B.S. in Public Health
What is a Public Health Major?
A Public Health major will prepare you to serve many vital roles in the growing health and wellness industries. Those who finish with a B.S. in Public Health at Biola become professionals equipped to:
- Evaluate and reduce occupational and environmental health risks
- Craft government policies
- Contribute to hospital policies and procedures
- Track and prevent the spread of diseases
- Create educational programs to encourage optimal nutrition, exercise and wellness
- Much more
Wherever they serve, students who leave Biola with a Public Health degree are public health professionals ready to promote and care for the well-being of individuals and communities.
In Biola’s B.S. in Public Health major, you will gain the broad academic training, research experience and practical skills needed to thrive in this highly in-demand field. Whether you plan to pursue graduate school or move directly into a health and wellness career, a Bachelor's in Public Health from Biola offers you the flexibility you need to pursue a wide range of opportunities.
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Concentrations
- Global Health
Global health is defined as the study, research and practice on improving health and achieving health care equity for communities worldwide. This concentration will focus on the prevention and intervention of health issues at the population level, and involve the integration of disciplines within and beyond the health sciences –– community health, epidemiology, health promotion, biology, statistics and intercultural studies to name a few.
Some career outcomes include: Certified Health Educator, Health Director, Health Administrator, Public Health Specialist, Community Health Worker, Global Health Worker, Public Health Program Manager, Public Health Policy Analyst, Nonprofit Coordinator, International Health Program Manager and Community Health Outreach Associate./
- Master of Public Health (Accelerated Master’s Program)
The Master of Public Health (Accelerated Master's Program) provides an accelerated pathway so students may earn both their B.S. in Public Health and Master of Public Health (MPH) in just five years. This track may be selected during any year of the bachelor’s program. Learn more about this accelerated master’s program pathway.
- Pre-Health Professions
The pre-health profession concentration will prepare public health students for the following graduate and professional programs:
- Pre-Medicine
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine
- Pre-Dental
- Pre-Optometry
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Physician Assistant
- Pre-Podiatry
Each of the listed heath profession tracks will have slightly different prerequisite courses, which students in the pre-health profession concentration will take, and faculty advisors will direct students in meeting the requirements.
Why Choose Public Health at Biola?
Biola’s Public Health degree program offers several key advantages:
- With its solid foundation in kinesiology, health science and data-driven research, the Public Health major gives you a comprehensive education that prepares you for some of the most in-demand careers in the health and wellness fields.
- Small class sizes offer you direct access to professors with real-world experience and expertise across many different fields, including public health, biology, chemistry and kinesiology.
- The Public Health major is taught from a Christian perspective, equipping you to be a skilled professional who cares for the holistic well-being of individuals and communities.
- Biola’s Lim Center is a premier facility for science and health students, filled with research labs, cutting-edge equipment and specialized spaces for those seeking degrees in anatomy and physiology, environmental and analytical chemistry, molecular biology and health care.
- Biola’s Office of Health Professions Advising (BOHPA) serves as a valuable resource to connect you to internships, networking and career opportunities.
- A required practicum and capstone project will allow you to gain valuable hands-on work experience, dive into research and create a tangible report to present to prospective employers.
What Will I Study?
The Public Health, B.S. offers a broad education across several academic disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics and kinesiology. The program also incorporates research and quantitative analysis, providing a helpful background for understanding and developing public health policies. Course topics and learning highlights include:
- Principles of cellular and molecular biology, genetics and human development
- Study of microbial organisms, emphasizing bacteria and viruses
- Basic structure and function of the human body
- American health care systems, epidemiology, public health policy, and occupational and environmental health
- Nutrition, physical fitness, stress management, substance abuse, sexuality, social and behavioral theoretical/applied modeling and other public health issues
- Laboratory techniques used in research and industry, including scanning electron microscopy, histology, DNA analysis, analytical chemistry, clinical and applied physiological assessment, biological sampling and processing techniques