Frequently Asked Questions about the Public Health Major

When can I apply?
Can I minor in Public Health?
Can I double major in Public Health?
What is the difference between the Science and Social Science track?
If I want to apply should I meet with an advisor?
How do I get into closed classes?
How is advising done?
What is Capstone 490B?
What is the Program's perspective on internships?
Are there specific internships I can apply for?
When do internships happen- during the school year or over the summer?
Are there abroad programs specifically for Public Health?
What kind of careers does a Public Health major lead to?

 

When can I apply?
Applications will now have a deadline each semester. Fall: October 15 and Spring: March 1.  It generally takes a week or two to hear back.  It is best to apply well before registration so that when it comes time to sign up for classes, you'll already be in the major. If your GPA is below 2.5, your application is held until the current semester’s grades come in.

Can I minor in Public Health?
No.  There is no established minor.  The program has only been in existence since April 2007, so the focus has been on the requirements for a Major only.

Can I double major in Public Health?
Yes.  The earlier you identify your interest in Public Health, the better.  Still, students who enter the program as Juniors—if they’re up to date with credits and university requirements—can generally finish on time.  Depending on what the second major is, some of those classes usually can count toward the Major’s Collateral Field requirement. 

What is the difference between the Science and Social Science track?
First--both tracks, Science and Social Science, lead to a Bachelor of Science degree. In general, the different tracks give students the option for a slightly more focused curriculum.

Science Track: Students on the pre-med, pre-dental, pre-nursing, or pre-pharmacy track might choose the Science track because some or all of the prerequsites for the professional schools can more easily be met through the required courses. The collateral field can be used to complete your pre-med requirements, although there still may courses you need to add in. Organic Chemistry is counted as an upper level course.

In addition, students who are double-majoring in Microbiology or another science area, or know they are looking at a career in research might find it easier to fulfill the public health collateral field and foundation area through their coursework. If you are on the Science track and are unsure of how you'd like to focus your collateral field or want to step outside the hard sciences for that area, the Social Science track foundations area can give you some ideas.

The Social Science track allows for slightly more flexibility and is not as focused on the hard sciences. Just as the name implies, this track is more open to the Social Science fields: Education, Anthropology, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science. You can use the foundations area as a first step to exploring possible collateral topics of interest, which allows you to take upper level courses for the collateral field.

The collateral fields for BOTH tracks are very flexible, and you are encouraged to explore the University and Five-College offerings in all the departments to support your interests in various components of public health.

If I want to apply should I meet with an advisor?
If you’re interested in the major, there are group information sessions offered several times during the semester, especially before add/drop period ends and prior to course registration.  These info sessions are posted on the website and you can e-mail the undergraduate program director, Gloria DiFulvio (gloria@schoolph.umass.edu), to sign up.  These sessions cover information about Public Health in general, the major in particular, classes, requirements, internship opportunities, and study abroad options.  They are also a great time to ask questions and meet others interested in the major—as well as some of the peer advisors.  Click here to see postings of scheduled information sessions.

How do I get into closed classes?
For public health core courses: Because the program is new and growing quickly, the required PUBHLTH classes fill up quickly.  Department faculty have been very responsive to the needs of the program, even adapting several courses for summer online options, but there still may be times when you’ll need to forgo taking a class you’d planned on.

Courses that fulfill other parts of the public health requirement (foundation classes, collateral field classes, and math and statistics classes) are not under our jurisdiction.  You’ll need to contact professors or departments and find out how they each handle closed courses.  Additionally, as part of your collateral field, or as arranged with your Advisor, you may wish to take a class that is closed to non-majors in that department.  Still, you might contact the professor, explain how you’re incorporating the course into your Public Health studies and see if they’ll make an exception.  Often times, professors are interested in the public health perspective and will allow you to register.  It’s always a case-by-case basis, though, and it helps to approach all faculty and staff with respect and courtesy.

How is advising done?
Most students attend an information session before they enter the major. A lot of what happens in these sessions and in the small group advising sessions for students in the major is getting clear on what Public Health is, what the major offers, and what you’re interested in. If you have a feeling public health is for you but haven’t found a particular focus for yourself, that’s ok! Many public health students enter the program unsure or with only a vague idea of a direction in public health. It’s a broad, diverse discipline. There are many websites of interest on the program’s main webpage, and that’s a good place to start if you’re interested in learning more about the field. 

Since public health IS so diverse and interdisciplinary, the freedom of choice in the major is sometimes overwhelming. However, if you’re excited to think about connections between disciplines, challenging yourself to think outside the box, and interested in creative problem-solving—public health has a lot to offer.  Advising is really about helping you think about your interests and making connections to departments and programs on campus. While we want to encourage your curiosity and interests, it’s also your responsibility to investigate courses in other departments. To support you in doing that, prior to each registration period, we send out a list of good classes and websites that help you choose.

