Overview
Matthew Bereza, Chair of the Division of Behavior Sciences
Public health is a broad field of practice dedicated to the promotion and protection of the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Through prevention, education, surveillance, and investigative research, public health professionals work to maintain the conditions and behaviors that keep people healthy and safe. Public health is an interdisciplinary scientific field that draws on the theories, concepts, and methods of inquiry from neighboring social science and natural science disciplines. Public health professionals are employed across the U.S. health care system at many levels, including program administrators, case investigators, program evaluators, health educators, surveillance specialists, and community liaisons.
The public health program at St. John Fisher University offers the following undergraduate degree programs:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Health
The B.A. program introduces students to the full breadth of the field of public health and prepares interested students for going on to a master's in public health. The B.A. option is especially suitable for students who wish to combine this degree with studies in another area. Student in the B.A. program must have a minor area of study, choosing from a wide variety of programs in consultation with their advisors.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health
The B.S. program places greater emphasis on more in-depth study of certain sub-fields within public health on which a student may wish to focus. The B.S. option prepares student for entering a master's of public health program and/or other health related Ph.D. programs such as epidemiology, biostatistics, or environmental health. A minor is not required of students in the B.S. public health program.