Public Health Major

Bachelor of Science Curriculum

Core Curriculum

Public health students must complete the core curriculum that is required of all Fairfield undergraduates, with specific courses required to meet major and core curricular requirements.

Natural and Social Sciences

Students take two semesters of life science courses (Biology and/or Chemistry). Because communication and social sciences form an important part of the foundation for Public Health practice, students also take specific courses in these areas.

Public Health Courses

Classroom instruction in Public health theory begins in the first year and continues throughout the undergraduate program. Public Health courses include theoretical and field requirements. To insure that students obtain the breadth and depth of field experiences needed, the school has associations with a diverse range of health facilities, organizations, and public health departments. Students provide their own transportation to internship experiences, and all costs associated with these placements. Travel, parking, background checks, and health and professional requirements, are the responsibility of the student.

Electives

Free electives in the curriculum provide students with an opportunity to explore topics of interest including the liberal arts and sciences, advanced public health topics, and minor options.

Disability Statement

Consistent with its mission and philosophy, Fairfield University Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies does not discriminate on the basis of disability. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the University will assist students in making reasonable accommodations that allow an otherwise qualified student with a disability to meet essential eligibility requirements in order to participate in its programs. Candidates for the Public Health program must be able to meet minimum standards for internship placement, with or without reasonable accommodations. To receive accommodations on the basis of disability, the student must self-identify, provide documentation of the disability and request accommodations from the Office of Accessibility. The decision regarding appropriate accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. An accommodation will not be made in those situations where the accommodation itself would fundamentally alter the nature of the program, cause hardship on the school, or jeopardize the health or safety of others. For further information refer to the Fairfield University website for “Policies for Students with Disabilities and Temporary Impairments.”

Eligibility Requirements

The curricula leading to a degree in Public Health from Fairfield University requires students to possess essential non-academic skills and capabilities necessary for professional practice. It is within the sole determination of Fairfield University and the Egan School to assess and conclude whether a student has these skills and capabilities. Eligibility requirements for participation and completion of the Public Health program shall include, but are not limited to, the following six capabilities:

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking ability sufficient for professional judgement; student must be able to examine, interpret, analyze, and synthesize material for problem solving and evaluation of professional situations and their own performance.

Interpersonal and Communication

Relationship and communication abilities appropriate for interacting sensitively with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of professional, social, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. Ability to accurately and clearly communicate appropriate information for lay and professional audiences, both orally and in writing.

Sensory Abilities

Ability to observe, identify, and obtain information in order to assess, plan, provide and evaluate public health situations and interventions; student must possess adequate sensory abilities or be able to demonstrate appropriate and safe compensation for deficits.

Motor Skills and Mobility

Sufficient mobility, including the gross and fine motor skills needed to function in professional public health environments.

Emotional Stability

Emotional stability sufficient to function within rapidly changing and often stressful professional environments; the ability to monitor and identify one's own and others' emotions, and use the information to guide thinking and actions.

  • Integrity needed to make ethical decisions and honor the professional code of Public Health.
  • Ability to adjust and respond appropriately to stressful situations in the classroom or internship setting.
  • Ability to develop mature relationships with the other professionals and modify behavior in response to constructive feedback.
  • Respect for diversity as well as regard and respect for others.
  • Knowledge about and commitment to the values and ethics of the profession.
  • Self-awareness and insight with sufficient capacity for self-evaluation and ability to take part in the supervisory process.

Physical Health and Abilities

Physical health and stamina sufficient to function in public health environments.

  • Sufficient energy and ability to manage public health responsibilities in a variety of settings for a full internship day.
  • Physical health necessary to interact with those who may be immunocompromised, incapacitated, and/or otherwise vulnerable populations.

Standards for Admission and Progression in the Public Health Curriculum

Students are required to successfully complete all core, required courses and internship experiences. By accepting admission in the Egan School, the student understands the program eligibility and progression requirements. Public Health students must follow all University educational policies and general regulations including those regarding academic progress.

Prerequisites

The science and math courses are sequential and are prerequisites to designated Public Health courses. Strong foundational knowledge in the science and math courses is critical to success in the Public Health program. Thus, students may not progress to the next semester with an incomplete in prerequisite courses. Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Public Health courses must be completed successfully with a minimum grade of C (73) for students to progress to the next semester in the course sequence for the Public Health major. The final grade for CHEM 1184 is calculated based from grades for both the lab and theory portion.

Students unable to complete these courses successfully are expected to repeat coursework in the next semester or the summer session immediately following or they will be dismissed from the Egan School. Students who do not obtain a grade of C or better in a prerequisite course (including a repeated course) may repeat the course once. A grade of less than C in three or more prerequisite courses will result in dismissal from the Egan School.

