Program Overview
Public Health
School
School of Public Health and Health Professions
Departments
- Community Health and Health Behavior
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health
Major
Public Health BS
Combined
- Public Health BS/ Community Health and Health Behavior MS
- Public Health BS/ Epidemiology MS
- Public Health BS/MPH
Minor
Public Health Minor
What will I learn?
How do we collect health data from the public? What cultural and social factors contribute to health disparities? How does stress affect health for individuals, families and communities? These are just some of the topics you might explore as you learn about diseases, health interventions and how the public health system works. In addition to classes in public health, you’ll also have opportunities to take courses in related disciplines such as psychology, political science, sociology and statistics.
What can I do outside of class?
- Research. Even as an undergrad, you can work with faculty on impactful research projects; many of our faculty collaborate with other researchers throughout UB and other leading institutions.
- Practical experience. Join other health care students in activities like Friday Night at the ER, where you'll compete in a simulation to manage a busy hospital.
- Campus-wide collaborations and events. Meet well-known speakers at lectures and other events hosted by the School of Public Health and Health Professions and other schools within UB’s Academic Health Center.
- Study abroad and other global opportunities. Get firsthand, life-changing experience while helping others and learning about health services around the world.
What can I do with a public health degree?
Workplace health and safety specialist at Amazon. Case manager for the New York State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These are just a few of the places where UB's public health grads have helped make a difference.
Whether you choose to work for a government agency, hospital, research lab, academic institution, nonprofit organization or a business, you’ll find that a public health degree gives you career choices, including:
- Care coordinator.
- Community health worker.
- Family engagement coordinator.
- Harm reduction specialist.
- Health educator.
- Lab manager.
- Maternal health advocate.
- Medical assistant.
- Patient care liaison.
- Research coordinator.
In addition, many students decide to get a graduate or professional degree in public health, nursing, physical therapy, medicine or a related field.
Who will I learn from?
Our faculty members are here to help you, whether you have questions about a course assignment or just want some career advice. "It's very easy to talk to them one-on-one," said one of our students. "You can get any information about any research they’re doing or what their career path was."
As a public health major, you’ll typically learn from faculty members throughout the School of Public Health and Health Professions, including specialists in community health, environmental health, epidemiology, statistics and other key areas. In addition to being exceptional teachers, our faculty members are also experienced researchers and scholars. They are members of the American Public Health Association and other prestigious organizations. They have edited and been published in leading public health journals and have conducted research with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among other top institutions.
Program Outline
Extracted Information from the Context:
Degree Overview:
- Overview: The Public Health program at the University at Buffalo focuses on improving the health of communities by addressing the root causes of diseases and injuries, encouraging healthy behaviors, and reducing environmental risks.
- Objectives: The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to collect health data, analyze cultural and social factors affecting health, and understand the public health system.
- Description: The program provides a comprehensive understanding of public health through coursework, research opportunities, and practical experiences.
- Target Audience: Individuals passionate about improving community health and tackling public health challenges.
Outline:
- Coursework: Students will explore topics like health data collection, social determinants of health, stress and health, disease prevention, and health interventions.
- Structure: The program combines public health coursework with courses in related disciplines like psychology, political science, sociology, and statistics.
- Course Schedule: Information about the course schedule is not available in the provided context.
- Modules: Specific modules are not mentioned in the context.
Assessment:
- Assessment Methods: The context does not provide specific details about assessment methods.
- Criteria: The context does not provide specific details about assessment criteria.
Teaching:
- Teaching Methods: The program encourages hands-on learning through research, practical experiences like "Friday Night at the ER" simulation, and campus-wide collaborations.
- Faculty: Students will learn from experienced researchers and scholars specializing in various public health areas.
- Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes personalized learning through close interaction with faculty and opportunities to discuss research and career paths.
Careers:
- Potential Career Paths: Graduates can pursue careers as workplace health and safety specialists, case managers, epidemiologists, and in various public health organizations, hospitals, research labs, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations.
- Career Opportunities: Specific career opportunities are not mentioned in the context.
- Career Outcomes: Graduates can choose to pursue graduate or professional degrees in related fields or directly enter the workforce in various public health roles.
Other:
- Research Opportunities: Students can participate in research projects with faculty members and collaborate with researchers across UB and other leading institutions.
- Study Abroad: The program offers opportunities for global learning experiences.
- Events: Students can attend lectures and events hosted by the School of Public Health and Health Professions and other academic units within UB's Academic Health Center.
