California State University Fresno

Public Health, B.S

The Bachelor of Science in Health Science and the Master of Public Health (MPH) are designed to prepare students for careers with official and voluntary health agencies at the federal, state, or local levels of government as well as the private sector. The Master of Public Health degree is designed for individuals seeking a professional degree in public health. This degree is recognized throughout the world and is fully accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH). A minor in Health Science is also offered by the department.

Pre-Health Major

The College of Health and Human Services Pre-Health Program provides support to students exploring careers in the health and human services professions with academic advising and career exploration. The Pre-Health Program allows students interested in:  Communicative Sciences - Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology options, Health Science - Community Health, Kinesiology - Exercise Science, Nursing, and Social Work to explore these majors and career pathways. The Pre-Health Program is a three-semester program that will blend in all lower-division general education. Students in the Pre-Health Program will enroll in HHS 18: Career Pathways in Health and Human Services in their first semester and HHS 100T: Career Exploration in Health and Human Services in their second semester to help in the exploration process. During the second semester an academic counselor will work with students to identify a major appropriate to their career path and then in the beginning of their third semester they will apply to the major of their interest.

Bachelor of Science Degree

The Department offers curricula based on principles of public health practices leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science with options in:

Community Health Option is designed to prepare individuals to enter the workforce as competent health educators in the private and public arenas.  Students in this option are encouraged to seek the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification upon graduation.
Environmental/Occupational Health and Safety Option is designed to prepare individuals as health professionals responsible for protecting the public’s health from environmental hazards.  This degree program provides a balanced approach between the theoretical concepts and applied principles of environmental health, occupational health, and safety.  The curriculum builds on a scientific base (biology, chemistry, math, and physics) and includes core courses in Public Health, foundation courses in environmental and occupational health, and elective courses that allow for specialization, such as food protection, hazardous waste management, and water and wastewater. 
Health Administration Option provides a broad-based program to prepare students for administrative positions within the health care system.  The curriculum is designed with an emphasis on exposing students to the principles of health services administration and the application of these principles.  Health administration students receive extensive exposure to health economics, finance, accounting, and management.  The emphasis in these courses is to develop “hands-on” skills.