100%
One-hundred percent of public health majors participate in research or an internship focused on their career goals.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Educate, prevent disease and improve lives. Public health at the University of St. Thomas challenges students to find solutions for improved preventative care for larger populations rather than individual care for one person. You will confront complex health issues, social inequality and health disparities in the community in order to make positive change.
Why Study Public Health at St. Thomas?
Public health professionals strive to enact positive change throughout society through many avenues like education and public policy. Our program provides you with a variety of rich, experiential learning opportunities to explore public health issues. Our graduates have gone to work for non-profit organizations, healthcare companies and several government agencies at the local, county, state and federal levels.
Solving Global Problems
Course Requirements
You dive into courses focusing on global health, epidemiology, health policy, program planning and the environment throughout your time at St. Thomas. We pair these courses with allied requirements in statistics, psychology, biology and communication to give you a well-rounded skillset, preparing you for what comes after college.
Four-Year Plan
Whether you are studying infectious diseases or healthcare policy, our program blends public health, psychology, biology, statistics, environmental science and more to give you a versatile educational experience.
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Minor in Public Health
Scholarships
We offer the Bridget A. Duoos Endowed Research Fund Scholarship to students each year, sponsoring faculty-mentored research and travel funds for other student research. Dr. Duoos was a St. Thomas professor from 1995 to 2016 and chair of the Health and Exercise Science Department. She was a highly productive scholar, making significant contributions to the discipline, as well as a dedicated advocate to student academic success.
Outside of the Classroom
You complete a course focusing on either experiential learning or research methods, broadening your exposure to public health issues. These courses allow you to observe public health work and leadership in action, increasing your knowledge of specific career paths.
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
You dive into courses focusing on global health, epidemiology, health policy, program planning and the environment throughout your time at St. Thomas. We pair these courses with allied requirements in statistics, psychology, biology and communication to give you a well-rounded skillset, preparing you for what comes after college.
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Whether you are studying infectious diseases or healthcare policy, our program blends public health, psychology, biology, statistics, environmental science and more to give you a versatile educational experience.
Degrees Awarded
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Minor in Public Health
Scholarships
Scholarships
We offer the Bridget A. Duoos Endowed Research Fund Scholarship to students each year, sponsoring faculty-mentored research and travel funds for other student research. Dr. Duoos was a St. Thomas professor from 1995 to 2016 and chair of the Health and Exercise Science Department. She was a highly productive scholar, making significant contributions to the discipline, as well as a dedicated advocate to student academic success.
Outside of the Classroom
Outside of the Classroom
You complete a course focusing on either experiential learning or research methods, broadening your exposure to public health issues. These courses allow you to observe public health work and leadership in action, increasing your knowledge of specific career paths.
Versatile Knowledge. Practical Skills.
Our faculty are passing on their knowledge and expertise to students. Alumni are working in the community to make a difference in the world. You will meet fellow students passionate about living a healthy life.
Dr. Amy Hedman-Robertson
Dr. Hedman-Robertson pairs students in her program planning course with Second Harvest Heartland to conduct a needs assessment for their nutrition assistance program for senior citizens. Students learn about the program, identify client challenges with accessing the services and ultimately determine how to improve the program. They also learn about food insecurity in communities and the impact of agency services.
Alexandra DeMarais
Alexandra started working with nursing students at a local college when she graduated from St. Thomas. She recently completed courses to apply to an occupational therapy program, and has shadowed and volunteered with disadvantaged populations for hundreds of hours along the way. Her degree allowed her to explore many different fields and find her passion throughout the journey.
Elena Hicks
Elena interned with the Federal Relations and Advocacy Strategic Alliance for American Cancer Society’s in Washington, D.C. She focused on federal government appropriations for the National Institute of Health, the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Career Paths
There are a number of career paths available to you after graduating from St. Thomas.
- Epidemiologist
- Health educator
- University research assistant
- Public health project manager
- Health communications specialist
- Health department program assistant
A Growing Field
3
Three of the highest paid public health jobs are environmental scientist, healthcare administrator and epidemiologist.
80,000
80,000 Americans died from the flu in 2018, which is why the public health field has been growing so rapidly.
Faculty With Real Experience
Dr. Starr Sage
Dr. Sage earned her PhD in environmental health from the University of Minnesota, and helped develop the new department curriculum.
Dr. Amy Hedman-Robertson
Dr. Hedman-Robertson earned her PhD in health education and serves on the board for a national health education commission.
Get Involved
Whether you are volunteering in the community or presenting your research at a conference, we are sure you will find plenty of opportunities to get involved at St. Thomas.
Cancer Prevention Education
Dr. Sage recently conducted research on identifying unique barriers to and facilitators of breast and cervical cancer screening for Black women living in Rochester, Minnesota. She presented results of this research effort at the Minority Women in Research Symposium and the American Public Health Association annual meeting.
Engage With Your Peers
The Public Health Club assisted with the flu vaccine clinic at St. Thomas, bringing awareness, advocacy and enthusiasm to what is normally a dull visit to the doctor.
A Fresh Perspective
The Public Health program was revised to focus on current population health needs. The global coronavirus pandemic has likely taught you a lot about public health! This major challenges students to think critically about the much-needed solutions to our most complex health challenges (e.g. pandemics, cancer, heart disease, health inequity).
Build a Healthier World
Public health students at St. Thomas are passionate about improving the health in their communities. They are equipped with the skills and knowledge to make positive change and enjoy a fulfilling career.
Take the Next Step
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.