Health Guide

In today's complex world, the field of public health is becoming an increasingly vital part of our daily lives. It's a field in which professionals can make a difference, whether they're researching and tracking the spread of disease, running awareness campaigns in schools and community agencies, or advising corporations on health programs and policies.

Southern's public health graduates work at local health departments, community-based agencies, hospitals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and nonprofit agencies like the American Red Cross. Just a few examples of the many other options include working in a community health center to eliminate health inequities; organizing community responses to health problems.

such as lead poisoning; addressing the AIDS epidemic; promoting a healthy environment; designing public health policies and interventions; and leading international health relief efforts in less developed parts of the world.

The public health program at Southern is intensively hands-on, with internships and many class activities centering on community-service. A common course project is to plan a public health program from inception to evaluation. One recent group of students was featured in the local media for an awareness campaign about binge drinking on college campuses nationwide.

Other students sponsored blood drives and developed campaigns to educate the public about hepatitis B, eating disorders, and breast cancer. Southern's unusual bachelor's degree in public health is one of the only programs of its kind in the country, preparing its graduates to compete for exciting and rewarding jobs that allow them to make a meaningful and enduring difference in the world.