Public Health - Albright College
Source: https://www.albright.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/public-health
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Public Health - Albright College
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Public Health
Inspiring healthier communities through inquiry, equity, and action.
The field of public health requires individuals who understand local, national and international politics; the impact of the environment on health; socio-economic contexts; human biology; and personal behaviors.
About the Program
Recognizing that public health education is a powerful and relevant way to shape the intellectual and civic capacities of undergraduate students, Albright’s public health program provides students with a stepping stone to a variety of careers in government, nonprofit and private-sector work, and to advanced study in public policy, urban affairs, business, economics and law.
Hands-On Learning
Students will apply classroom learning through a Public Health internship that fosters practical skills and professional development.
Program Goals
Course Requirements
Opportunities
Faculty
Identify and address the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions which focus on the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
Apply the knowledge and research, communication, critical thinking, and creativity skills attained during course work to practical health-related settings and issues, including understanding real-world application and career awareness.
Identify the main features of the U.S. health system and compare it to other types of health systems. Demonstrate an understanding of political, cultural, and historical contexts and their impact on health and health care delivery.
Address behavioral, social, and cultural factors that impact individual and population health and health disparities over the life course.
Understand the relationship between environmental factors and community health and discuss remediation for environmental health problems.
Identify and apply appropriate statistical methods to analyze and describe a public health problem.
Explain the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society .
Describe the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy.
Full Course Catalogue
Course Descriptions
Combined Major Requirements
PUH 101 Introduction to Public Health
PUH 330 Global Health
Statistics: choose from ECO 207, MAT 110, POL 207, PSY 200 (PSY co-majors only), or SOC 211
Biology requirement. Take one of the following courses
BIO 101 Concepts and Connections in Biology
BIO 151 General Biology 1: Structure & Function
BIO 203 Introduction to Genetics
BIO 321 Microbiology (prerequisites: BIO 151 and 203, co-requisite CHE 207, or instructor permission)
BIO 101 and 151 can also fulfill the Foundations-Natural Science requirement. BIO 101 is recommended for non-BIO co-majors. BIO 321 should be taken by BIO co-majors, as BIO 151 and 203 are already required for BIO co-majors.
PUH 310 Epidemiology (Prerequisites: PUH 101 and Statistics)
PUH 450 Capstone
Public Health Electives (Choose three, and if the statistics requirement above counts towards another co-major, take an additional)
BIO 207 Medical Terminology
BIO 234 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 235 Anatomy and Physiology II (A passing grade in BIO 234 is required to take this class)
BIO 321, Microbiology (This course can serve as an elective if not taken to satisfy the Biology requirement noted above)
ESS 325 Geographical Information Systems
HIS 205 Social History of Medicine and Public Health in the US
HIS 206 History of Urban Public Health
PHI 260 Biomedical Ethics
POL 214 Public Policy
POL 302 Public Administration
PSY 206 Social Psychology (A passing grade in PSY 100 or special permission is required to take this class)
PSY 210 Health Psychology
PSY 215 Positive Psychology
PSY 220 Theories and treatment of addictive behaviors
PSY 230 Human Development. (A passing grade in PSY 100 or special permission is required to take this class)
PSY 290 Human Behavior and Diversity Issues
PSY 310 Health behavior change. (Prerequisite: PSY 210)
PSY 330 Human Sexuality. (Prerequisite: PSY 200 or permission)
PSY 390 Adult Psychopathology and Behavior. (This course is only an elective for Psychology co-majors)
PUH 240 Special Topics in Public Health
PUH/HIS/SYN/WGS 309 Pandemics: Power and Equity in an Interconnected World
PUH 340 Special Topics in Public Health
PUH 350 Public Health & Society: Current Issues (PUH Co-Majors must register for PUH 450, not this course)
PUH 382 Public Health Internship (Prerequisite PUH 101)
SOC 201, Social Problems
SOC 203, Human Services for Families and Children (A passing grade in SOC 201 is required to take this class)
SOC 262, Stratification and Structured Inequality
SOC 291, Environmental Sociology
SOC 311, Domestic Violence
SYN 332, Disability Studies
Minor Requirements
PUH 101 Introduction to Public Health
PUH 330 Global Health
Statistics: choose from BIO 200, ECO 207, MAT 110, POL 207, PSY 200 (PSY co126 majors only), or SOC 211
PUH 310 Epidemiology (Prerequisites: PUH 101 and Statistics)
Elective Courses
Public Health Internship (Prerequisite: PUH 101 or another PUH elective)
Internships and Career Support
Students can connect with the
Career Development Center
to find internships in hospitals, clinics, social service agencies, and community programs, gaining hands-on experience while supporting public health initiatives.
ACRE Undergraduate Research
Students in any major can engage in interdisciplinary undergraduate research through the
Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE)
, partnering with faculty mentors to pursue independent research or creative projects and present their work beyond the classroom.
Hilary Aquino , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Bryce Brylawski , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Ian Cost , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Adam Hersperger , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Andrew Samuelsen , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Erin Ventresca , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Curriculum Highlights
Statistics courses through disciplines such as economics, psychology, or sociology complement core public health methods
Electives across social science, biology, policy, and environmental health topics
Opportunity to combine a major with another area of study for an interdisciplinary approach to your degree
Public health internships build practical experience and professional networks
Skip To Main Content
Public Health
Inspiring healthier communities through inquiry, equity, and action.
