Public Health

Overview

Professor: Joly; Associate Professor: Greenfield (Chair); Associate Research Professor: Ahrens, Huston, Jonk; Assistant Research Professor: Paulu; Practice Faculty: Tupper; Emeriti: Bolda, Coburn; Administrative Specialist: Liotard

Public health is defined as the science of protecting and improving the health and well-being of diverse populations. Public health draws upon theory and evidence from multiple disciplines to identify the causes of poor health and address those causes through organized community efforts. It includes a strong emphasis on preventing illness, addressing health disparities, and using health data. Studying public health will provide you with an understanding of the individual, social, organizational, and structural determinants of health, and give you tools to intervene at different system levels to help people and communities become healthier.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) 

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) introduces students to the history and core concepts of public health and its role in U.S. and international health systems. Students will gain knowledge of public health theory and approaches, as well as the skills necessary to apply this knowledge in entry-level professional public health roles across Maine. Students also gain exposure to public health projects within their communities that integrate their learning and provide valuable experience in public health planning and program delivery.

The BS in public health will prepare you for early career, entry-level positions at local health departments, businesses, social service agencies, health systems, nonprofit community organizations, hospitals and more. The degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate programs in multiple fields, including USM’s Master of Public Health (MPH), other graduate health training programs, public policy, and law.

Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Master of Public Health

The Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Master of Public Health is available for highly motivated undergraduate students who are already looking ahead to graduate school. This program allows students to begin graduate study while completing their bachelor’s degree. Courses taken in this program count for both undergraduate and graduate credit at USM. The Accelerated Graduate Pathway is available to any students, in any major. However, enrollment in the Accelerated Graduate Pathway does not guarantee admission to the Master of Public Health program, which students apply to separately near the end of their undergraduate studies. 

The Public Health Program at USM was accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health in 2022, for the period 2022 through 2029.

Programs

• Public Health, B.S.P.H.