Public Health Courses

Public Health courses are sequential, beginning with foundational courses and progressing to increasing levels of complexity and challenge throughout the program. As students move through the curriculum, new content is integrated and builds upon previously learned material. Thus, all students must earn the minimum grade of C (73) in all Public health courses to progress to the next semester and continue in the program.

Further, students may not progress to the next semester with an incomplete in any Public Health course. Students who do not obtain a grade of C or better in a Public Health course may repeat the course once. A grade of less than C in two Public health courses (including a repeated course) will result in dismissal from the Egan School. The internship component of the Public Health program is graded on a pass/fail basis. Students must pass the theory component. Students who fail to earn the minimum grade in either component of a course must repeat the entire course.

Health and Professional Requirements

Some public health internship agencies and community engaged learning partners may require documentation of professional and health information. This may include: a criminal background check, drug screening, physical examination, and/or proof of immunization or immunity for selected infectious diseases. All Public Health students are expected to comply with all requirements of their internship/experiential learning agencies. Noncompliance with agency requirements (e.g. vaccination mandates) may result in the student being unable to complete the program requirements for graduation. All costs associated with these requirements including transportation to and from internships are the responsibility of the student. A criminal, drug, or immunization history that prevents a student from entering an internship or experiential learning course may also prevent the student from progressing in the program. Fairfield University and the Egan School have no obligation to refund tuition or otherwise accommodate students in the event that a criminal, drug, or immunization history renders the student ineligible to complete required courses or internships.

Entry into Public Health major after Matriculation

Fairfield University students enrolled in a different major may change their major to Public Health if they have completed at least 12 credits and have earned a minimum GPA of 2.50.

Seamless Progression to Graduate Study

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health will have some requirements of the online Master of Public Health (MPH) program waived and may complete the Master's degree in 15 months or less.  The MPH prepares students for a wide range of careers in public health, ensuring that they develop a broad base of knowledge and skills that can be applied to a variety of settings. The curriculum includes intermediate- and advanced-level coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, program planning and evaluation, and health policy. Like the undergraduate program, the MPH also maintains an emphasis on social justice and interdisciplinary education. 

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health are provided with the opportunity for advanced placement in the Health Track of Fairfield's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. In as little as sixteen months, students can complete an MPA degree program designed to examine pressing social, ethical, and professional health issues, while developing strong leadership abilities for career advancement. Pursuing advanced coursework in administration and management, students will learn theory, research, and application for future roles in local, state, and federal healthcare organizations. Students are also able to work with dedicated faculty from across the University with a wide range of healthcare backgrounds to tailor their curriculum to their personal, professional, and academic goals.

The major in Public Health includes required courses in epidemiology and public health, environmental studies, communication, applied ethics, biostatistics, management, and psychology. These are complemented by related electives and foundational courses in biology and chemistry. In addition, the major requires a four credit public health field internship that may be done locally, elsewhere in the U.S., or in the setting of a developing country.

For a major in Public Health, students will complete the following:

AETH 2285Ethics of Health Care3
BIOL 1076Environmental Science3
Choose one life science sequence from the following:6
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
General Biology I
and General Biology II
Any two courses from:
Fundamentals of Biology I
Fundamentals of Biology II
Human Biology: Form and Function
General Chemistry for Health Science
General Chemistry I
Choose one health communication course from the following:3
Health Communication
Communication in Healthcare Organizations
Health Risk Communication
Health Communication for Healthcare Professionals
HLST 3310Global Health: A Social Justice Perspective3
MATH 1016Concepts of Calculus3
MATH 1017Elementary Probability and Statistics3
NURS 1112Healthcare Delivery Systems3
NURS 3310Foundations of Research for Evidence Based Practice3
PSYC 1010General Psychology3
PUBH 1101Public Health and Social Justice3
PUBH 1105Biological Foundations of Public Health3
PUBH 2201Public Health, Disease, and Injury3
PUBH 2216Introductory Principles of Epidemiology3
PUBH 2217Biostatistics for Health Research3
PUBH 3303Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation3
PUBH 3980Public Health Internship4
PUBH 4301Leadership for Interdisciplinary Health Professionals3
PUBH 4305Public Health Seminar3
PUBH 4999Public Health Capstone3
Select three Public Health electives from the list below9
Total Credits73

