Taieb Gasmi, Ph.D., Coordinator
Welcome to the Saint Louis University Public Health program!
Saint Louis University is the only Jesuit and only Catholic School of Public Health in the United States. Dedicated to the Jesuit mission, the public health program fosters leaders who will immediately impact their community both locally and globally.
Public Health students begin their undergraduate studies at the SLU - Madrid campus, where they complete their first-year and sophomore level coursework. During this time Public Health students can immerse themselves in the Spanish culture, study the Spanish language, and interact with students from around the world. Students increase their cultural awareness and competence of diverse populations in a setting which supports language acquisition and mastery. More specifically, specialized courses are available, such as Spanish for Health Science, to develop a professional level of Spanish outside conversational language. These customized educational experiences will prepare future public health practitioners who are tolerant and competent to care for diverse populations by giving them first hand experiences during their educational formation.
Upon completion of the first two years of study, Public Health students transfer to the SLU - Missouri campus, located in the United States, for their junior and senior level coursework. Public Health students who choose to study 2 years in Madrid followed by 2 years in Missouri receive the same diploma as Public Health students who study all 4 years at SLU - Missouri campus. All Public Health students receive a Saint Louis University Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree.
The degree program, accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, is important both for students who want to enter the health workforce with a bachelor degree as well as students who want to pursue graduate education (health administration, public health, medicine, law, and more).
A student may apply to the accelerated 4+1 program at SLU-Missouri at the end of their junior year. This program allows for a student to complete their Masters in Public Health with one additional year after their bachelor’s degree.
A student may apply to the Public Health Pre-Med track, which, while providing students with a degree in Public Health, also allows them to complete courses required for application to medical schools.
What is Public Health?
Public Health is the science of improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention.
Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations range from small villages to entire countries.
Public health professionals promote prevention through implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services, regulating health systems and some health professions, and conducting research.This contrasts clinical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, who focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured. Public health is a field concerned with limiting health disparities and fighting for health care equity, quality, and accessibility.
The public health degree recognizes the multidisciplinary facet of health care by combining a traditional liberal arts education with the core disciplines of public health: epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioral science, health education, and environmental health.
Impact of Public Health
The dramatic achievements of Public Health in the 20th century have improved our quality of life: increased life expectancy, worldwide reduction in infant and child mortality, and elimination or reduction of many communicable diseases.
Today, Public Health leaders continue to strengthen their roles as advocates for improved population-based health in an international community.
The Saint Louis University Public Health program fosters student development by providing challenging coursework in the classroom and application through service learning outside the classroom.
The curriculum focuses on the vast challenges of modern health care: health disparities, lack of preventive services, and multifaceted causes of disease. This program is perfect for pre-med students, students interested in health sciences, and students committed to lives of service.
Special Features of the SLU-Madrid Campus
While attending classes in Madrid, Public Health visiting students can immerse themselves in Spanish culture, study the Spanish language, and interact with students from around the world. Students increase their cultural awareness and competence of diverse populations in a setting that supports language acquisition and mastery. More specifically, specialized courses are available, such as Spanish for Health Science, to develop a professional level of Spanish outside conversational language. These customized educational experiences will prepare future public health practitioners who are tolerant and competent to care for diverse populations by giving them first hand experiences during their educational formation.
Click here to see the courses offered in Public Health >>
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH FLOW CHART (General Track)
FIRST YEAR
Saint Louis University-Madrid Campus, Spain
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SECOND YEAR
Saint Louis University-Madrid Campus, Spain
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TRANSFER TO SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA
THIRD YEAR
School of Public Health; St. Louis, USA
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FOURTH YEAR
School of Public Health; St. Louis, USA
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PUBLIC HEALTH PRE-MED TRACK
FIRST YEAR
Saint Louis University-Madrid Campus, Spain
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SECOND YEAR
Saint Louis University-Madrid Campus, Spain
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TRANSFER TO SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA
THIRD YEAR
School of Public Health; St. Louis, USA
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FOURTH YEAR
School of Public Health; St. Louis, USA
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