- Degree Level
- Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered
- Bachelor of Science
- Department
- Public Health Department
- school/college
- College of Health Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health equips you with the tools to study, research, and practice ways to improve health outcomes for communities and populations. Our Global Health concentration lets you apply these public health concepts worldwide, preparing you for impactful careers in public health programs, community health, and global health policy.
This multidisciplinary public health degree places you at the intersection of public health, social science, and innovations in global health practice. Coursework in epidemiology, health education, and environmental health fosters evidence-based action to address social, economic, and environmental determinants of health amid today’s global challenges.
The program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and experiential learning. You’ll gain the skills to address health disparities and improve wellbeing in ways meaningful to communities in the U.S. and abroad. In keeping with Arcadia University’s mission of “preparing students for life in a rapidly changing global society,” our CEPH-accredited Public Health program features small class sizes, nationally recognized faculty, and affordable tuition.
Whether you plan to earn a bachelor’s in public health, pursue an MPH, or enter public health careers in research, education, or community outreach, Arcadia provides the foundation for a meaningful and globally focused future in public health.
Students interested in declaring public health as a major should meet with Dr. Reema Persad-Clem to discuss the program.
What to Expect
- Public health issues explored from different perspectives
- Coverage of the core disciplines of public health: epidemiology/biostatistics, social and behavioral sciences, health care management and policy, and environmental health
- Examination of global health analytic frameworks and methods to understand and address health inequities
Career Paths for Public Health Majors *
Graduates can pursue these positions in a variety of settings, including local, state, and federal health agencies, the health and wellness industry, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions.
- Health professional
- Allied health professional
- Behavioral scientist
- Environmental health scientist
- Health researcher
- Data analyst
- Epidemiologist
- Program manager
- Program coordinator
- Health services manager
- Community health worker
- Health education specialist
- Social worker
- And many more!
*The above positions can be in different sectors such as local, state, federal health agencies, the health and wellness industry, nonprofits and academia.
Explore a Typical Course Path to Graduation
The Public Health faculty have supported me, provided amazing career advice, reassured me and answered any questions I have about my passions in public health, creating relationships with people who will elevate me to the next level after I graduate.
Minor in Global Public Health
The Minor in Global Public Health provides undergraduates with the opportunity to learn about public health principles from a global perspective. Interested students should meet with their major advisers and with Dr. Reema Persad-Clem for the Global Public Health Minor.
Featured Courses
Epidemiology: The Science of Public Health
Required Course
You will learn a basic understanding of the epidemiologic method of identifying disease-causing exposures and behavioral factors that place individuals at risk of other health-related events. Study the generation of hypotheses based on descriptive epidemiological data, the testing of hypotheses through analytic epidemiologic research, the determination of causality, and the value of epidemiologic research in developing and evaluating disease prevention strategies. The course will enhance your ability to analyze problems systematically and to think collectively.
Global Public Health
Required Course
Explore the critical challenges in global health using multidisciplinary perspectives. Study the issues at the nexus between development and health, including millennium development goals, disease burden, environmental health and safe water, epidemiology and demography of disease, AIDS and HIV prevention, chronic diseases, nutritional challenges, social determinants of global health, harm reduction and behavioral modification, health professionals and capacity development, as well as human rights and bioethical issues in a global context.
Global Health Service Learning
Required Course
Synthesize, integrate and apply global public health skills and knowledge in the context of service learning projects. Translate classroom learning into real world global public health practice. Partner with a global health-related agency, program, or initiative to participate in a service learning project. Evaluate global public health principles through service, reflection, dialogue, observation and other approaches.
Social Justice
Elective Course
Explore an intensive philosophical study of social injustices from a variety of contemporary perspectives, including critical liberalism, historical materialism, and the tradition of intersectional theory. Examine issues, including economic exploitation, sexism, racism, colonialism, heteronormativity, transphobia, environmental injustice, and their intersections. Classes incorporate lecture and discussion.
Policy in Public Health
Required Course
You will study health outcomes, determinants of health, and the ways policies can or have influenced population health in the U.S and globally. This course covers a broad perspective, including recognizing a health care systems approach, additional (non-health care related) public health policies, the concept of “Health in all Policies,” and organizational policy. You will briefly review the history of U.S. federal health care system reform and comparative international models (e.g., Canada, UK, Germany), as well as emphasize specific government approaches (at federal, state and local levels) to address health (e.g.,smoking bans), including international perspective.
Homes, Housing and Homelessness
Elective Course
Examine the lack of affordable homes, urban homelessness and extreme impoverishment from a comparative historical perspective. Cases to be examined will include the United States, United Kingdom, Kenya and India. A third of the class will devote to service learning (volunteering with residents of one of Project HOME’s housing programs).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Public Health?
Public Health is the interdisciplinary study of population health, emphasizing prevention, policy, and social determinants of wellbeing. It bridges biology, social science, and policy to address community and global health challenges.
Is Public Health a social science?
Yes. Public Health draws heavily from the social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, and economics, to understand how social structures, behaviors, and environments influence health outcomes.
What are the core disciplines of Public Health?
The core disciplines include epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy and management, and the social and behavioral sciences. Together, these areas provide the analytical and ethical foundation for professional practice and research.
What can I do with a Bachelor’s in Public Health?
A Bachelor of Science in Public Health prepares students for roles in community health, policy analysis, epidemiology, and global health initiatives. Alumni often work as public health analysts, research assistants, or in international public health programs abroad, and many pursue advanced degrees such as the MPH.
What careers are available for Public Health majors?
Graduates enter diverse fields: government, NGOs, healthcare systems, and research institutions. Common pathways include epidemiology, health education, policy development, and global health coordination.
What courses will I take as a Public Health major?
Students complete coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, global health, health policy, and health promotion. Arcadia’s program integrates applied research, internships, and community engagement to meet all Public Health degree requirements.
How does Public Health differ from other health majors?
Whereas clinical majors focus on individual patient care, Public Health and Global Health majors address health at the population and systems level, analyzing how policy, culture, and environment shape outcomes across communities and nations.
What is CEPH accreditation, and why does it matter?
Arcadia’s program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), affirming its alignment with national standards for curriculum, ethics, and professional readiness.
What skills will I gain from a Public Health degree?
Graduates develop quantitative and qualitative research skills, policy analysis proficiency, and communication and leadership competencies—essential for advancing evidence-based health initiatives and policy reform.
Are internships or research opportunities available?
Yes. Students engage in fieldwork, research, and internships through partnerships with local health agencies and global health organizations abroad, applying classroom theory to public health practice.
