Bachelor of Science in Health Science

The Public Health bachelor's degree program prepares graduates for entry-level health-profession careers in such areas as health education, health promotion, research, monitoring and evaluation, and health and policy administration. Additionally, it prepares graduates seeking post-baccalaureate entry into graduate programs such as public health, public policy, health management, law and health informatics. Students can take additional electives in management that can help to prepare graduates for entry-level health-profession careers in such areas as health administration and management, consulting, quality improvement in healthcare, and policy administration.

The curriculum is based on a strong foundation in the population health sciences along with coursework in the arts and sciences. Content in the areas of health and wellness is emphasized. An interdisciplinary team of educators provides holistic exposure to nutrition, exercise science, psychology, sociology, public health, business and economics, and their importance to patient-centered, humanistic healthcare delivery.  

The Public Health degree program emphasizes the application and synthesis of knowledge and develops graduates who are the problem-solvers and critical-thinkers of tomorrow in both domestic and global health systems and communities.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are expected to:

• Apply fundamental biologic, socio-economic, behavioral, ethical, cultural and spiritual principles to the practice of health and wellness.
• Synthesize foundational knowledge and the results of inquiry and research.
• Effectively communicate health and wellness principles to diverse populations.
• Work collaboratively as a member of a health and wellness team to improve individual and community outcomes.
• Compare and discuss major local, national and global health challenges related to healthcare access and outcomes. 

Public Health students take basic science courses in anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology and life science. Courses examine patterns of population health and disease, the organization and social structures through which health services are delivered/received, and community needs assessment and planning. Additional emphasis is placed on courses in counseling, health education, psychology and health policy. In consultation with advisers, students may select courses that specifically prepare them for positions in the public health arena, such as health policy analysts, consultants, health promotion coordinators and educators, and a variety of jobs in both state and federal government.

Public health is community health. How can we improve lives and increase health equity and accessibility for diverse populations? JWU Providence’s bachelor of science (B.S.) in Public Health will help you tackle the big questions to improve our communities’ well-being, longevity, and quality of life.

Learn to assess and plan for community needs. Explore a holistic approach to health through nutrition, exercise science, psychology, sociology, public health, and economics courses, and discover its importance to patient-centered, humanistic healthcare delivery. You will also familiarize yourself with the organizations and social structures through which health services are delivered.

Differentiators of JWU’s Public Health Program

JWU Public Health students bring passion, a desire to work within communities, and an unwavering work ethic to tackle pressing public health problems.

The Public Health degree offers evidence-based teaching and learning supports, active learning in the classroom with real-world case study integration, experiential education opportunities, and a low faculty-to-student ratio. These factors provide our students the skills to translate their passion and work ethic into finding solutions to improve local, national, and global community health.

Students in our Public Health program start learning about public health from their first day. Over four years, examine patterns of health and disease within the context of the social determinants of health and learn to develop interventions or policies for all populations using real-world data. In addition, collaborate with faculty and students in other disciplines in the field on best practices that can improve individual and community-level outcomes.

Faculty Who Go Beyond the Classroom

At JWU, our faculty are public health practitioners who are engaged with public health through experience with local government agencies, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and real-world research opportunities. When you are in the classroom with our faculty, you can feel their passion and lived experience.

Those experiences shape the teaching and mentoring for all JWU Public Health students and help the coursework come to life.

Fostering Interdisciplinary Research

Putting theory into practice through experiential education is one of the tenets of a JWU education.

The Center for Student Research & Interdisciplinary Collaboration provides opportunities for current Public Health students to collaborate with faculty on projects and practices, resulting in university programs, publications in the scientific literature, data briefs for government agencies, and presentations at local and national conferences.

Students like Paige Sonido '23 are actively engaged in addressing issues related to public health — all while building concrete research skills, critical thinking, and an understanding of how to advance a field of knowledge. Last fall, Sonido was honored with the Owen Manahan Award for her peer-reviewed work with fellow student Abby Tobin '22 and JWU faculty members Samantha Rosenthal, Ph.D., Cara Sammartino, Ph.D., and Jonathan Noel, Ph.D., to assess telehealth’s effectiveness at reaching disadvantaged young adults.

Other projects have looked at the stigma of opioid use, the impact of discrimination on mental health, and the benefits of spending time in nature. Through coursework and JWU-guided research, students have the opportunity to explore the causes and consequences of health inequities, and to work with local government agencies and nonprofits to address these issues.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of JWU’s Public Health program have significantly impacted the practice and research of public health in our community and beyond.

Graduates have worked for healthcare systems, nonprofits, and government agencies, including:

• Brown University School of Public Health
• Cleveland Clinic
• Greater Boston Gastroenterology
• Miriam Hospital
• Oak Street Health
• Rhode Island Department of Health
• US Alcohol Policy Alliance

They have also gone on to attend and have attended some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country. Examples of graduate programs former public health students are currently attending include:

• Brown University
• Tufts University
• New York University
• Northeastern University
• George Washington University

https://www.jwu.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/public-health-bs.html