Public Health

Students majoring in public health are driven to improve the health of their communities and California. They are preparing for careers in public health, health policy, law, education, program planning and evaluation, community health, behavioral health, occupational safety, and more.

The Department of Public Health programs focus on understanding human health from a population perspective with a strong emphasis on health equity, social justice, and the health effects of dynamic physical, social, and political environments. It asks students to think critically, explore health from various perspectives, and understand the role that culture has in constructing health. The department also emphasizes problem-based learning, which is core to its approach. The department aims to help students develop critical thinking, effective teamwork, and strong problem-solving skills.

An undergraduate degree in public health provides students with foundational competencies in public health concepts, theories, and practical experience. In addition, students will develop and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to improve and promote the health of populations.

 

We Offer:

 

Your Future

Career Opportunities Include:

Biostatistician • Community Health Specialist • Environmental Health Scientist • Health Educator • Medical Editor • Nutritionist • Occupational Therapist • Prevention Specialist • Public Health Administrator • Public Health Educator • Research Analyst • Sanitarian • Toxicologist

 

Future Income:

Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics to learn more about the outlook for your future career.

 

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Department of Public Health

University Catalog

Courses You Might Take

PH 130 - Health Humanities

An introduction to the role of the humanities in health. Explores the importance of humanities in developing empathy, observation, and self-reflection skills necessary in health care.

PH 323 - Plagues, Peoples, and Populations

The historical impact of plagues in human populations. The development of responses to epidemic and pandemic outbreaks, with a focus on population-level reactions to infectious diseases such as plague, smallpox, cholera, tuberculosis, HIV, etc.

PH 330 - Epidemiology

Explores the meaning, scope, and applications of epidemiology to public health practice and the use of vital statistics and research data in the scientific appraisal of community health challenges.

PH 350 - Health Behavior and Health Education Theory

Major theories explaining health behaviors and how they can be modified through health education for positive outcomes. Emphasizes selection and application of appropriate theories for various individual and social behaviors.

PH 355 - Bioethics

Explores ethical issues that arise in the health sciences, including clinical ethics, ethical issues in new technologies, public health ethics, and distributive justice. The course focuses on sound reasoning through discursive writing.

PH 405 - Toxicology

An introduction to the field of toxicology. Topics include toxicokinetics, organ and non-organ toxicity, environmental toxicology, and applications of toxicology in clinical, public, and environmental health settings.

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Contact Us

Department of Public Health
  • California State University, East Bay
  • Student & Faculty Support Building, SF 502
  • Hayward, CA 94542