Public Health Major
Bring the power of prevention to people and communities around the globe.
Public health matters. And there’s good reason to consider this field — and UNI:
- The need. Public health is one of the fastest growing careers in the nation.
- Choice and flexibility. You have one major, two related minors and five certificates to choose from and you can combine areas to broaden your skills, knowledge and employability.
- Experience. Gain hands-on learning through a nine-credit-hour internship before graduation, with placements locally, across the United States or around the world.
With a public health degree, you’re on your way to becoming part of the solution as you learn about health promotion, disease prevention and health improvement strategies.
9 to 20%
Career Growth
Careers in public health are expected to continue to grow over the next decade.
One & Only
Regents' university offering the popular school health teaching endorsement for middle or high school teachers.
Interested in Majoring?
Contact us directly at:
Public Health
Phone: (319) 273-2828
Email: public-health@uni.edu
When first applying I was undecided. After exploring different majors, I soon found public health and it was actually the professors who helped me pursue this major. All the professors in this department have a true passion for this field and are always willing to help you in any way.
Why Public Health?
Health affects us all: our families, communities and future generations. By influencing policy, behavior and environment, public health professionals create long-lasting changes that lead to healthier communities. In this field, you will:
- Assess populations;
- Determine health issues;
- Implement strategic programs to address those needs; and,
- Evaluate the effectiveness of those programs long-term.
Complementary Degrees
It’s not unusual for students to combine a major in public health with a related bachelor's degree on campus, such as:
- Anthropology
- Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Studies
- Family Services
- Geography
- Gerontology
- Kinesiology & Exercise Science
- Sexuality, Women & Gender minor
An increasing number of students choose to go on and earn a master’s degree in community health, leading to administration and higher salaries.
Careers and Courses
Careers
With a degree in public health, you’ll have career options in a wide variety of settings, including county and state health departments, gyms, corporate wellness sites, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, clinics and community centers.
Here are some career paths you’ll be prepared for after you graduate with this degree:
- Corporate wellness
- Hospital and clinic programming
- Nutrition programming
- Peace Corps and Americorps
- Health coaching
- Emergency management and disaster relief
- Environmental and occupational health
- County and state health department programming
Courses
As a public health major, be prepared for a variety of different courses depending on which track you select. Here is a set of common courses that all public health majors will take.
- Introduction to Public Health
- Basic Nutrition
- Epidemiology of Human Diseases
- Internship Seminar
- Cultural Competency for the Helping Professions
- Environmental Health Science
- Senior Project
- Internship (3 or 6 hours)
Explore Our Certificates
Adding on a certificate can help you focus your studies and dive deeper into a subject that interests you.
Beyond the Classroom
Experiences to Learn and Grow
"It was a crazy month of preparing, but I would not take it back. I am better equipped to join the public health field and have grown closer to my classmates because of it." -- Lynn Kleyer, after she and two other senior UNI public health students took second place in the virtual National Case Study Competition in Health Education in 2021. Go Panthers!
Student Organization
The UNI Student Public Health Association (SPHA) is a service-oriented organization which aims to provide the general public with a greater understanding of public health. You’ll engage directly with community members in service activities in the community and gain hands-on experience in the field of public health. An active group, SPHA meets every other week.
Internships and More
You definitely get hands-on with this major. From class-related experiences like volunteering at a local food bank or conducting a poverty simulation to formal semester-long internships in communities and organizations locally — or across the globe.
Our interns have served in agencies like the YWCA, county health departments, organizations affiliated with the United Nations and beyond. Many take this opportunity to participate in medical missions in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Experiences to Learn and Grow
"It was a crazy month of preparing, but I would not take it back. I am better equipped to join the public health field and have grown closer to my classmates because of it." -- Lynn Kleyer, after she and two other senior UNI public health students took second place in the virtual National Case Study Competition in Health Education in 2021. Go Panthers!
Student Organization
The UNI Student Public Health Association (SPHA) is a service-oriented organization which aims to provide the general public with a greater understanding of public health. You’ll engage directly with community members in service activities in the community and gain hands-on experience in the field of public health. An active group, SPHA meets every other week.
Internships and More
You definitely get hands-on with this major. From class-related experiences like volunteering at a local food bank or conducting a poverty simulation to formal semester-long internships in communities and organizations locally — or across the globe.
Our interns have served in agencies like the YWCA, county health departments, organizations affiliated with the United Nations and beyond. Many take this opportunity to participate in medical missions in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Panther Success Stories
"I learned a lot about public health during the pandemic. There are scary realities you have to face when working in public health, but there are also things that make you hopeful. Seeing public health in action from people all across the world showed me the hard-working and brave people I will be working amongst soon."
Pryce Johnson, '21, BA