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 at
https://bloustein.rutgers.edu.
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. 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 (12-15 credits)
01:355:101 Expository Writing (3)
10:775:205 Basic Statistical Methods (4) or equivalent (3-4)
One human biology course (3-4)*
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 (31 credits)
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):
10:775:300 Writing for Professionals (3)
01:335:302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3)
01:335:315 Writing Grant Proposals (3)
01:355:303 Writing for Business and the Professions (3)
10:832:339 Public Health Literature (3) Prerequisites: 10:832:201 and 01:355:101
10:832:335 Epidemiology (3) Prerequisites: Statistics or Precalculus and 10:832:201
10:832:356 Public Health Law and Ethics (3)
10:775:395 Research Methods (4) (Open to majors only)
10:775:450 Leadership Seminar (3) (Open to majors only; minimum 85 credits)
10:775:499 Internship (6) Prerequisites: 10:775:395, 10:775:450, and 100 credits*
Required Elective Courses (15 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.
PUBLIC HEALTH MINOR (24 credits)
Students seeking the public health minor must complete 10:832:201, and 10:832:212 or 10:832:240 and 10:832:335 (9 credits), and five 832 elective courses, three 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. For the most current configuration of courses for this minor, please see the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu.
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. Please visit the school's website at
https://bloustein.rutgers.edu for more information.
A. Health Disparities
Certificate (18-credit minimum)
Core (12 credits)
10:832:212 Health Disparities (3)
10:832:240 Global Health Perspectives (3)
10:832:413 Issues in Health Disparities (3)
10:832:414 Culture and Health (3)
Required Electives( at least 6 credits)
10:832:252 Health and Social Justice
(3)
10:832:302 Sexual and
Reproductive Health Policy
(3)
10:832:332 Public Health
Economics (3)
10:832:338 Health and Public
Policy (3)
10:832:340 Aging and Public
Policy (3) or 10:762:340
10:832:341 Public Health and
Aging (3)
10:832:415 Women and Health (3)
10:832:416 Mental Health and
Society (3)
10:832:440 Global Public Health
(3)
10:762:230 Global Poverty
(3)
10:762:231 Poverty in the United
States (3)
10:762:331 U.S. Social Policy (3)
10:762:419 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: 10:832:350
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. Public 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.
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. or B.S./M.P.H.) program.
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy 
