Are you passionate about improving people’s lives and health while strengthening communities? The Public Health program prepares you to address real health challenges affecting our state. You will learn how behavior, environment, and social conditions impact health outcomes, and how public health systems and policies address these issues. Through hands-on learning and community-based experiences, you will build practical skills to support health education, outreach and program activities.
Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles in local health departments, community organizations, nonprofit agencies and environmental health settings. The program also provides a strong foundation for transfer to a four-year degree in public health or a related field.
Designed to support and strengthen Connecticut’s public health workforce, this program includes an associate degree and two certificates in community public health and environmental public health. These options allow you to enter the workforce quickly or continue your education.
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.
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
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
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.