Southern’s Department of Public Health trains students for entry level jobs in the field of public health, which is a field that is increasingly becoming a vital part of our daily lives. It's a field in which professionals can make a difference, whether they're researching and tracking the spread of disease, running awareness campaigns in schools and community agencies, or advising corporations on health programs and policies.
Southern's public health graduates work at local health departments, community-based agencies, hospitals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, nonprofit agencies like the American Red Cross and agencies around the globe. Just a few examples of the many other options include working in a community health center to eliminate health inequities; organizing community responses to health problems, such as lead poisoning; addressing the AIDS epidemic; promoting a healthy environment; designing public health policies and interventions; and leading international health relief efforts in less developed parts of the world..
General Career Assistance
SCSU public health students have the opportunity to work collaboratively with Department faculty to receive career assistance through academic advising sessions, academic coursework, a required internship program, a capstone experience for graduate students, and our undergraduate student club, The Public Health Society. These opportunities are advertised via our email student list serves as well as on Facebook and Linked In. Additionally, the Office of Career & Professional Development is available to provide various levels of focused career assistance. Students should visit the Office of Career & Professional Development throughout their tenure at SCSU.
Internship and Experiential Learning Opportunities
Students gain and apply public health concepts and competences through a variety of ways within the Greater New Haven area, the State of Connecticut, New England region, throughout the United States, as well as around the globe. Students have the opportunities to learn and apply skills within the areas such as health promotion, health equity, social determinants of health and environmental health. A sample of public health student opportunities include the following:
- Internships – SCSU public health students are required to complete an internship, which is done directly obtaining knowledge, skill, and competency acquisition in a variety of professional, industry, and non-profit companies and organizations.
- Independent Study – SCSU public health students have the opportunity to develop new knowledge and scholarly inquiries within a topical area of their choice under the guidance and supervision of faculty members.
- Student Research – SCSU public health students have the opportunity to work independently on their own research projects. Graduate students in public health are required to complete a capstone applied research project. Undergraduate students in public health have the option to conduct an honors thesis or compete for an undergraduate student research award on campus.
- Faculty research – SCSU public health faculty are deeply engaged with community-based research, and students have the opportunity to work collaboratively with current faculty within their areas of expertise.
Success Stories of Recent Graduates
Graduates of the Department of Public Health have the opportunity to work full-time or attend graduate school after graduation. Sample graduates have transitioned to the following roles:
- Health Director – Many Connecticut locales, including Madison, Westbrook, West Haven, and Trumbull
- Clinical Recruiter – Med Path Partners
- Research Assistant – Yale University School of Public Health
- Admission to Hofstra University’s MPH Program
- Admission to the University of New Haven’s Master of Health Administration Program
- Admission to the University of Connecticut’s Epidemiology Doctoral Program