There are several advising opportunities you should take advantage of each semester:

First, there are large group advising sessions planned prior to registration each term. These are excellent times to get an overview of public health courses that will be offered next term, good classes for collateral field interests, and some general information on internships, study abroad, public health club activities, and overall program information. 

These groups are scheduled with time for program director and peer advisors to work with small groups of students or individuals.  Plan early to come to these!

Small group advising is also offered with peer advisors and the program director.  These are listed on the website, generally after registration has started—which is why attending the large group session is so crucial.

One-on-one advising with peer advisors is also available by appointment.  In order to make an appointment, you must have already come to a large or small group session.  Make appointments with Gloria DiFulvio, the undergraduate program director, via e-mail:  gloria@schoolph.umass.edu  Gloria will connect you with a peer advisor. 

Finally, Gloria is always available by e-mail and for occasional individual sessions (gloria@schoolph.umass.edu). There are numerous questions that can be quickly and easily cleared up with an e-mail or two.  If you are facing academic difficulties, are encountering issues that need more individual attention, or are planning to study abroad and need to discuss individual classes that can fulfill requirements, then an individual appointment is sometimes required. 

Coming prepared to any advising session—large group, small group, or individual session with a peer advisor or Gloria is greatly enhanced if you’ve already reviewed your Academic Requirement Report (ARR), printed it out, and have whatever tracking sheet you use to keep track of your requirements.

What is Capstone 490B
The Capstone course (offered each spring) is the culminating academic experience of the learning and coursework completed in the public health major.  The result of the class is a research project, program, or other public health intervention or study that draws from all the theories and experiences in the undergraduate Major along with the student's individual interests.

Students are encourage to present their Capstone project/paper at the state-wide undergraduate research day in late spring.

Honors College students CAN do a combined capstone (NOT duplicate--but can integrate both).  Please make an appointment to see Gloria DiFulvio at gloria@schoolph.umass.edu if you do plan on doing a combined captstone.

What is the Program’s perspective on internships?
We highly recommend you take advantage of any volunteer or formal internship programs!  The program’s coursework requirements cover the basic areas of public health, laying a general and sound foundation.  But experience in the field offers a perspective that classroom learning just cannot replicate. 

Are there specific internships I can apply for?
There are a few internships that are ongoing from year to year.  There are more internships that come in, regularly, from various organizations around the area looking for students.  You’ll receive information from these via e-mail and you are encouraged to read all of them, since some e-mails contain several opportunities. 

You are also encouraged to investigate possible internships on your own.  Your hometown, parents, friends of parents, local hospitals, and service organizations are all good sources for internship sites as well as informational interviews and career “shadowing” experiences.  Many students enter Public Health because of a personal story, a helpful relationship, or inspiring event (even if it’s inspiring in what not to do!).  These experiences can be useful in making personal connections with people who are usually very interested in mentoring and supporting young people in the field.  You are encouraged to follow-up on these kinds of interactions. 

When do internships happen—during the school year or over the summer?
Internships can occur either during the regular semester or over the summer.  There are some important logistics to take into account:  Internships taken during the school year are part of your regular tuition.  Internships that you complete over the summer and wish to receive credit for must be paid for separately, through Continuing and Professional Education. If you are not looking to receive credit, we highly encourage you to set up the internship and know that just having it on your resume (even without course credit) is a strength you take into the workplace. For some students, paying for the credits over the summer makes their schedule of classes more feasible (lighter credit load).  This might be particularly true for a science track student who uses internship credits toward the collateral field requirement and takes only 12 credits of math or science requirements during the regular semester.  It’s good to think through your options. 

Credits for internships can range from 1-9, although the norm is 3 per semester, with no more than 9 total credits allowed for internships and independent study work in the major (a total of 15 internship credits is allowed for your entire undergraduate career.)  Three credits is equivalent to 125 hours of work for the semester. This works out to roughly 8-9 hours a week for 13 weeks, with journaling and a final summary paper included. 

Are there abroad programs specifically for public health?
There are a few, but if a program isn’t specific to public health, students can find collateral field courses or equivalent foundation courses they can apply.  This is an important consideration to go over with the program director.  You must gain approval for your major requirements prior to going abroad, so plan accordingly.

Like internships, study abroad can be a rich learning experience and we encourage students to take the opportunity to travel, live, and study in other contexts.

What sorts of careers does a public health major lead to?
Because the major is interdisciplinary, there are a lot of options.  A good place to start is by going to Career Services to see a list of possible Public Health careers.