Degree: B.S.

Coordinator: Dona Schneider (donas@rci.rutgers.edu)

The curriculum in public health is designed to fill the need for allied health professionals who have a solid background in public health and/or environmental science. The curriculum includes options in health issues and policy, health analysis and research, and environmental health sciences.

The public health program is an interdepartmental curriculum that utilizes the resources of both the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and Cook College.

Students learn qualitative, quantitative, and analytical skills used by health program and facility managers, planning agencies, and education and evaluation organizations. They use computers to develop management information systems and learn statistical methodology, including its public health application in epidemiology.

An internship provides practical job experience and gives students the opportunity to apply theory while testing their technical competence under the direct supervision of a knowledgeable health-care professional.

Graduates are prepared for employment in areas of the health services delivery and regulation field that require policy development, implementation, and evaluation. Graduates also may prepare for the New Jersey Sanitarian License Examination.

Students who intend to prepare for the New Jersey Sanitarians License Examination must complete at least 32 credits of courses in mathematics and sciences.

See www.policy.rutgers.edu for further information on the public health major.

Entry Requirements for the Major

To declare a major in public health, students must apply to the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy after they have completed 40 credits and achieved a 2.5 grade-point average in the required introductory expository writing and statistics courses, 01:119:150 Biology, Society, and Biomedical Issues (3), and 10:832:232 Introduction to Public Health (3).

Please see the Programs of Study Summary on page 272 for information regarding changes in degree requirements.

I. Interdisciplinary/Ethical Analysis (5 credits)

  11:015:101  Perspectives on Agriculture and the Environment (2)

  11:015:400  Junior/Senior Colloquium (3)

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences

A. Life Sciences (8 credits)

  01:119:101-102  General Biology (4,4)

B. Physical Sciences (9 credits)

  01:160:161-162  General Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

III. The Arts (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Human Diversity (6 credits)

  10:975:303  Urban Poverty in Developing Nations or 10: 975:304 Urban Poverty (3) or 11:374:341 Social and Ecological Aspects of Health and Disease (3) or courses from those suggested in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Economic and Political Systems

A. Economic Systems (3-9 credits)

For students interested in environmental health:

  11:373:101  Economics, People, and Environment (3)

For students interested in health policy:

  10:832:332  Public Health Economics (4)

For students interested in health administration:

  01:220:102  Introduction to Microeconomics (3)

  01:220:103  Introduction to Macroeconomics (3)

  01:220:316  Health Economics (3)

B. Political Systems (3 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)

  01:355:101  Expository Writing I (3) or equivalent

One of the following:

  01:355:201  Research in the Disciplines (3) preapproved topics only

  01:355:302  Scientific and Technical Writing (3)

  01:355:303  Writing for Business and the Professions (3),

  01:355:315  Writing Grant Proposals (3) or 10:832: 339

Public Health Literature

VII. Experience-Based Education (6 credits)

  10:832:499  Research or Field Practicum (6)

VIII. Competence in Public Health (34-39 credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (19-23)

Quantitative Methods (3-6)

At least one term of statistics at the 200 level or above

Computer Competence (4)

  10:832:395Research Methods (2) and 10:832:396 Research Methods Laboratory (2)

Professional Ethics (3)

  01:119:150  Biology, Society, and Biomedical Issues (3) or other approved course

Other Required Courses (9-10)

  11:375:403  Environmental and Public Health: Epidemiological Aspects (3) or 10:832:335 Epidemiology (3)

  10:832:232  Introduction to Public Health (3)

  10:832:338  Health and Public Policy (3) or 10:832: 332Public Health Economics (4) or 01:220:316 Health Economics (4) or 10: 832:333Financial Aspects of Public Health (3)

B. ELECTIVES (15-16)

Five additional public health (10:832) courses (three of which must be at the 300 level or above) or courses drawn from the following:

  11:374:341  Social and Ecological Aspects of Health and Disease (3)

  11:375:302  Elements of Waste and Wastewater Treatment (3)

  11:375:307  Elements of Solid Waste Management and Treatment (3)

  11:375:336  Occupational and Community Noise Control (3)

  11:375:407  Environmental Toxicology (3)

  11:375:411  Pollution Microbiology (3)

  11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

  01:447:390  General Microbiology (4)

  10:975:303  Urban Policy in Developing Nations (3)

  10:975:304  Urban Poverty (3)

  10:975:417  Introduction to Population Tools and Policy (3)

  10:975:456  Housing and Health Care (3)

  10:975:462  Human Rights, Health, and Violence (3)

  10:975:477  Immigration, Urban Policy, and Public Health (3)

  10:975:483  Urban Revitalization and Public Health (3)

See adviser for approved alternatives from current offerings.

IX. Unspecified Electives (33-42 credits)