Public Health, B.S.

Student Handbook

A public health major at Saint Louis University is a perfect fit for service-oriented SLU students who like to ask the bigger questions about health, understand why health differs across populations and address health disparities and social justice on a community level in diverse local, national and global settings. Public health is a natural fit with the Jesuit mission as a service-oriented field.

Public health professionals address challenging health-related issues in today's world, such as: How can we use social media to track disease outbreaks? How do we address the growing burden of cancer in low- and middle-income countries? What policies and interventions are most effective for addressing the opioid crisis? How do we ensure safe drinking water in communities across the globe?

Saint Louis University's Bachelor of Science in Public Health is offered through the College for Public Health and Social Justice and is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Program Highlights

• Immediate impact. Public health students at Saint Louis University can immediately impact community health with a curriculum emphasizing hands-on learning, field exposure and social justice.
• Evidenced-based. As public health majors, SLU students use evidence-based approaches to addressing health issues and examine the roles of individual behavior, environment, biology, social structures and policy in determining health outcomes.
• Diverse opportunities. SLU's public health major opens the door to multiple career opportunities in various settings, including community organizations, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
• Employment outlook. Public health has faster-than-average job growth in a diverse workplace.
• Pre-medical studies. Pre-med students who major in public health at SLU gain a more robust understanding of how social, community, organizational, environmental and policy factors affect the health of their future patients.
• Medallion Program. Designed for first-year students in all CPHSJ majors, this program connects first-year students with each other, their major, and the college through social, academic enhancement and professional development events, as well as faculty mentoring.

Additional degree options for students majoring in public health at SLU include:

• An accelerated program in which students earn a B.S. in public health in four years and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) with one additional year of study. Students apply to this program during their fifth semester of study
• A pre-med track for students interested in going to medical school
• A track for students in the Medical Scholars Program
• An opportunity to earn a health management minor with three additional courses beyond major coursework
• Honors courses for students in SLU's Honors Program

Curriculum Overview

SLU's Bachelor of Science in Public Health curriculum contains 36 credits of major courses that include contemporary challenges in healthcare, global health, evidence-based practice, epidemiology, biostatistics, advocacy/policy and the biological basis of public health. Students also take six credits of public health electives drawn from courses offered across disciplines. In the senior capstone course, students complete a culminating project and portfolio to demonstrate their achievement of program learning outcomes.

The Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements and general education credits fulfill the remainder of the 120 credits required for graduation. Many students use their elective courses to pursue secondary majors, minors or pre-med requirements.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Field exposure is an integral part of SLU's undergraduate public health experience. Students can embody Saint Louis University’s Jesuit mission by using the knowledge they gain in the classroom to serve others through internships, volunteerism and other service opportunities. Field exposure, hands-on projects and engagement with public health practitioners provide valuable experience and help public health students connect with the St. Louis community. Students can also volunteer with health care organizations and agencies that serve underserved communities, assist faculty with research projects and apply to national internships and summer programs in public health.

Students are encouraged to participate in internships and summer research opportunities to enhance their learning experiences. Internships can be completed on a volunteer basis or for general elective academic credit. Public health students have interned at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procter & Gamble, Barnes Jewish Hospital, SSM Health–St. Louis, the Regional Health Commission, departments of health and more.

Students can also join various student organizations focused on public health issues to get to know other students and engage in additional service, networking and leadership opportunities.

Careers

A B.S. in public health prepares students for entry-level careers in a variety of settings, including departments of health, government agencies, nonprofit and community health organizations, hospitals, academic centers, advocacy organizations, the pharmaceutical industry and consulting agencies. It is also excellent preparation for graduate school.

Examples of career options in public health include:

• Working with a community organization or health department to implement and evaluate community health interventions about issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer
• Doing infection-prevention work in hospitals and other health care settings
• Conducting surveillance of chronic and infectious diseases for local, regional or state health departments
• Analyzing and developing health policy for a governmental agency
• Conducting public health research in an academic setting
• Monitoring clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry
• Analyzing health outcomes for insurance companies
• Collaborating with school districts to bring opportunities for physical activity into elementary and high schools
• Designing public health media campaigns, such as those to encourage wearing a seat belt or discourage tobacco use
• Researching the effect of air pollution on a population’s health and advocating for policy change
• Implementing programs aimed at violence prevention or women’s empowerment
• Studying the barriers to healthy eating at both the personal and societal levels
• Working for a nongovernmental organization that designs clean water and sanitation systems in developing countries

Students also have the option to complete fellowships, programs or a year of service following graduation. Graduates have completed fellowships with the Peace Corps, the United Nations, Fulbright, the World Health Organization and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Admission Requirements

Begin Your Application

Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. 

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED or HiSET.

Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• All academic records must include an English translation. An official course-by-course transcript evaluation may be required and accepted.

Tuition 

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). To see our most recent accreditation documentation, please visit the College for Public Health and Social Justice website.

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate foundational knowledge of public health in relation to human cultures, history, science and policy.
2. Graduates will be able to identify health characteristics, determinants and needs across diverse populations.
3. Graduates will be able to recognize ways to implement evidence-based approaches to public health issues in communities.
4. Graduates will be able to communicate public health issues with an emphasis on social justice and the core disciplines of public health.

Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all B.S. in Public Health major courses and a minimum grade of C- in all major pre-requisite courses.

Continuation Standards

• Cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.00
• Students who wish to apply for the accelerated B.S./M.P.H. program must meet additional requirements as outlined in the CPHSJ Undergraduate Public Health Student Handbook.

Approved Public Health Elective Courses

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Program Notes

Students who wish to earn a minor in health management with three extra courses beyond the public health major should choose HMP courses for their public health elective coursework.

Pre-medical students must consult with their academic advisor and with SLU's Office of Pre-Health and Pre-Law Studies to ensure the proper pre-medical course registrations.

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution. 

• Public Health, B.S. (STLCC 2+SLU)

Apply for Admission

For additional questions about undergraduate admission, please contact:
Katie Linnenbrink
Administrative assistant
Wool Center, Suite 206
314-977-3934
cphsj_ug@slu.edu