Public Health
Public Health Saves Lives - Join a Career that Helps and Protects Communities
Public Health, B.S.
The Public Health Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program at 乐播传媒入口 (MTSU) offers a flexible and impactful degree for students passionate about improving health outcomes and promoting well-being in communities. With a proactive, interdisciplinary approach to health, public health focuses on preventing illness, promoting wellness, and ensuring equitable access to health services.听
Our program is designed to meet the diverse goals of students, whether you鈥檙e interested in pursuing a public health career or need a strong foundation for pre-med, pre-PA, or pre-nursing pathways.听
For students looking to work in public health, this degree equips you with the skills needed to tackle complex health challenges. Graduates are prepared for roles as a health educator, community outreach worker, prevention coordinator, or community engagement specialist. Through courses such as Methods of Marketing and Communication in Health, Environmental Health, and Health Program Planning, you'll gain the knowledge necessary to improve community health, promote disease prevention, and shape health policy.听
For those on a pre-med, pre-PA, or pre-nursing track, a Public Health degree provides a solid foundation in core areas like Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Human Health and Disease, and Bioethical Issues. Our graduates successfully use this degree to advance into medical school, PA programs, or nursing school, making it a versatile choice for those aiming to enter clinical healthcare fields.听听
Additionally, students who wish to continue their education in public health can take advantage of our Accelerated Bachelor鈥檚-to-Master鈥檚 (ABM) program, which allows you to begin working on your Master of Public Health (MPH) while completing your undergraduate degree. MTSU also offers a Ph.D. in Health, providing a pathway for those interested in advanced research and leadership roles in the public health field, right here on campus.听
MTSU Public Health Program Values
- Health Equity: Commitment to address disparities that contribute to health inequity.听
- Collaboration: Commitment to educate and practice public health through collaboration.听
- Evidence-Based: Commitment to use an evidence-based approach in public education and practice.听
- Right-To-Health: Commitment to the concept that good health is a fundamental right.听
Accreditation
乐播传媒入口鈥檚 (MTSU) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH); the nationally recognized accrediting body for public health ().
News Briefs
乐播传媒入口鈥檚 Public Health Symposium recently hosted more than 100 high schoolers at the inaugural event, giving them a snapshot of careers that extend beyond traditional roles in medicine.
The American Heart Association is gearing up for its annual, signature Rutherford County Heart Walk, and Chandra Story, 乐播传媒入口 professor and association board member, is encouraging the community to take heart and do their part to get active and raise funds for heart-health education and research.
News Briefs
乐播传媒入口鈥檚 Public Health Symposium recently hosted more than 100 high schoolers at the inaugural event, giving them a snapshot of careers that extend beyond traditional roles in medicine.
The American Heart Association is gearing up for its annual, signature Rutherford County Heart Walk, and Chandra Story, 乐播传媒入口 professor and association board member, is encouraging the community to take heart and do their part to get active and raise funds for heart-health education and research.
Public Health, B.S.
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Alumni Success
At MTSU, I gained a strong foundation in program evaluation, needs assessments, and stakeholder engagement, skills I now use in my thesis and public health-related projects. I learned how to translate data into meaningful narratives. My experience with Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data during my first undergrad research project taught me how to analyze and interpret health outcomes, which directly connects to my current work supporting the Southern Environmental Health Study and conducting nutrition epidemiology research. MTSU also helped me build confidence in public speaking, scientific writing, and collaborative problem-solving.
-Alondra Serranoh, Class of '24, Full-Time Master of Public Health Candidate & Part-Time Research Assistant at Vanderbilt
MTSU helped prepare me by providing with me educational activities and experiences that connected together to create the overall picture of community and public health. Therefore, this provided me with the opportunities I needed to apply my knowledge as I went. These experiences helped me develop the skills I use every day working in community and public health.
-Kaysi Paul, Class of '17, Director of Primary Prevention Initiatives at Prevention Coalition for Success (PC4S)
Through my professors , I was able to obtain internships while in undergrad at the 乐播传媒入口 Department of Health . Having these internships provided me with real life experience so that by the time I graduated , I was able to hit the workforce running . I was then hired at Metro ONE WEEK after graduating.
-Mya Gray, Class of '24, STD/HIV Program Coordinator at Metro Public Health Department
Internship Opportunities
What is a 鈥淧ublic Health鈥� Internship?听
Students in the undergraduate public health program can choose to partake in an internship with a community health organization while also earning class credit. For every 1 credit hour earned, the student must work 30 hours at the agency site. Thus, our 6-credit hour internship means you must complete 180 work hours.听
Why Do Students Choose to Complete an Internship?听
The internship enriches education by adding the vital component of 鈥渨ork experience鈥� for the student. The experience allows students to explore and clarify professional goals, establish post-graduation job contacts, and to acquire skills and experiences related to their career goals. The student can determine areas of strength and work to improve on areas of weakness.听
Previous Internship Sites Include:听
- Child Advocacy Center听
- Kymari House听
- Murfreesboro City Schools听
- MTSU Center for Health and Human Services听
- Rutherford 4-H Extension听
- Rutherford County Boys and Girls Club听
- Rutherford County Health Department听
- Rutherford County Insurance and Risk Management, Safety Program听
- Rutherford Prevention Coalition for Success听
- Stones River Watershed Association听
- Wilson County Health Department
Helpful Links
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MTSU鈥檚 Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called .
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our guides.
Student Testimonies
鈥淭he ultimate goal of public health is to improve the quality of life worldwide by creating healthier communities and environments. I am working to pursue a career in dentistry, and knowledge about public health will one day help me understand and meet the needs of the patients in my community. Public Health offers knowledge of disease prevention, statistics, and the community鈥檚 overall health.鈥�
- Gracie Jacoway, Current Student
鈥淧ublic Health is not treating the symptoms of life, it鈥檚 getting to the to the cause of the symptoms and rerouting the outcome. Basically, it is the backbone of the medical field or healthcare in general. The shift from nursing to public health has reignited my passion for preventive care and has motivated me to engage in initiatives that promote health on a larger scale. Public health is a dynamic and rewarding career that allows all of us to make that meaningful contribution to society.鈥�
- Kayla Cameron, Current Student
鈥�The time that I spent in the Public Health Program opened up doors for me that I had no idea existed. Like most, substance use disorder has touched my life personally and I had no idea how to make an impact. I happened to end up in the Drugs and Violence course and the professor that taught the class changed my life. He may not know the hand that he played in the roles I hold now, but I thank him everyday for the impact that he has made.鈥�
- Gabiral Cathey, Class of 2020
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