Department of Public Health

 

Director's Welcome


We’re glad you’re considering the field of Public Health; it’s an excellent time to join the field!  As theAssociation of Schools of Public Health said, "More than 250,000 additional public health workers will be needed by 2020 (See "250,000 Additional Public Health Workers Needed by 2020"). Natural disasters, poverty, and globally-prevalent infectious diseases are on the rise. In addition, behavioral health issues such as obesity, due to poor eating habits and lack of physical activity, will soon ;overtake heart disease as our number one preventable killer, surpassing deaths due to tobacco use—another “lifestyle” health issue. The expanding field of Public Health plays a crucial role in dealing with these problems. The University of Massachusetts undergraduate major in Public Health is in a unique position to help students become future public health workers, educators, and policy makers. 

In May of 2007, the Massachusetts Board of Education approved the UMass undergraduate major "Public Health Sciences." The major was designed, like the field of public health,as an interdisciplinary program. The science of epidemiology and biostatistics, community health education, health management and policy, and environmental health all play important roles in keeping our society healthy. Consequently, our definition of public health encompasses all these critical areas: Public Health is the art and science of protecting and improving the health of a community through an organized and systematic effort that includes education, assurance of the provision of health services, and protection of the public from exposures that will cause harm. Students in the Public Health Sciences program clarify their professional interests as they develop their own program within the parameters of the degree requirements. The B.S. in Public Health Sciences can lead to entry-level positions within the health and human services field, teaching health in the public school system, or graduate School in the Public Health and Health Sciences field.

There are two tracks within the major: 1) Social Science Track and 2) Science Track. Both tracks include eight required public health courses as well as other courses from the fields of the social and physical sciences. Because the field of public health is interdisciplinary and broad by nature, students are expected to discover where they fit into the field. This is accomplished by taking a wide variety of courses and participating in internships, community service projects,and other public health activities offered through the program.

This major is a program of self-discovery, and part of this self-discovery process involves students asking the question: What kind of public health professional do I want to become? Do I want to work in health research? Do I want to work on creating health policies to support our society to be healthier? Maybe I want to work in the medical field (as a doctor, nurse, physician's assistant, etc.) and an undergraduate degree will help launch me on this journey. Maybe I’d like to work in communities—here in the U.S., or abroad—educating people to live healthier lives.

The public health field is broad and exciting, and our program is designed to help students answer these questions, offering courses and experiential learning opportunities to support developing interests and educational goals.

For course requirements and an application see (Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health Sciences Requirements & Applying to the UMass Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health Sciences).

Graduating Senior Survey-Calendar Years 2007-2008 has voted Public Health Sciences the #1 Major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The undergraduate Public Health major is not only #1 - but we are also above average in the following areas:
*  Faculty accessibility
*  Quality of teaching
*  Academic advising
*  Faculty concern for progress
*  Writing preparation
*  Career preparation & guidance
*  Overall experience

Sincerely,
Dr. Daniel S. Gerber, ED.D, M.P.H.
Director of Public Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
School of Public Health and Health Sciences