Public Health

Overview

Do you want to make a difference? Our graduates directly enter into careers that address health disparities, illness, injuries and premature deaths. Others continue their education in graduate and professional programs including public health, epidemiology, healthcare administration, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.

Want to connect with us on social media and learn more about our program? Search SIUEpublichealth on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @siue.publichealth.

SIUE's public health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Learn more.

Why public health?

Unlike healthcare practitioners who treat diseases and injuries one individual at a time, in public health we:

Promote healthy behaviors, social and physical environments
Conduct health promotion and education campaigns
Improve health policies
Monitor and prevent the spread of diseases
Use data to improve the health of communities

In essence, public health focuses on the four "Ps":

Prevention
Promotion
Protection
Population health

Want to learn more about public health? Watch this short video.

What can I do with a degree in public health?

Lots! There is a high demand and sometimes our students work in public health even while they are completing their degree (e.g. community health worker, patient navigator). Better than telling you what you can do with the degree, here are jobs that our most recent alums are doing within a year following graduation.

Recent graduates have been hired into these positions:

Community Education Instructor
Community Health Specialist
Consumer Safety Inspector
Emergency Med Clerkship Coord
Environmental Health Specialist I
Health Educator
Health Navigator
Helpline Agent
OB-GYN Researcher
Occupational Health and
Safety Specialist
Patient Access Representative
Patient Registration Specialist
Public Health Administrator II
Research Associate

Recent graduates have been hired by these organizations and businesses:

Alzheimer’s Association
Amazon
BJC
Carle Hospital
Chestnut Health Systems
Chicago Department of
Public Health
Lawrence County
Health Department
North Shore University
Health Systems
Peoria City/County
Health Department
Planned Parenthood
Saint Louis University
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
SIU School of Medicine
USDA
Washington University School
of Medicine

The Bachelor of Science in public health (BSPH) is a desirable foundation for further graduate or professional programs, including:

Nursing
Epidemiology
Healthcare Management and Administration
Medicine
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Master of Public Health at SIUE

Public Health Career Videos

Hands-on Learning

Why wait to get experience? Starting with service-learning opportunities in their first class and ending with an internship, our students have multiple opportunities to work in the field of public health prior to graduation.

Internships

Public health students have the opportunity to merge their academic knowledge with practical professional experience while earning academic credit. Students explore and clarify professional goals, acquire new skills and develop professional networks within their chosen area. Recent internships include the Illinois Public Health Association; Call for Help; SIU School of Medicine; and the St. Louis Area Food Bank.

Service-Learning and Community Health Projects

Beginning with the first class for our majors, public health students connect with area agencies and organizations to see public health in action.

All seniors plan a public health program for a community as their senior project. Examples of previous projects include:

Hypertension education, Casa de Salud, St. Louis
COVID vaccine hesitancy, East St. Louis
African-American infant and maternal mortality, multiple communities
Vicarious trauma, Call for Help, Inc.

Global Experiences

The program offers faculty-led travel study courses that examine various aspects of public health, life, culture, and the geopolitical climate in other countries or culturally diverse areas. Potential areas of examination and service could include:

Vector-borne illnesses
Environmental sustainability
Environmental education and programming
Disaster response and relief
Community development
Health and wellness education

All international opportunities are offered for credit and some may be completed as internships.

Learn more about travel study opportunities on the Department of Applied Health website.

Student Groups and Professional Organizations

Eta Sigma Gamma

Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG) is the national health education honorary society which consists of more than 80 chapters at different colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. The goals of EGS include:

Supporting the planning, implementation and evaluation of health education programs and resources
Stimulating and disseminating scientific research
Recognizing academic achievement
Supporting health education advocacy initiatives
Promoting professional standards and ethics

Membership is open to public health majors or minors who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or above.

SIUE Gamma Delta Chapter of ESG

Membership requirements of SIUE's Gamma Delta chapter of ESG:

Pay an initiation fee of $50
Have a minimum GPA of 2.7
Attend chapter meetings
Participate in a chapter fundraiser
Participate in at least 15 service hours each semester or 30 hours per year
- Past events include:
  - World AIDS Day
  - SIUE Health Brigade Day
  - Thanksgiving canned food drive
  - Condom distribution event at local Edwardsville bars
  - Local and university wellness fairs