Some (very special and fabulous) colleges or universities offer undergraduate degrees in public health. Students at those schools (or who transfer to those schools) have a great opportunity to train in public health before graduate school. This training is a great way to get started with a public health career or try public health before pursuing more education or a first job out of school. An undergraduate degree in public health is great analytical training and knowledge for a variety of careers, in public heath and not.
SO, if you are in high school, a 1st or 2nd year in college or want to start over with your undergraduate education, look for a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) or similar degree. (And, yes, BSPH graduates find interesting and lucrative jobs.)
Associations of Schools of Public Health’s Database (to search for undergraduate programs)
Example copied from the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health‘s website:
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) is designed to promote an understanding of health and disease based on public health principles. The primary goal of the program is to train public health professionals who will seek to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities within Arizona. The curriculum provides general knowledge regarding public health principles and practice augmented by concentrated study (tracks) in Environmental and Occupational Health, Health Behavior and Health Delivery. Field work provides students with an experience that incorporates classroom learning into public health practice and prepares them for future employment.
