Public Health
bAre you passionate about improving people’s lives and health while strengthening communities? The Public Health program will prepare you to address real health challenges affecting our state. You’ll learn how people’s behavior, environment and social conditions can affect their health and how public health systems and policies work to solve these problems. You’ll gain hands-on experience by working directly with communities, helping to plan and evaluate programs and find ways to prevent and reduce health risks.
Designed to strengthen Connecticut’s public health workforce while preparing you for a meaningful career, the degree and two supporting certificates in this program allow for career pathways in local health departments, community-based organizations, environmental health agencies and related public service settings.
This work is supported by the CT Department of Public Health through funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce and Data Systems grant.
A Good Fit If You
- are community-oriented and motivated to work towards systematic changes to improve the lives of underserved populations
- possess strong analytical, organizational and complex problem-solving skills
- have strong communication skills and work well as part of a team
Paying for College
Through dedicated funding from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, eligible students may receive scholarship support through Fall 2027.
The scholarship supports:
- Tuition and fees
- Books and supplies
- Paid academic internships for associate degree students
- Paid externships for certificate students
Career Options
- Community Health Worker
- Environmental Health Inspector /Technician
- Public Health Program Support
- Health Education and Outreach Coordinator
- Social and Community Health Services Support Roles
Salary Range
$49,000-51,000
*Salaries vary by program and career path. See individual degrees and certificate information for more information.
Degrees and Certificates
ASSOCIATE DEGREES
The associate of science degree in Public Health builds a broad foundation across environmental health, community health, health education and health policy, equipping you with the skills and knowledge that today's public health employers are actively seeking.
The Public Health degree will allow you to enter the workforce in high-demand, entry-level roles at local health departments, community-based organizations and nonprofit agencies. Alternatively, you may choose to transfer seamlessly into public health bachelor’s degree programs at Connecticut's public state universities or other four-year institutions.
Through Fall 2027, you may be eligible for scholarships through the CT Department of Public Health, which can assist with tuition and fees, books and supplies and paid internships.
Credits
Time to Completion
Campuses
Cost to Attend
Career Paths
- Community Health Worker
- Environmental Health Inspector/Technician
- Public Health Program Support
- Health Education and Outreach Coordinator
- Social and Community Health Services Support Roles
Salaries
$49,000-51,000
Occupational Skills
Learn More
Campus Contacts
- Capital: Trisha Wain, trisha.wain@ctstate.edu
- Gateway: Julie Austin, julie.austin@ctstate.edu
- Housatonic: Letizia Morales, letizia.morales@ctstate.edu
- Three Rivers: Cynthia Arpin, cynthia.arpin@ctstate.edu
CREDIT CERTIFICATES
The Community Public Health certificate is a focused, career-ready program that will give you a comprehensive grounding in the multi-disciplinary world of community health, preparing you to take on meaningful roles in state and local health departments, regulatory agencies and nonprofit organizations. You'll develop the skills for a public-facing career, taking a hands-on role helping Connecticut residents obtain routine and emergency healthcare through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on externships.
This certificate is fully stackable into the Public Health associate degree. Through Fall 2027, you may be eligible for scholarships through the CT Department of Public Health, which can assist with tuition and fees, books and supplies and paid externships.
Credits
Time to Completion
Campuses
Cost to Attend
Career Paths
- Community Health Worker
- Social and Community Health Services Support Roles
Salaries
$49,000-51,000
Occupational Skills
Learn More
Campus Contacts
- Capital: Trisha Wain, trisha.wain@ctstate.edu
- Gateway: Julie Austin, julie.austin@ctstate.edu
- Housatonic: Letizia Morales, letizia.morales@ctstate.edu
- Three Rivers: Cynthia Arpin, cynthia.arpin@ctstate.edu
The Environmental Public Health certificate focuses on the relationship between people’s health and their environment, providing the skills and knowledge to help you jump into a career advocating for policies and programs that can improve the health of local communities through clean water, air, soil and food. You’ll gain hands-on experience of the social and physical environments that affect a person’s health through a combination of externships and traditional classroom education, learning everything you need to know to assume an entry-level role at state and local health departments, regulatory agencies and non-profit organizations.
This certificate is fully stackable into the Public Health associate degree. Through Fall 2027, you may be eligible for scholarships through the CT Department of Public Health, which can assist with tuition and fees, books and supplies and paid externships.
Credits
Time to Completion
Campuses
Cost to Attend
Career Paths
- Environmental Health Inspector /Technician
Salaries
$49,000-51,000
Occupational Skills
Learn More
Campus Contacts
- Capital: Trisha Wain, trisha.wain@ctstate.edu
- Gateway: Julie Austin, julie.austin@ctstate.edu
- Housatonic: Letizia Morales, letizia.morales@ctstate.edu
- Three Rivers: Cynthia Arpin, cynthia.arpin@ctstate.edu