School of Applied Health Sciences

The School of Applied Health Sciences within the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences prepares students for professional and scholarly roles focused on health, wellness, and equity. The School consists of the Division of Public Health and the Division of Health and Wellness Studies, and offers undergraduate minors and graduate programs.

Public Health Division

The Public Health Division in the School of Applied Health Sciences offers a 48-credit generalist Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The MPH degree program has full-time and part-time study options as well as an accelerated 4+1 for Binghamton University students in the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences. The Harpur-MPH 4+1 is open to students in any Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) undergraduate major in Binghamton’s Harpur College of Arts and Sciences. Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Music (BMus) are not eligible for this program.

Students pursuing the MPH degree complete foundation, core and required courses as well as a series of experiential courses focused on interprofessional education, professional role development and community engagement. Students also complete elective courses in areas such as population health, global health, disaster management, or forensic health. Knowledge and skill competencies acquired from coursework are further developed through an internship practicum and a capstone project. Our program focuses on health promotion and disease prevention by addressing underlying environmental factors and social determinants, with the ultimate goal of achieving health equity among populations.

The MPH program prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in public health departments, health and human service agencies, nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations, insurance and pharmaceutical companies as well as in settings across the healthcare spectrum, from primary care and home care to hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Students wishing to pursue an MPH must satisfy the general conditions and procedures for admission to Binghamton University’s Graduate School.

Students who wish to pursue master’s degrees in both public health and community health nursing can apply to the Master of Public Health and Master of Science (MS) in Community Health Nursing double-degree program. The 48-credit MPH program and the 48-credit MS in Community Health Nursing program can be completed as part of a 78-credit double-degree program. Students can earn both degrees in just three years saving both time and tuition costs.

The Division of Public Health in the School of Applied Sciences also offers a public health minor. This 24-credit undergraduate minor uses a hands-on, active learning approach to expose students to the scientific foundations and core epidemiologic principles of public health. The minor is open to all undergraduate students and will augment many other undergraduate bachelor’s degree programs, especially for individuals those interested in public health.

Health and Wellness Studies Division

The Division of Health and Wellness Studies (HWS) in the School of Applied Health Sciences offers a health and wellness studies minor. The HWS minor is open to all undergraduate students and designed to complement and enrich interdisciplinary learning at Binghamton University and engage students in scholarship related to proper nutrition, stress management, emotional well-being, and physical health. Undergraduate students who complete this minor develop the critical thinking skills to evaluate the maze of conflicting health information and acquire the personal tools important for life-long wellness. These educational experiences provide students with the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in health and wellness.

The Division of Health and Wellness Studies is the main department on campus to offer classes that fulfill the activity and wellness general education requirement for all undergraduate students. Health and Wellness Studies empowers Binghamton University students to make informed decisions and inspires them to pursue life-long wellness. Through the study of health and wellness science, students will acquire the knowledge and develop the motivation necessary to achieve constructive health behaviors and enhanced functional capacities. Our mission is to integrate the foundations of wellness, including but not limited to: proper nutrition, stress management, emotional and physical health. Students will develop critical thinking skills to evaluate the maze of conflicting health information. The overall goal is to promote academic and personal success and to maximize positive health outcomes. Graduate students may audit HWS courses on a “space available” basis. Teaching assistantships, internships and independent study opportunities (for variable credit) are available through the Health and Wellness Studies Department faculty.

All health and wellness studies courses have attendance requirements. It is the policy of the Health and Wellness Studies Division that any registered student who does not show up for the first two class meetings can be officially dropped from the course by the department at the discretion of the instructor.

Programs

Master of Public Health

Public Health, MPH

Minor

Combined Programs

Public Health, Harpur-MPH 4+1 Program