Public Health

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Explore the dynamic field of Public Health—where science meets community impact. Public health professionals work to protect and improve the health of individuals and communities through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, prevention of diseases and education about injury prevention. At WSU Vancouver, the Public Health program equips you with the knowledge and skills to address behavioral health concerns. Dive into addiction science and understand the interplay of physical and mental health, chronic health conditions and behavioral patterns.

With access to renowned faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and impactful research opportunities, WSU Vancouver’s Public Health program is your gateway to a rewarding career making a meaningful difference.

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Advising
Resources

Public Health Academics

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of individuals and their communities. The goals are to promote and support healthy lifestyles, research disease, educate about injury prevention, and detect, prevent and respond to the threat of infectious diseases. The field ranges widely, embracing everything from genetics to alcohol and substance abuse to gun violence and women’s health. WSU Vancouver is part of a three-campus public health program, with community and behavioral health as specializations on the Vancouver and Spokane campuses, and infectious disease on the Pullman campus.
Learn to take a One Health approach—one that recognizes how people, animals, plants and the environment are connected. Examine the social and environmental determinants of health for insight into complex public health issues and health disparities. Studies include epidemiology, biostatistics, health communication, health assessment and program administration, health systems, and personal and community engagement. After completing core courses, you may choose one of two options: The behavioral health option, with its emphasis on addiction science, leverages expertise at WSU Spokane and WSU Vancouver. Students in the infectious disease option in Pullman study the role of genetics, microbiology and immunology on infectious disease testing, vaccinology/vaccine development and bioinformatics.
  1. Ability to analyze public health data and make evidence-based and ethical decisions
  2. Effective oral and written communication
  3. Ability to understand cultural contexts, including factors that influence public health-related practices, beliefs and behaviors within diverse communities
Human or veterinary health care worker, health educator, research scientist, biostatistician, behavioral health specialist, environmental health consultant, health policy expert, health care administrator, epidemiologist, substance abuse expert, emergency preparedness planner