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Public Health

Major

The Department of Public Health offers science-based undergraduate programs that prepare individuals to become public health professionals, health care managers, and researchers working to create a sustainable future. Our programs provide the foundation for the design, implementation, and evaluation of health policies and programs.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health at UMass Lowell offers two options:

  • Community Health/Health Promotion Option
  • Health Sciences Option

All undergraduate students in public health participate in a required capstone experience in the final semester of their degree. The capstone is 6 credits, and students spend 16 hours per week in a practicum setting that is associated with their career goals in Public Health. The following is a short list of practicum sites we regularly partner with to support students’ capstone experience: Lowell General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lowell Community Health Center, D’Youville Senior Care, Summit Eldercare, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Girls, Inc., Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Amesbury Senior Center, Step Up International, Lowell WIC Program, Lowell Transitional Living Center, Westford Department of Health, Lexington Department of Health, Tewksbury Police Department, Mold Health Department, and many more. 

Community Health/Health Promotion Option

Students selecting the option in Community Health/Health Promotion are enrolled in our “work ready” degree pathway in Public Health. The students are graduating with a set of transferable skills that are readily applied to entry-level Public Health positions in health promotion and disease prevention. Graduates will be prepared to provide and manage health promotion programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain good health. Graduates in this field will be expected to collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy behaviors, policies, and environments. Career opportunities for graduates exist in hospitals, community health centers, nonprofit organizations, local and state public health departments, as well as long-term care facilities and schools. Students graduating from this option are certainly eligible to begin graduate study, as well as enter the workforce.

Health Sciences Option

Students selecting the option in Health Sciences are enrolled in are more flexible degree pathway in Public Health. These students are focused on further academic training after graduating with their Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. Health Sciences students often have aspirations for careers in medicine, physical therapy, and other clinical fields. Students may also continue on to graduate work in Public Health, where they specialize in one of the many fields in public health, including Epidemiology, Healthcare Management, Population Health, Nutrition, etc.

View the complete Degree Pathways.

For more information, contact the Department of Public Health.