Public Health major
Public Health: courses, careers, and where to study
Public Health studies how to prevent disease and protect population health, suiting students who want to improve community well-being through data, policy, and programs rather than treating patients.
A Public Health major covers epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy and management, and the social and behavioral determinants of health. Coursework pairs foundational sciences (biology, anatomy, microbiology) with population-level methods, study design, survey research, data analysis, program planning, and evaluation. Most undergraduate programs award a BS or BA in Public Health and include a practicum or internship with a health department, hospital, nonprofit, or community organization.
Graduates work in disease surveillance, health education, program coordination, community outreach, and policy analysis across local and state health departments, hospitals, nonprofits, and global-health organizations. Many roles, including epidemiology and other analytical positions, expect a Master of Public Health (MPH); the bachelor's is a common stepping stone into that graduate path.
Public Health is also a growing field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of epidemiologists will grow about 16.2% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Public Health maps to CIP 51.2201, Public Health, General, within the HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS family. The official definition:
A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and evaluate public health care services; to function as public health professionals in public agencies, the private sector, and other settings; and to provide leadership in the field of public health. Includes instruction in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health principles, preventive medicine, health policy and regulations, health care services and related administrative functions, public health law enforcement, health economics and budgeting, public communications, and professional standards and ethics.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Epidemiology: study design, disease surveillance, and outbreak investigation
- Biostatistics and analysis of population health data
- Environmental and occupational health (air, water, food safety, exposure)
- Health behavior and the social determinants of health
- Health policy, systems, and management
- Program planning, implementation, and evaluation
- Global and community health practice
- Practicum or internship with a health department, hospital, or nonprofit
Typical careers
- Epidemiologist
- Health Educator
- Public Health Analyst
- Community Health Worker
- Environmental Health Specialist
- Public Health Program Coordinator
Typical salary range: Varies by role; BLS reports a 2024 median of $83,980 for epidemiologistsRanges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Public Health. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Health Education Specialists
- Community Health Workers
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.
Before you commit to a Public Health major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Public Health program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Public Health department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Public Health program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Public Health programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Related majors
Health Sciences
Health Sciences is a broad pre-professional major for students preparing for medical, dental, PA, PT, or pharmacy school, combining biology, chemistry, and patient-care exposure.
Healthcare Administration
Healthcare Administration prepares graduates to manage the business side of hospitals, clinics, and health systems, combining health-policy knowledge with management, finance, and operations.
Biology
Biology is the foundational pre-health major, covering molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels of living systems.
Sociology
Sociology studies social institutions, group behavior, inequality, and culture, preparing graduates for research, policy, social services, and graduate school in law or social work.
Public Administration
Public Administration trains graduates for careers in government, nonprofits, and public-private partnerships, combining policy analysis with management practice.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Public Health degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Community & Social Service careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Public Health degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Public Health path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.