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UMass Lowell will resume on-campus instruction, research and campus life for Fall 2020. View the plan for more info.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Graduates of the BS Program in Public Health are expected to advance the field of public health in the region and nationwide. Public health jobs exist in private industry, organizations, local communities, and state and national settings. We offer the Public Health BS in two options -- Community Health/Health Promotion and Health Sciences. See more details below.

Students will also attain a foundation of knowledge that is necessary to pursue graduate studies in public health and health sciences.

If you are a current junior or senior Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences student, check out our Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Degree Program. If you are a UMass Lowell student, you could minor in public health.

  • Video by Alfonso Velasquez
    The opioid epidemic is all over the news with people dying daily of heroin overdoses. Daniel Howell’s internship with the Lowell Health Department gave him the opportunity to educate the public about opioid prevention and treatment. He learned he’s well-prepared for his career.
  • A high school diploma.
  • Overall minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Completion of high school program that focuses on college prep courses including English, biology, and chemistry.  It is strongly recommended that incoming freshman take math through pre-calculus or calculus and complete high school physics.
  • Minimum combined SAT scores of 1,000 (mathematics and verbal).
  • Students must be able to meet the technical standards of the college and the program so that they can actively participate in all phases of class, practicum and laboratory work, with or without reasonable accommodations.

The BS Program in Public Health is a four-year 120-credit degree program. In addition to foundation and core public health courses, students will choose one of two options:

  • Community Health / Health Promotion
  • Health Sciences

Visit the UMass Lowell Academic Catalog for more course information.

 Community Health / Health Promotion

Students will be involved in service learning and community health practicum experiences and take courses to increase skills in communication and teaching related to health promotion and prevention in community settings. This option will prepare students for careers as community health educators in a variety of settings including community health centers, hospitals, long term care facilities, corporate wellness, and nonprofit organizations.

 Health Sciences

This option will provide a strong emphasis on health sciences with flexibility in selecting health science courses and electives under academic advisor guidance. Sufficient elective credits are included in health science coursework to allow students the opportunity to select science courses in an area of their interest within a public health framework. This option not only prepares students to work in the field of public health, but could also be used as a pathway to graduate degrees in various areas of health sciences such as direct entry graduate nursing programs, occupational therapy, and post-graduate professional health programs, including medical school.

Learning Outcomes

Visit the Academic Catalog for the Learning Outcomes for Public Health.

Why Study Public Health?

UMass Lowell students Jimmy Le and Sabrina Lozandieu pose for a picture at an internship fair.

Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences students, check out the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Degree Program.

Accelerated BS to MS Program

uml-at-girls-inc

All UMass Lowell students can take advantage of the Public Health minor.

Public Health Minor

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Faculty in the Department of Public Health have a wide range of research interests including social epidemiology, community education, and environmental health and safety.

Meet Our Faculty

Meet Our Students

  • Cassie Harding
    Cassie Harding
    Public Health

    Cassie Harding’s internship experiences as a public health student inspired her to tackle the big health and wellness challenges facing people in the cities and towns around her.

  • Aaron Wilson
    Aaron Wilson
    Public Health

    Aaron Wilson chose UMass Lowell because of the strength of the public health program. Once he transferred, he immersed himself in campus life, getting involved in everything from clubs to research as a laboratory assistant at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute.

  • Daniel Howell
    Daniel Howell
    Public Health

    When Daniel Howell interned at the City of Lowell Health Department, he helped run a forum addressing opioid abuse.

  • Ashley Ventrillo
    Ashley Ventrillo
    Public Health

    Majoring in Public Health helped Ashley Ventrillo turn her passion for women's rights into a career.

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