Improve lives and build healthy communities. Discuss disease prevention, access to care, and environmental health through our public health degree program.
Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts
Major, Minor
124
4 Years
Salem
Sarah Jenner BA '25 took her public health education across the globe, spending a summer providing care in Ghana. Willamette's Career Development team and the Cahill Internship Fund helped her secure and fund the opportunity.
The internship in Ghana gave Sarah hands-on experience in different sectors of the medical field -- including a family planning clinic, physical therapy ward, ER, and malnutrition ward. This opportunity allowed her to see the importance of public health and have a real impact on people's lives.
Curious where this major can take you? These are the real internships, graduate opportunities, and careers our Public Health students have gone on to.
Our alumni have pursued graduate degrees and careers in public health. They've worked on the front lines during COVID-19 for the CDC and they've designed custom anesthetics for surgery patients. Our graduates are making a difference and helping the community around them.
Forming the future of policy.
Adrian Uphoff ’19 earned dual Master’s degrees in Public Health and Public Policy from the University of Minnesota, led healthcare legislation in the Oregon Senate, and now supports Minnesota physicians in developing policy and advocacy strategies on population health and healthcare.
Willamette grad earns fellowship to participate in biomedical summer programs.
Montana Kekaimalu Hunter ’21 earned a Master of Science in Epidemiology from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They received fellowships and grants to complete biomedical summer programs at NYU Langone and Grossman School of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program and the Mayo Clinic School of Biomedical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Montana will begin medical school in Fall 2025.
Forecasting Population Health.
Nathan Garcia-Diaz ’23, a Graduate Research Fellow at Brown University School of Public Health, is completing an MPH using spatial modeling and machine learning to study socio-environmental factors in Rhode Island, with plans to pursue a CDC Applied Epidemiology Fellowship or a PhD in epidemiology.
Our faculty have published books, won awards, and applied their research to benefit communities. You'll have the ability to work closely with them through research projects and small class sizes. Faculty can also advise students interested in the Peace Corps or health professions careers.
Dr. Sammy Basu specializes in both history and public health. Through his teaching on intellectual thought and public health ethics, he helps students critically engage with complex historical and contemporary issues.
Dr. Nicole Iroz-Elardo focuses on planning healthier, equitable communities. She prepares students by leveraging expertise in social and environmental determinants of health, as well as her extensive experience in urban planning and public health.
Dr. Joyce Millen is an expert in Medical/Health Anthropology and African Studies. She is committed to mentoring students as they conduct research, and pursue careers in international migration, public health, and global health.
Address complex modern challenges that affect us all. Students can collaborate with nearby communities and partners to investigate topics like vaccine coverage and food security. By learning concepts, theories, and ethics, students are prepared to build effective and well-planned public health programs.
Explore the roles of ethics, advocacy, and leadership in public health with case studies and evidence-based ethical deliberation. Open to all students, this course is ideal for those passionate about health and social justice.
Dive into the science of public health epidemiology to understand and prevent diseases while promoting health. Explore historical and current methods, case studies, and controversies like health disparities and data gaps to develop effective interventions.
Our Public Health program requires 44 semester hours to complete the major, with a total of 124 credit hours required to complete the degree. Of those hours, 20 semester hours are core courses, 8 semester hours are dedicated Health courses, 4 semester hours are Public Engagement courses, 8 semester hours are allied concentrations, and 4 semester hours are an additional elective.
Students pursuing a minor will need to complete 24 semester hours in Public Health.
Our Public Health program is open to first-year students, transfer students and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.
Willamette University is committed to supporting Public Health majors with generous merit scholarships and financial aid. The Heatherington Public Health Scholarship awards up to $11,500 annually. All admitted undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships, starting at $28,000 per year. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, taking into account cumulative GPA and SAT or ACT scores, if provided.
Willamette University
Ford Hall
900 State Street
Salem
Oregon
97301
U.S.A.