Oregon Public Health Career – OR

By Joanna Pelletier, allied health world contributing writer
Published: February, 18 2010

Public Health Programs in Oregon

Both undergraduate and graduate public health students can begin specializing in a certain area much earlier than some of their counterparts in other States. Individuals pursuing Oregon public health careers can study Biostatistics, Epidemiology, International Health, Health Behavior, Health Promotion, Community Health Education, or Environment, Safety and Health at both levels.

Public health students in Oregon can also study nursing, biology, statistics, psychology, mathematics, or another field that can lead up to graduate study or a career in public health. If students major in a subject that is not directly related to public health, they can pair their education with an internship or specialize in public health during graduate school.

A typical course load for undergraduate public health majors in Oregon includes classes in English, communications, history, sociology, biology, college algebra, statistics, psychology, health promotion, sexuality, and other courses that may be specific to the student's interests. Graduate students, on the other hand, only have classes that are relevant to public health, such as human sexuality, health behavior, biostatistics, epidemiology, infectious diseases, and other topics that may cater more to their interests.

Public health students in Oregon can expect to pay up to $ 100,000 for room, board, in-state tuition, and any other expenses that may come during their undergraduate years. Those who go on to graduate school pay half that amount, shelling out between $ 40,000- $50,000.

Students can curb academic expenses by taking on research or teaching assistant positions, which are offered through most public universities. Scholarships, grants, and financial sponsorships also  make undergraduate and graduate education possible.