Hood blooms

Public Health (B.A.)

Undergraduate
  • Major

About this Program

With a degree in public health, you’ll be ready to help people make sense of conflicting societal messages about how best to eat, live and work, or to help governments and communities adopt better public health policies.

Program Overview

Are you concerned about the lack of safe water, emerging infectious diseases or the use of prescription drugs? Are you interested in healthcare legislation or want to take a role in facing the  health challenges facing undeveloped nations? 

A bachelor’s degree in public health offers an option in the health professions that allows you to address professional and global challenges. Our program provides an option for those with an interest in healthcare  that is not nursing or direct, hands-on care. You will gain the skills to become an entry-level professional in sectors including government, nonprofit consultation, advocacy organizations and more.

Public health encompasses science, math, human behavior, psychology, communication, sociology—all of which are part of a Hood education. This highly interdisciplinary program epitomizes Hood’s mission of providing students with a compressive liberal arts education integrated with professional offerings.

The public health degree’s core curriculum includes an array of specialized coursework, all of which is purposefully aligned to achieve specific academic competencies of the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting agency for standalone academic programs in public health. As part of the public health core curriculum, you will complete a year-long applied learning experience and may use elective credits to pursue a related course of study (minor or certificate).

An understanding of public health is a critical component of good citizenship and a prerequisite for taking responsibility for building healthy societies. It serves as a vehicle for the development of written and oral communication skills, critical and creative thinking, quantitative and information literacy, and teamwork and problem solving. It incorporates civic knowledge and engagement—both local and global intercultural competence, and ethical reasoning and action, while forming the foundation for lifelong learning.

Learn more about the Public Health Program.

Degrees Offered

  • BA

Department Offering

Career Outlook

The healthcare industry is projected to add more jobs than any other industry through 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Research Opportunities

Participate in the Summer Research Institute to collaborate on unique projects with our faculty.

Internships

Gain hands-on experience with our local partners including Frederick Health, the Frederick County Health Department and more.

Program Contact

Assistant Professor and Public Health Program Director

Phone
301-696-3218

Assistant Professor and Clinical Field Director

Phone
301-696-3550
Sara Swanson, Ashley Cabrera, Olga Dunlap and Julee Wells

The Future of Public Health

First Graduating Cohort from Public Health Program Undergraduate Student

Sara Swanson, Ashley Cabrera, Olga Dunlap and Julee Wells (pictured left to right) are the first students to graduate from the public health B.A. program at Hood College.

  • Academics
  • Experiential Learning
  • Student Engagement
  • Health Sciences
  • Community Involvement