The public health major prepares students for graduate education in public health and the health professions, and for entry-level positions in a broad spectrum of private and public health organizations. Students receive a conceptual understanding of interrelated health, environmental, economic, educational, and social welfare issues. To pursue the major, students must apply to and be admitted to the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy (see guidelines under Admission). Completion of the public health major leads to a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. Students seeking the minor may declare it with their matriculating unit and are not required to apply for admission to the Bloustein School.
Prerequisites for the Major in Public Health (6-7 credits)
(Both must be taken for the major, however, only one needs to be taken to obtain admission status)
10:762:101 or 10:832:101 Introduction to Planning, Policy, and Health (3)
10:762:205 Basic Statistical Methods for Policy, Planning, and Health (4) or a 200-level or higher basic statistics course (3-4)
Major Requirements (48 credits)
Core Courses (36 credits)
01:119:101-102 General Biology (4,4) or equivalent
01:160:161-162 General Chemistry (4,4) or equivalent
01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)
10:762:395 Research Methods (4)***
10:832:232 Principles of Public Health (3)
10:832:335 Epidemiology (3)
10:832:499 Internship (6)***
At least one of the following:
01:355:302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3) or 01:355:303 Writing for Business and the Professions (3) or 01:355:315 Writing Grant Proposals (3) or 10:832:339 Public Health Literature (3) or a preapproved professional writing course (3)
Elective Courses (12 credits)
Students must complete 12 credits of electives, of which 9 credits must be at the 300 level or higher. Students completing a minor or second major may count only one course from that minor or major as an elective for the public health major or minor.
Any 832 course counts as an elective as do the following preapproved courses:
01:070:307 Medical Anthropology (3)****
01:119:150 Biology, Society, and Biomedical Issues (3)
01:220:316 Health Economics (3)**** Credit not given for both this course and 10:832:332 (4)
01:377:304 Exercise and Aging (3)
01:450:321 Geographic Information Systems (3)
01:730:105 or 106 Current Moral and Social Issues (3 or 4)
01:730:249 Medical Ethics (3)
01:830:331 Infant and Child Development (3)****
01:830:333 Adolescent Development (3)****
01:830:335 Adult Development and Aging (3)***
01:830:377 Health Psychology (3)***
01:920:210 Sociology of Medicine and Health Care (3)
01:920:303 Social Gerontology (3)***
01:920:307 Sociology of Mental Illness (3)***
11:374:341 Social and Ecological Aspects of Health and Disease (3)
11:374:430 Topics: Risk, Health, and Safety (3)
11:374:431 Topics: New and Reemerging Diseases (3)
11:375:301 The Environment and Health (3)
11:375:302 Elements of Water and Wastewater Treatment (3)**
11:375:336 Occupational and Community Noise Control (3)
11:375:403 Principles of Epidemiology (3)** Credit not given for both this course and 10:832:335 (3)
11:375:406 Public Health Practice and Administration (3)
11:375:421 Air Pollution (3)
11:709:255 Nutrition and Health (3)
Minor Requirements (24-26 credits)
10:832:101 Introduction to Policy, Planning, and Health (3)
a 200-level or higher basic statistics course (3-4)
a basic human biology course (3-4)
Five additional 832 courses of at least 3 credits each (15 credits) excluding 10:832:395, 400, 490,491, and 499, which are restricted to majors only.
Preparing for Careers in Public Health
Students seeking a career in health education should plan on taking a psychology or sociology minor and seek advising about becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
Students seeking a career in health administration should complete Calculus I, microeconomics, and health economics, and plan on graduate study.
Students seeking careers in health and safety, environmental and occupational health, or sanitary inspection should take 10:832:438 Environmental and Public Health Practice (6 credits, offered summer only) and seek advising about becoming a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).
Students seeking a career in long-term care should plan to complete the Nursing Home Administration Certificate (see below).
Certificate Programs
Nursing Home Administration Certificate (24 credits)*****
To become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) in the state of New Jersey, an individual must be a college graduate, complete 1,700 hours of postgraduate fieldwork, and pass the state LNHA examination. The Nursing Home Administration (NHA) Certificate reduces the number of postgraduate hours required to 1,200 and covers much of the material necessary for students to prepare for the state licensing examination.
Students seeking the NHA certificate must be public health majors. Some of the required courses for the NHA certificate are offered during Summer Session only.
