
Email
margaret.dollJobs for Public Health Majors
Public health graduates have diverse and growing job opportunities, both directly after graduation or coupled with advanced medical or professional training. Careers include fulfilling and high-paying jobs, such as:
- Epidemiologist: become a disease detective and prevent future outbreaks
- Hospital Administrator: ensure quality patient care & manage hospital resources
- Department of Health Director: oversee federal & state public health departments and set program priorities
- Healthcare Provider: apply expertise in biological, social, behavioral, and data sciences to better care for patients and communities
- Public Health Lawyer: create laws & advise government agencies on policies to promote population health
- Community-Based Organization Founder: create & lead organizations that address unmet community health needs
Program Accreditation
- The public health major at ACPHS is fully accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health, which ensures that our graduates receive a quality education, gaining the essential skills and knowledge required for today’s public health professionals.
- Currently, the program is undergoing a reaccreditation cycle. As a part of this process, CEPH invites program stakeholders, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, community and practice partners, and members of the public, to share relevant information about the program.
- Please contribute your feedback here: Public Health Accreditation
“Studying public health in conjunction with pharmacy at ACPHS taught me to see beyond the prescription and focus on improving health outcomes.
Hands-On Learning & Research Opportunities for Public Health Majors
Get real-world experiences and prepare to hit the ground running in public-health careers.
Service Learning
You can earn credit in service learning classes while expanding access to health services in the greater Albany community. Service opportunities are tailored to student interests, with positions at local food pantries, afterschool programs, eco-sustainability and literacy centers, and more.
The Collaboratory
At our unique public health practice site, The Collaboratory, ACPHS students & faculty work together to address health disparities in the greater Albany community.
Research & Internship Opportunities
With our flexible curriculum, students can explore their own interests in health. Whether working 1:1 with faculty in public health research projects or participating in a for-credit internship, such as at the NYS Senate or Assembly, our students gain a competitive advantage through their customized learning experiences.
Program Details
Public Health Degree Coursework
Interested in health, but not sure of your career direction yet? With core coursework in biology, health policy, data science, communication and social and behavioral sciences, our interdisciplinary curriculum allows you to explore your interests in health from many different angles. Additionally, in our required service-learning classes, you will learn through real-world experiences volunteering at community-based organizations. Through our curriculum, students discover new interests in health and/or gain experiences to help solidify existing ones.
Our curriculum also gives students the flexibility to customize their learning pathway according to their career goals. For example, our pre-MD/DO/PA students take courses to fulfill prerequisites for health professions schools, while students interested in research engage in independent studies with faculty. Our pre-law or health policy students can also earn credits while interning at the New York State Senate or Assembly. Some students even do all three!
Regardless of your path, you’ll complete the program with a capstone project. This project is unique to each student and reflects your own interests in health. Past projects include testing for contaminants in locally purchased spices, leading an asthma club at an elementary school, drafting legislation to ensure cancer patient support at healthcare visits, conducting research to investigate diabetes outcomes by insurance type, and more.
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