Public Health Electives

AETH 2262Ethics and the Community3
AETH 2283Environmental Justice3
AETH 2284Environmental Ethics3
AETH 2295Ethics in Law and Society3
ANTH 1100Introduction to Four-Field Anthropology3
ANTH 1210Biomedical Anthropology3
ANTH 1510Anthropology of Food3
ANTH 3700Grant Writing for the Social Sciences3
ANTH 3710Theory and Practice in Anthropology3
BIOL 1070Science, Technology, and Society3
BIOL 1073Contemporary Nutrition: Food for Thought3
BIOL 2251Human Nutrition3
COMM 1101Argument and Advocacy3
COMM 2201Persuasion3
COMM 2220Introduction to Organizational Communication3
COMM 2240Intercultural Communication3
COMM 2242Alcohol, Addiction, and Culture3
COMM 3245Identities, Discourse, and Social Change3
COMM 3322Leadership Communication3
COMM 3325Organizational Communication and Advertising3
COMM 3336Media Infrastructures3
ECON 2140Health Economics3
ECON 3244Behavioral Economics3
ECON 3278Economic Statistics3
ECON 4380Econometrics3
EDUC 3241Educational Psychology3
ENGL 1839Grant and Proposal Writing3
ENGL 3201Persuasive Writing3
HIST 2202Health and Healing in America, 1650-1980: History of Western Medicine3
HIST 2270History of Global Humanitarian Action3
LCST 3301Justice and the Developing World3
MGMT 4370Managing Non-Profit Organizations3
MKTG 1101Principles of Marketing3
POLI 2109American Public Policy3
PSYC 2120Adult Development and Aging3
INTL 1050People, Places, and Global Issues3
INTL 2150International Operations of Non-Profits3
INTL 2481International Human Rights3
PSYC 2310Psychopathology and Clinical Science3
PSYC 2210Social Psychology3
PSYC 2330Gender and Mental Health3
PSYC 2740Drugs, Brain and Behavior3
PUBH 2205Fundamentals of Nutrition3
PUBH 2250Community Nutrition3
SOCI 2110Race, Cities, and Poverty3
SOCI 3600Methods of Research Design4
SOCI 3610Statistics: Social and Political Data Analysis4
1

only to be taken by students in Pre-Health Professions program

The plan of study below presents a typical four year schedule of courses in the program.

Beginning with the Class of 2023, all undergraduate students will be required to complete the Magis Core Curriculum, which is woven into this plan. Please refer to the Curricula section of this undergraduate catalog for detailed explanation of the Magis Core.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGL 1001 Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition 3
MATH 1016 Concepts of Calculus 3
PUBH 1101 Public Health and Social Justice 3
HIST or PHIL or RLST Orientation Tier 3
Language Orientation Tier 3
 Credits15
Spring
MATH 1017 Elementary Probability and Statistics 3
PUBH 2201 Public Health, Disease, and Injury 3
PUBH 1105 Biological Foundations of Public Health 3
HIST or PHIL or RLST Orientation Tier 3
Free Elective 2 3
 Credits15
Second Year
Fall
NURS 1112 Healthcare Delivery Systems 3
PSYC 1010 General Psychology 3
PUBH 2216 Introductory Principles of Epidemiology 3
HIST or PHIL or RLST Exploration Tier 3
Life Science Course 1 3
 Credits15
Spring
NURS 3310 Foundations of Research for Evidence Based Practice 3
PUBH 2217 Biostatistics for Health Research 3
Behavioral and Social Science Exploration Tier 3
HIST or PHIL or RLST Exploration Tier 3
Life Science Course 1 3
 Credits15
Third Year
Fall
AETH 2285 Ethics of Health Care 3
BIOL 1076 Environmental Science 3
PUBH 3303 Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation 3
Visual and Performing Arts Exploration Tier 3
Free Elective 2 3
 Credits15
Spring
HLST 3201 Health Communication for Healthcare Professionals 3
HLST 3310 Global Health: A Social Justice Perspective 3
Literature Exploration Tier 3
Free Elective 2 3
Free Elective 3
 Credits15
Fourth Year
Fall
PUBH 4305 Public Health Seminar 3
HLST or PHIL or RLST Expoloration Tier 3
Free Elective 2 3
Free Elective 3
 Credits12
Spring
PUBH 3980 Public Health Internship 4
PUBH 4301 Leadership for Interdisciplinary Health Professionals 3
PUBH 4999 Public Health Capstone 3
Free Elective 2 3
Free Elective 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits118
1

Students will complete one Life Science sequence from the following:
BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1108  or  BIOL 1171 and BIOL 1172

or 2 courses from the following:
BIOL 1015, BIOL 1016, BIOL 1018, CHEM 1184 OR CHEM 1171

2

At least three electives must be Public Health Electives.