Core Courses (21-22 credits)
01:920:303 Social Gerontology (3)**
10:832:332 Public Health Economics (4) or 01:220:316 Health Economics (3)**
10:832:333 Financial Aspects of Public Health (3)
10:832:334 Principles of Health Administration (3) or 11:375:406 Public Health Practice and Administration (3)
10:832:356 Public Health Law and Ethics (3) or 01:730:249 Medical Ethics (3)
10:832:499 Internship (NHA placement only) (6)
Elective Courses (3 credits)
01:070:307 Medical Anthropology (3)**
01:377:304 Exercise and Aging (3)
01:830:335 Adult Development and Aging (3)**
10:832:414 Culture and Health (3)
11:709:255 Nutrition and Health (3)
Independent study for elective credits may be applied if the student contracts with a faculty member knowledgeable about aging or administration or both.
Public Health Preparedness Certificate (15 credits)
The Public Health Preparedness Certificate is issued jointly by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and the UMDNJ-School of Public Health.
It is available to students in any major and is issued only with or subsequent to earning a bachelor's degree. Only courses with a grade of C or better may be applied toward the certificate program.
Core Courses (15 credits)
10:832:232 Principles of Public Health (3)
10:832:335 Epidemiology (3)
10:832:401 Public Health Preparedness I (3)
10:832:402 Public Health Preparedness II^ (3)
Elective courses (3 credits)
10:832:437 Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health (3) or
10:762:483 Protecting Public Health and the Environment (3) or
10:832:483 Protecting Public Health and the Environment (3)
^A basic biology course is strongly recommended for this course.
Public Health Education Certificate (15 credits)
The Public Health Education Certificate is offered in conjunction with Rutgers University Health Services-Health Outreach, Promotion and Education.
It helps students prepare for the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. The certificate is available to students in any major and is issued only with or subsequent to earning a bachelor's degree. Only courses with a grade of C or better may be applied towards the certificate program.
Core Courses (15 credits)
10:832:242 Principles of Health and Wellness (3)
10:832:345 Health Program Development (3)
10:832:346 Health Program Evaluation (3)
10:832:352 Advanced Community Health Promotion (3)
Elective Courses (3 credits)
10:832:301 Sexual Health Advocacy I (3) or
10:832:350 Drugs, Culture, and Society (3) or
10:832:351 Addictions Policy (3) or
11:374:225 Environment and Health in Society and the Mass Media (3) or
11:374:436 Health Literacy: Empowerment for Better Health (3)
Addiction Prevention Certificate (15-18 credits)
The Addiction Prevention certificate covers the theory and practice behind substance abuse prevention strategies, programs, and policies. It prepares students to take the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Prevention Specialist examination, opening the doors to a career in substance abuse prevention, working in schools, public health agencies, community-based organizations, and government.
Courses (15-18 credits)
10:832:350 Drugs, Culture, and Society (3)
10:832:351 Addictions Policy (3)
10:832:352 Advanced Community Health Promotion (3)
10:832:353^ The Science of Prevention (3)
10:832:499* Internship (832 majors only) ^^ (6) or
10:762:400* Internship in Public Service (762 majors only) ^^ (3,6) or
10:762:295* Internship (all other majors) ^^ (3)
^ Course has prerequisite of 10:832:350
* Course offered every semester. Requires at least 9 credits toward the certificate, including 10:832:350, and 100 credits toward graduation to register.
^^ Approved drug and alcohol prevention placement only.
Bloustein Research Fellows (Honors Program)
The Bloustein Research Fellows Program offers an opportunity for a select group of students to align with the applied research done by the faculty, centers, and institutes at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Students may explore applications of planning and public policy related to community development; energy, health, or transportation policy; urban planning; or workforce development. Students may apply for the Research Fellows Program if they have completed the prerequisite courses for a Bloustein School major and hold at least a 3.4 cumulative grade-point average. Applications are available in the Bloustein School dean's office and online at http://policy.rutgers.edu.
Major Requirements (34 credits)
Core Courses (16 credits)
10:762:101 Introduction to Policy, Planning, and Health (3)
10:762:395 Research Methods (4)***
10:762:463,464 Bloustein Research (3,3)***
The Protection of Human Subjects course offered by Rutgers University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (no credit).
At least one of the following:
01:355:302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3) or 01:355:303 Writing for Business and the Professions (3) or 01:355:315 Writing Grant Proposals (3) or a preapproved professional writing course (3)
Elective Courses (18 credits)
Students must complete 18 credits of 762 or 832 electives, of which 12 credits must be at the 300 level or higher. Students completing a minor or second major may count only one course from that minor or major as an elective for the public health major or minor.
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
