Public Health Major (832, 832D) and Minor

Public Health Major (46 credits)

The major in Public Health (832, 832D) prepares students for entry-level careers in population health and disease prevention. Public health professionals work in a wide range of services including infectious disease control; health problems of children, older adults, and the medically underserved; chronic disease management; health monitoring and surveillance; environmental/occupational health and safety; and emergency preparedness. Our students learn about the upstream factors that influence community health, particularly poverty, housing, work and unemployment, social exclusion, food security, transportation, access to health and social services, and evidence-based, data-driven decision-making.

Upon completing all degree requirements, the student will receive the bachelor of science (B.S.) degree.

Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences or School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Students

This program is designed to accommodate the needs of traditional students at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Students in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) or the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) who wish to pursue the public health major must apply for admission to the major.

To ensure degree completion by their anticipated graduation date, students are advised to declare the public health major no later than the first semester of their junior year. Applicants must have achieved a minimum grade of C or better in each of the prerequisite courses, and obtain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Students can apply for the Public Health major during one of our application cycles listed here. The application may be found on the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publichealth/#sas

Only courses with 'C' or better may be counted towards the public health major, and students must complete the core curriculum requirements of their primary school.

Public Health is a credit-intensive major so the minor requirement is waived. However, students are encouraged to complete a minor, even though they are not required to do so.

The most current information for the Public Health major may be found on the Bloustein School website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publichealth/

Transfer Students

This program is designed to accommodate the needs of transfer, adult, and nontraditional students.

Students seeking the Public Health major must have at least 30 credits before applying to the Bloustein School. Successful applicants will have completed the prerequisite courses with a grade of 'C' or better, and have achieved an overall GPA of at least 2.5.

Current Rutgers students seeking a school-to-school transfer from another Rutgers unit, or students transferring to Rutgers from another college or university, must apply via the Rutgers Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Contact ugadmissions@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.

Transfer students from New Jersey community colleges are encouraged to complete lower-division prerequisite courses and the associate's degree to benefit from the NJ Statewide Transfer Agreement.

For more information about transferring, please see the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publichealth/#transfer

PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (832, 832D)

(46 credits)

For the most current competencies required to earn the Bachelor of Science in Public Health, please see the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publichealth/

Prerequisite Courses (12-15 credits)

355:101 Expository Writing (3) or equivalent
775:205 Basic Statistical Methods (4) or equivalent (3-4)
One human biology course (3-4)*
One chemistry course (3)

160:127 Impact of Chemistry (3)
160:128 Chemistry of Life (3)
160:161 or General Chemistry Ior II

Major Requirements (832, 832D) (46 credits)

Core Courses (31 credits)

10:832:201 Principles of Public Health (3)
10:832:212 Introduction to Health Disparities (3) Open to majors only
10:832:240 Global Health Perspectives (3)
One of the following intensive writing courses (3):

10:775:300 Writing for Professionals (3)
10:832:339 Public Health Literature (3) Prerequisites 10:832:201 andż 01:355:101
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)

10:832:335 Epidemiology (3) Prerequisites: Statistics or Pre-calculus and 10:832:201
10:832:356 Public Health Law and Ethics (3)
10:775:395 Research Methods (4) Prerequisites 775:205 or equivalent statistics. Open to majors only
10:775:450 Leadership Seminar (3) Pre-or Co-requisite 10:775:395. Open to majors only. Minimum 85 credit.
*10:775:499 Professional Practice Internship (6) Prerequisites 10:775:395, 10:775:450, and 100 credits. Open to majors only.

*Students seeking to replace 775:499 with 832:497, 498 Bloustein Honors Research (3, 3) should contact their advisor.

Required Electives (15 credits)

15 credits of 832 electives, 9 credits of which must be at the 300 level or higher; can apply up to 6 credits from other Bloustein undergraduate disciplines

Students interested in select career paths should consider clustering their electives, pursuing a certificate, and seek advising early in their program of study.

Joint BA/MPH or BS/MPH Program

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 seek advising about the Accelerated BA/MPH or BS/MPH program. Contact ugadmissions@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.

Public Health Minor (24 credits)

The Bloustein School welcomes current and prospective Rutgers-New Brunswick students to consider the Public Health minor. Students should declare a 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.

The Public Health minor is well-matched to majors in environmental policy, institutions and behavior; exercise science; food science; health administration; biological sciences; kinesiology and health; nursing; nutrition; psychology; social work; as well as clinical health tracks such as pre-medicine/dental.

Students seeking the Public Health minor complete three core courses and five elective courses in 832, three of which must be at the 300-level or higher, excluding those designated for 'majors only'.

832:201 Principles of Public Health (3)
832:212 Introduction to Health Disparities (3)
or 832:240 Global Health Perspectives (3)
832:335 Epidemiology (3)
Required Elective Courses 15 credits of 832 electives, 9 credits of which must be at the 300 level or higher; can apply up to 6 credits from other Bloustein undergraduate disciplines

For the most current configuration of courses for the Public Health minor, please see the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publichealth/#minor

Public Health Certificate Programs

The Bloustein School offers several Public Health certificates open to all Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduates. Certificate programs are open to students in any major and are awarded with, or subsequent to, a bachelor's degree. Certificates do not qualify as a minor. Students must declare their intention to pursue a certificate program with the Bloustein School before their last semester of study in order to qualify to receive a certificate. Awarded certificates appear on the student's final transcript.

Cancer Surveillance and Epidemiology Certificate (18 credits)
Global Health and Health Policy Certificate (18 credits)
Health Disparities Certificate (18 credits)
Health Policy Certificate (18 credits)
Public Health Education and Advocacy Certificate (18 credits)
Public Health Preparedness Certificate (18 credits)

For the most current configuration of courses for each certificate, please see the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/#certificates