Helping Individuals and Communities Get and Stay Healthy
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized once again the critical role that public health professionals play in our society. They’ve been at the forefront of everything from educating communities to helping government leaders create policies to protect public health.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program at the University of Michigan-Flint prepares you for a wide range of entry-level public health positions. It emphasizes health education, preparing you to help individuals, families, and communities change their behavior and lifestyles.
In your courses, you’ll explore subjects like bioethics, epidemiology, public policy and health care, global health, health education and promotion, and health care leadership. They reflect the values of public health: community engagement, disease prevention, health promotion, and serving vulnerable populations. The curriculum is designed to provide you with the knowledge needed to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.
Why Choose Public Health at UM-Flint?
Earn Real-World Experience at the Bachelor’s Level
You will complete an internship in a public health agency and gain valuable hands-on experience.
Make an Impact in Your Community
Graduates can impact population health domestically and globally and make an immediate difference in the health resources and opportunities in their community.
Complete Your Master’s Degree With Fewer Credits
Students interested in earning a Master of Public Health can complete the joint BS/MPH program and earn both degrees with up to 17 fewer credits.
Participate in Research as an Undergraduate Student
You’ll have the option to conduct research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program or the Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. In a paid or volunteer role, you can develop your research skills while working side-by-side with faculty on state-of-the-art research.
Public Health Degree Programs
We offer two undergraduate degrees and a minor in public health:
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health Honors
- Public Health Minor, which students can complete in 9 to 15 credits depending on what major they’re pursuing.
The Department of Public Health & Health Sciences offers three other options if you wish to continue to a graduate program:
- The joint Bachelor of Science/Master of Public Health program is designed for UM-Flint undergraduate Public Health students who wish to pursue an MPH degree. You can earn both degrees with up to 17 fewer credits than if you completed the degree programs separately.
- The Public Health Graduate Certificate is a 10-credit hour, 100% online program. The certificate can be used toward earning UM-Flint’s Master of Science in Health Services Administration or Master of Public Health.
- The Master of Public Health program allows students to develop skills in the classroom and through involvement in meaningful, real-world public health projects developed for a community agency. The program can be completed 100% online.
I am so thankful that we were able to have an internship to really see what the field is like. It helped me look at public health in a different way. I was hired almost a month before my internship was scheduled to be over. I really enjoy my job as a community health worker. There are so many different areas of public health. If you are interested in health care but don’t really want to be a doctor or nurse, this is a great avenue. You are helping patients be healthy by making good decisions.”
Katherine Schutt
Public Health, 2021
Career Opportunities in Public Health
Public health professionals work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, non-profits, businesses, public schools, colleges and universities, and more. The focus on health education prepares graduates to implement behavior modification and lifestyle changes for individuals, families, and communities.
Depending on the job you choose, you may:
- Track disease outbreaks.
- Prevent injuries.
- Focus on disparities in health.
- Advocate for policies that improve population health.
- Address health equity.
- Educate on the risks of alcohol and tobacco.
- Set safety standards.
Our students get experience in many settings. They have interned at Crim Fitness Foundation, Genesee Health Systems, Genesee Intermediate School District, Hurley Medical Center Car Seat Safety Program, Oakland County Health Department, Project Healthy Community, UM-Flint Department of Academic Research and Prevention, and more.
The field is growing rapidly. The number of jobs for health education specialists and community health workers is projected to jump by 12 percent through 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s more than twice the national average. The BLS projects an average of 16,000 openings for health education specialists and community health workers each year through 2031. The median salary for the positions is $48,860 annually.
More information about careers in public health is available from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Scholarships for Public Health Students
Besides being eligible for financial assistance through UM-Flint’s Office of Financial Aid, you can apply for UM-Flint scholarships that are specifically for College of Health Sciences students.
Numerous scholarships are available to CHS students, each with its own requirements. They’re made possible through generous donations to the College of Health Sciences.
Academic Advising for Public Health Majors
Understanding program requirements, choosing classes, and other aspects of attending college can sometimes seem a little overwhelming. UM-Flint’s expert academic advisors can answer your questions and help steer you on the path to academic success.
Brenda Cameron is the dedicated academic advisor for Public Health majors. You can contact her at [email protected] or 810-424-5371.
Accreditation
The Public Health programs (BS and MPH) in the Department of Public Health & Health Sciences are accredited through the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Input from our many stakeholders, including students, plays a critical role in this ongoing process. See how you can participate.
Get Started on Your Public Health Career Today
If you want to help people lead active, healthy lives while working toward health equity in Flint and beyond, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Public Health program today. If you have questions, submit an online request for information or contact Brenda Cameron, the program’s academic advisor, at [email protected] or 810-424-5371.