On Campus
Public health is the science and art of promoting and protecting the health of people and the communities where they live, work, and play. Public health practitioners, educators, and researchers work to prevent disease, prolong life, and promote health at the community and population level. Conversely, in the medical field, clinicians focus on treating illnesses and injuries one patient at a time.
Schools of public health offer graduate programs in at least one of the five core disciplines of public health. These core areas of public health include:
The Pre-Public Health Program prepares students to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) at the more than 100 accredited programs across the country, including the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University. Students interested in pursuing a master’s degree or graduate program in public health must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree. Therefore, students pursuing a pre-public health curriculum are expected to choose a major so that they can be working towards a bachelor’s degree concurrently with the pre-public health program. Given the interdisciplinary nature of public health, a wide variety of majors provide appropriate preparation.
A Minor in Public Health is available at UNK and can complement any major. The minor is not required as part of the Pre-Public Health Program but will provide a strong foundation of public health-related coursework. Students in the Pre-Public Health Program may consider applying for the 3+2 Master’s in Public Health (MPH).
Requirements for Graduate Education in Public Health
Students should consult each school of public health they plan to apply to determine if there is specific coursework required for admission. These requirements may vary widely by degree type and/or concentration. UNMC perquisites include: Epidemiology- B or better in college-level math course; Environmental & Occupational Health- one semester biology, chemistry, and college-level math courses; biostatistics- B or better in college level math course, differential calculus and integral calculus. Students should consult with their public health advisor regarding graduate admission requirements based on concentration area of interest.
Median Pay: $99,960 per year
30% projected employment growth from 2022-2032 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Pay: $76,480 per year
6% projected employment growth from 2022-2032 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Pay: $78,520 per year
27% projected employment growth from 2022-2032 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Pay: $59,990 per year
7% projected employment growth from 2022-2032 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
“It’s a really special program because you get to know professors and students who are at UNMC while you’re still an undergrad. Having these connections before moving to Omaha made the transition a little less scary. I also appreciated able to take a UNMC course as an undergrad to help get me prepared for the course load at the graduate level.”
Family science major with minors in public health and health care management
UNK is Nebraska’s most affordable university even BEFORE financial aid is awarded. You’ll quickly discover that no one works harder than UNK to reduce the cost of an education and provide the best value. Learn more about scholarships and financial aid for your Pre-Public Health Program
at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
