PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORK TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF POPULATIONS.

Public health professionals work to prevent disease and injury by changing health behaviors. When an infectious disease is spreading, public health professionals work to track it, stop it, and keep communities as healthy as possible. They identify causes of disease and disability, and implement solutions to treat them, and rely on the public to comply with their behavioral recommendations.

There are many different public health positions in society all with varying job descriptions. However, all public health professionals have the same end-goal, to safeguard the greater health of the population. Public health workers strive to limit health disparities and promote healthcare equity, quality, and accessibility for all.

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program will gain practical experiences needed to become public health professionals and will experience first-hand how practitioners can make a difference in the lives of people by promoting behavior change and educating people within communities. This experiential-learning model will provide opportunities for students to gain proficiency as certified health education specialists within the discipline. Graduates will be prepared to take the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing’s certification examination to become a certified health education specialist (CHES); the most sought-after health specialist credential in the workplace.

Employment Outlook

The recent COVID-19 pandemic draws attention to the need to assess and evaluate coordinated efforts to improve the public health agency workforce and to make modifications that will better prepare us in the future. This requires the commitment and focus of the nation’s public health leadership at all levels and the leadership of the agencies and organizations supporting them including academic institutions. Engagement in an active workforce development strategy will be critical to improve health outcomes and to decrease health disparities. Improvements in the nation’s health ultimately will only be realized through a trained and well-prepared workforce that is supported by the public to achieve these health outcomes.

In addition to positions as health educators and community outreach workers, a degree in Public Health can lead to jobs in law enforcement, public policy, epidemiology, nutrition, health administration and so much more.

Learning Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is designed to prepare students to:

  • assess individual and community needs for health information and services;
  • plan and implement health education strategies, interventions, and programs;
  • work with individuals, groups, and families in various settings to promote health;
  • demonstrate the ability to think critically and behave ethically while fulfilling the Seven Areas of Responsibilities for a health education/promotion specialist;
  • display positive professional dispositions consistent with current standards of practice;
  • locate, use, evaluate, and synthesize public health information; and
  • communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms through a variety of media, to diverse audiences.

Senior Capstone Experience

The Public Health Program includes HLTH 49000 - Professional Experience in Public Health, a six (6) credit hour community-based experience. Students will be required to work in a public health promotion setting under the direct supervision of a professional preceptor for 270 hours to earn the equivalent of six credit hours. The course will be directed by a Lewis University faculty member who will ensure that the experience provides an appropriate level of training for the student. The preceptor will complete an evaluation of the student’s performance in consultation with the student and the 海角社区 faculty member.

For more information contact the Office of Admission at admission@lewisu.edu or call (815)836-5250.

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