Public Health Program

Pre-professional track

Public health focuses on improving the health and wellness of entire populations, rather than individuals. It's a broad field with many sub-disciplines, including health promotion and education, chronic and infectious disease prevention, health and wellness program development, health policy and advocacy, environmental and occupational health, food safety, behavioral and mental health sciences, and community and global health. With such a wide range of fields and a heightened understanding of the importance of public health due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunities for employment are endless.

Hamline's pre-public health program will provide you with the foundation of knowledge you need to apply to graduate school and lay a powerful foundation for your career. We make sure you get hands-on experience with the skills that will set you apart in the field, and our mentors and advisors will support your continued education with plans and suggestions tailored to your needs.

Applying to graduate school

Prerequisite coursework

Unlike many graduate programs, public health graduate programs do not usually have a set list of prerequisites. However, it's important to connect with graduate admissions offices to learn about any prerequisites for the specific programs you're considering.

The most important thing graduate programs look for in applicants is relevant internship experience. We strongly recommend that students complete at least one public health-related internship (required in the public health major at Hamline) before applying to a graduate program.
 

Relevant exams

Many graduate programs in public health require a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test score for admission. Please check the requirements of the programs that you intend to apply to. Even for schools that do not require this exam for admission, a high score may benefit your application. Talk to a pre-health advisor at Hamline about your undergraduate academic record to help make decisions about taking the GRE exam.

Further information about graduate school

Contact information