Public health is an interdisciplinary subject that looks at how populations around the world can improve their health and wellness and reduce their risk of injury.
While medicine focuses on curing diseases and mending injuries, public health is concerned with preventing disease and injuries well as improving the health of communities through education.
By pursuing a career in public health, you could make a real difference in the world. People working in public health are often involved in current global health concerns such as HIV & AIDS, Ebola and malnutrition. Public health workers are also involved in promoting healthy lifestyles and in researching and detecting infectious disease outbreaks. Another aspect of public health is ensuring that the food and water we eat and drink is safe, and that safety standards are set and maintained for the roads we drive on and the cities we live in.
Those who choose to pursue a career in public health could find themselves making an impact on people’s lives. Public health workers are, among other things, involved in vaccination programmes which save countless children’s lives. Others work with vehicle safety laws, saving lives on the road. Some help to improve water safety standards, or put measures in place to reduce air pollution, or work on improving children’s nutrition - all of which have a positive impact in society. Public health programmes have helped to increase life expectancies and reduce infant mortality around the world.
An undergraduate degree in public health provides a pathway to postgraduate programmes, such as honours, a postgraduate diploma, Master's and ultimately doctoral studies in public health.
A public health degree can prepare you for a career in many fields. Some public health professionals work as healthcare administrators in clinics and hospitals. Some work for NGOs as public health project managers. Governments and construction companies employ health and safety professionals. Local and national health departments employ public health professionals as epidemiologists and research analysts. You may also find work as a health promoter, public health researcher or public health policy analyst.
Emeris is currently the only tertiary education provider in South Africa that offers an IIE Bachelors degree in public health.
Public health is an exciting, diverse and growing field of study which responds to the needs of communities and populations around the world. Public health practice is multi-disciplinary and draws from a wide range of disciplines, including epidemiologists, statisticians, sociologists, health economics, medical practitioners, dieticians, pharmacists, nurses, environmental health practitioners etc.
Public health practitioners work on large-scale, long-term solutions. The goal of public health is to prevent illness and improve wellness in communities and populations. It is this multiplier effect that attracts many interested in health care and medicine to explore and experience the advantages of public health.
A Public Health qualification will enable you to produce new knowledge, create powerful ideas and collaborate with others to institute innovative and lower cost solutions that will improve the health of many people at a local, national and international level. During your studies, you will learn about data, evidence and critical thinking; biological bases of health and disease; analysing patterns of health and disease; health promotion; treatments and technologies; research methods in the health sciences; health programme planning; evaluation and monitoring; disease prevention and control; contemporary health challenges; health, law and ethics, etc.
To study Public Health you can enrol for the IIE Bachelor of Public Health degree available at Emeris.
Need help applying? Speak to a Student Advisor today!
Choose the programme that matches your goals. All include practical experience and industry exposure.
Duration: 3 years full-time
Bachelor Degree
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 360
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology
School: School of Engineering, Science and Health
Choose the programme that matches your goals. All include practical experience and industry exposure.
Duration: 1 year full-time
Honours Degree
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 120
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology
School: School of Engineering, Science and Health
Duration: 2 years part-time
Postgraduate Diploma
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 120
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology
School: School of Engineering, Science and Health
Mathematics and Physical Science at matric level are required. The professional degree (BEng) requires strong results - check the specific entry requirements on the programme page.
Mathematics and Physical Science at matric level are required. The professional degree (BEng) requires strong results - check the specific entry requirements on the programme page.
An educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education
Formed by the strategic evolution of The IIE's Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega and
the School of Hospitality and Service Management, uniting under the Emeris name.
Emeris is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg. no. 2007/HE07/002). Company registration number: 1987/004754/07. View certificate here.
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