Public Health

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. They have options to focus their interests in public health advocacy, education, management, and preparedness. Students with an interest in environmental health should seek additional advising. The major leads to the bachelor of science (B.S.) degree awarded by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy; or it may be awarded jointly with either the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) or the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS).

Students in Rutgers University–New Brunswick who wish to pursue the public health major must apply for admission to the Bloustein School. Applicants must have achieved a minimum grade of C or better in each of the prerequisite courses and be in good academic standing. Applications maybe obtained from the school's website. Contact undergrad@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.

Only courses with a C or better may be counted toward the public health major. The awarding of the B.S. degree requires successful completion of all major requirements and 120 college credits (128 for SEBS students). The degree is awarded jointly by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and the student's matriculating unit.


PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites (17-24 credits)
01:355:101  Expository Writing (3)
10:762:205  Basic Statistical Methods (4) or equivalent (3-4)
A two-semester biology sequence (8)
          01:119:115,116 General Biology I, II (4,4) (Required for SEBS students)
             or
          01:119:127,128 Anatomy and Physiology I (4,4)
A chemistry course or sequence (3-9)
          01:160:127  Impact of Chemistry (3)
          01:160;128  Chemistry of Life (3)
          01:160:161,162, 171  General Chemistry I, II with lab (4,4,1) (Required for SEBS  students) 

Major Requirements (46 credits)

Core Courses (34 credits)
  10:832:101  Introduction to Planning, Policy, and Health (3)
  10:832:201  Principles of Public Health (3)
  10:832:212  Health Disparities (3)
  10:832:240  Global Health Perspectives (3)
  One of the following intensive writing courses (3):
            10:832:300  Writing for Professionals (3)
            10:832:339  Public Health Literature (3)
  10:832:335  Epidemiology (3)
  10:832:356  Public Health Law and Ethics (3)
  10:832:395  Research Methods (4)  (Open to majors only)
  10:832:450  Leadership Seminar (3) (Open to majors only)
  *10:832:499  Internship (6) (Prerequisites: 832:395, 832:450, and 100 credits)
  
Required Elective Courses (12 credits of 832 electives, 9 credits of which must be at the 300 level or higher)

Students interested in select career paths should consider clustering their electives and seek advising early in their programs of studies.

*Students qualifying for departmental honors may replace 10:832:499 with 10:832:497, 498 Bloustein Honors Research (3,3).

PUBLIC HEALTH MINOR (24 credits)

Students seeking the public health minor must complete 832:101, 832:201, 832:240 (9 credits) and five 832 elective courses, four of which must be at the 300 level or higher (15 credits). Students should declare the public health minor with their matriculating school; they need not apply for minor status with the Bloustein School. Only courses with a grade of C or better can be counted toward the minor program of study.

PUBLIC HEALTH CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Certificate programs are open to students in any major and are awarded only with, or subsequent to receiving a bachelor's degree. Only courses with a C or better may be applied toward a certificate program. Students must declare their intention to pursue a certificate program with the Bloustein School prior to their last semester of study in order to qualify to receive a certificate. Awarded certificates will appear on the student transcript. Contact undergrad@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.


A.  Health Disparities Certificate (18-credit minimum)
Core (12 credits)
832:212  Health Disparities (3)                                                                              
832:240  Global Health Perspectives (3)    
832:413  Issues in Health Disparities (3)
832:414  Culture and Health (3)                                        
 
Required Electives( at least 6 credits)
832:252  Health and Social Justice (3)
832:302  Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy
832:332  Public Health Economics (3)
832:338  Health and Public Policy (3)
832:340  Aging and Public Policy (3) or 762:340
832:341  Public Health and Aging (3)
832:415  Women and Health (3)
832:416  Mental Health and Society (3)
832:440  Global Public Health (3)
762:230  Global Poverty (3)
762:231  Poverty in the United States (3)
762:331  U.S. Social Policy (3)
762:419  Immigration Policy (3)
Other elective courses may be substituted with permission of the program director.

B.  Public Health Advocacy/Education Certificate (18-credit minimum)
Core (12 credits)
10:832:241  Principles of Health Education (3)
10:832:345  Health Program Development (3)
10:832:346  Health Program Evaluation (3)
10:832:352  Community Health Promotion (3) (Prerequisite 10:832:241)

Required Electives (at least 6 credits)
10:832:262  Peer Education Advocacy (3)
10:832:301  Sexual Health Advocacy (3) (Prerequisite: permission of instructor; course not open to seniors)
10:832:350  Drugs, Culture, and Society (3)
10:832;351  Addictions Policy (3)
10:832:353  Science of Prevention (3) (Prerequisite 832:350)
Other elective courses may be substituted with permission of the program director.

C.  Public Health Management Certificate (18-credit minimum)
Core (15 Credits)
10:832:260  Health Care Systems (3)
10:832:332  Public Health Economics (3)
10:832:333  Financial Aspects of Public Health (3)
10:832:334  Public Health Management (3)
10:832:356  Public Health Law and Ethics (3)

Required Electives (at least 3 credits)
10:833:360  Principles of Public Management (3)
10:833:362  Nonprofit Management (3)
Other elective courses may be substituted with permission of the program director.

D.  Pubic Health Preparedness Certificate (18 credit minimum)
Core (15 credits)
10:832:201  Principles of Public Health (3)
10:832:320  Protecting Public Health and the Environment (3)
10:832:321  Environmental and Occupational Health (3)
10:832:401  Public Health Preparedness I (3)*
10:832:402  Public Health Preparedness II (3)

Required Electives (at least 3 credits)
10:832:334  Public Health Management (3)
10:832:335  Epidemiology (3)
10:832:356  Public Health Law and Ethics (3)
Other elective courses may be substituted with permission of the program director.

*A basic biology course is strongly recommended for this course.

Articulated 3-1-1 Program (B.A. or B.S./M.P.H.)

Exceptional, well-prepared students from any major with at least 60 credits and a GPA of 3.2, and who wish to pursue graduate studies at the Rutgers School of Public Health are encouraged to see advising about the articulated 3-1-1 (B.A./B.S./M.P.H.) program. Contact undergrad@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.