Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Instilling healthy habits
Would you like to apply your passion for wellness or fitness to helping others? Do you believe that developing healthy habits can be life-changing? With a degree in public health, you can make a positive difference.
BS in Public Health: Community Health
The Bachelor of Science in public health program at SFA is a dynamic, career-oriented program that prepares students to:
- promote health and prevent disease in communities;
- understand complex population health issues;
- identify and address health disparities;
- and design and implement health education and wellness programs.
In both face-to-face and online courses, our students gain marketable skills in health communication, program planning and evaluation, data analytics, cultural competence and AI-driven health intelligence.
This degree will introduce you to a wide range of health science careers while providing the foundational courses you’ll need for professional post-graduate work. You’ll complete courses in community health, prevention and control of diseases, substance prevention education, and health concepts for children and adolescents, among others.
Equipped for in-demand health careers
Graduates will be prepared for in-demand health careers, including:
- health education/patient education;
- youth and community-based health promotion;
- and workplace safety and environmental health.
Emphasizing high-quality teaching and direct engagement with community partners, public health at SFA focuses on real-world health challenges (e.g., chronic disease burden, mental health, healthcare accessibility and aging populations) that impact individuals and communities across Texas and globally.
Our public health program will prepare you for many careers in public health education and health promotion, including health and fitness counseling, workplace safety, patient education, youth outreach and many others. A Bachelor of Science in public health also gives you the option of working in a wide range of environments, including schools and colleges, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, hospitals and business settings.
You can use this program as a foundation for professional post-graduate work in public health, health education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, environmental health and more. Our graduates have been admitted to nursing, physician assistant, epidemiology and health administration professional programs.
Your internship experience
One of the most valuable ways you can prepare for your career is by building real-world experience in your chosen field. Our internship program will help you do that.
During your internship, you’ll complete supervised fieldwork in a professional setting with an emphasis on administration, supervision and program leadership.
Possible locations include local medical professional offices, city governments, campus wellness, the Healthy Nacogdoches Coalition, Piney Woods Area Health Education Center, Planned Parenthood, American Cancer Society and the Nacogdoches Treatment Center. Students also may have the option to find internship sites in other cities.
Testimonials from recent program graduates
"My time in the public health program at SFA has been nothing short of transformative, giving me a deep understanding of how community and health intersect. As a prospective nursing student planning to pursue an Master's of Public Health, I’ve come to see public health as the essential bridge between clinical care and community well-being. The program taught me that investing in that bridge is where real change begins. My professors not only shared their expertise but also modeled what it means to lead with empathy and evidence. I’ll never forget the group projects that pushed us to design real-world interventions, which showed me how collaboration turns ideas into action. More than any single lesson, SFA’s public health program helped me better understand people, place, and my own purpose. I’m graduating feeling prepared, inspired, and eager to keep learning. To any student considering this path: public health will challenge you, grow you, and show you just how powerful community-centered work can be."
- Katherine Penrod, spring 2026 graduate
"Studying Public Health at SFA under the guidance of Dr. Mwamba and Dr. Stewart has been a truly transformative experience. Both professors opened doors to meaningful community outreach opportunities throughout Nacogdoches that deepened my understanding that public health is built on collective involvement and a genuine commitment to one another. Their warm and welcoming approach to teaching exposed me to research experiences that broadened my perspective in ways I will carry with me as I pursue Physician Assistant school and grow as a future health provider."
- Sofia Serrato, spring 2026 graduate
“Courses like Epidemiology, Health Assessment, and Cultural Competence came to life when I conducted research in South Nacogdoches on youth substance use and poverty. That experience showed me how well SFA prepared me to apply public health principles in real-world settings. The professors’ guidance and encouragement here at SFA have made all the difference, and I feel ready to use my knowledge to support healthier communities.“
- Jaylen Raley, spring 2026 graduate
“My experience in the public health program at SFA has been instrumental in preparing me for graduate studies and a future career in healthcare. The coursework built a strong foundation in population health and health disparities, and the professors truly care about their students’ growth and success. Through my undergraduate research in the Department of Allied Health Studies, I was able to apply classroom learning to real-world issues and further develop my passion for addressing health inequities. Because of this preparation, I will be attending Columbia University in New York to pursue my Masters of Public Health, with the goal of continuing to medical school!”
- Kristina Jones, spring 2026 graduate