The field of public health requires individuals who understand local, national and international politics; the impact of the environment on health; socio-economic contexts; human biology; and personal behaviors.
About the Program
Recognizing that public health education is a powerful and relevant way to shape the intellectual and civic capacities of undergraduate students, Albright’s public health program provides students with a stepping stone to a variety of careers in government, nonprofit and private-sector work, and to advanced study in public policy, urban affairs, business, economics and law.
Hands-On Learning
Students will apply classroom learning through a Public Health internship that fosters practical skills and professional development.
Program Goals
Course Requirements
Opportunities
Faculty
Identify and address the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions which focus on the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
Apply the knowledge and research, communication, critical thinking, and creativity skills attained during course work to practical health-related settings and issues, including understanding real-world application and career awareness.
Identify the main features of the U.S. health system and compare it to other types of health systems. Demonstrate an understanding of political, cultural, and historical contexts and their impact on health and health care delivery.
Address behavioral, social, and cultural factors that impact individual and population health and health disparities over the life course.
Understand the relationship between environmental factors and community health and discuss remediation for environmental health problems.
Identify and apply appropriate statistical methods to analyze and describe a public health problem.
Explain the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society .
Describe the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy.
Full Course Catalogue
Course Descriptions
Combined Major Requirements
PUH 101 Introduction to Public Health
PUH 330 Global Health
Statistics: choose from ECO 207, MAT 110, POL 207, PSY 200 (PSY co-majors only), or SOC 211
Biology requirement. Take one of the following courses
BIO 101 Concepts and Connections in Biology
BIO 151 General Biology 1: Structure & Function
BIO 203 Introduction to Genetics
BIO 321 Microbiology (prerequisites: BIO 151 and 203, co-requisite CHE 207, or instructor permission)
BIO 101 and 151 can also fulfill the Foundations-Natural Science requirement. BIO 101 is recommended for non-BIO co-majors. BIO 321 should be taken by BIO co-majors, as BIO 151 and 203 are already required for BIO co-majors.
PUH 310 Epidemiology (Prerequisites: PUH 101 and Statistics)
PUH 450 Capstone
Public Health Electives (Choose three, and if the statistics requirement above counts towards another co-major, take an additional)
BIO 207 Medical Terminology
BIO 234 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 235 Anatomy and Physiology II (A passing grade in BIO 234 is required to take this class)
BIO 321, Microbiology (This course can serve as an elective if not taken to satisfy the Biology requirement noted above)
ESS 325 Geographical Information Systems
HIS 205 Social History of Medicine and Public Health in the US
HIS 206 History of Urban Public Health
PHI 260 Biomedical Ethics
POL 214 Public Policy
POL 302 Public Administration
PSY 206 Social Psychology (A passing grade in PSY 100 or special permission is required to take this class)
PSY 210 Health Psychology
PSY 215 Positive Psychology
PSY 220 Theories and treatment of addictive behaviors
PSY 230 Human Development. (A passing grade in PSY 100 or special permission is required to take this class)
PSY 290 Human Behavior and Diversity Issues
PSY 310 Health behavior change. (Prerequisite: PSY 210)
PSY 330 Human Sexuality. (Prerequisite: PSY 200 or permission)
PSY 390 Adult Psychopathology and Behavior. (This course is only an elective for Psychology co-majors)
PUH 240 Special Topics in Public Health
PUH/HIS/SYN/WGS 309 Pandemics: Power and Equity in an Interconnected World
PUH 340 Special Topics in Public Health
PUH 350 Public Health & Society: Current Issues (PUH Co-Majors must register for PUH 450, not this course)
PUH 382 Public Health Internship (Prerequisite PUH 101)
SOC 201, Social Problems
SOC 203, Human Services for Families and Children (A passing grade in SOC 201 is required to take this class)
SOC 262, Stratification and Structured Inequality
SOC 291, Environmental Sociology
SOC 311, Domestic Violence
SYN 332, Disability Studies
Minor Requirements
PUH 101 Introduction to Public Health
PUH 330 Global Health
Statistics: choose from BIO 200, ECO 207, MAT 110, POL 207, PSY 200 (PSY co126 majors only), or SOC 211
PUH 310 Epidemiology (Prerequisites: PUH 101 and Statistics)
Elective Courses
Public Health Internship (Prerequisite: PUH 101 or another PUH elective)
Internships and Career Support
Students can connect with the
Career Development Center
to find internships in hospitals, clinics, social service agencies, and community programs, gaining hands-on experience while supporting public health initiatives.
ACRE Undergraduate Research
Students in any major can engage in interdisciplinary undergraduate research through the
Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE)
, partnering with faculty mentors to pursue independent research or creative projects and present their work beyond the classroom.
Hilary Aquino , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Bryce Brylawski , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Ian Cost , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Adam Hersperger , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Andrew Samuelsen , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Erin Ventresca , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Curriculum Highlights
Statistics courses through disciplines such as economics, psychology, or sociology complement core public health methods
Electives across social science, biology, policy, and environmental health topics
Opportunity to combine a major with another area of study for an interdisciplinary approach to your degree
Public health internships build practical experience and professional networks