Greetings from the Chairperson

A MESSAGE FROM William G. Faraclas

Welcome, and thank you for visiting the website of the SCSU Department of Public Health.  Whether you are interested in a rewarding and meaningful career in public health, an enhancement to your education or career in another field, information on important continuing education programs or a pathway to knowledge on health topics, you have come to the right place!

Simply put, the field of public health is about making people's lives better.  This is done through direct services, policy development, community action, the fruits of epidemiologic research, and protection of the environment.  The field is interdisciplinary in nature and based in social, behavioral and natural sciences--and always in need of committed individuals, who cannot look away from the suffering of the world, believe they have what it takes to make things better, and want their lives to stand for something important.  And, the Department of Public Health is at the forefront of providing aspiring and current members of the public health workforce with an education that will help them change the world.

The Department offers a nationally accredited Master of Public Health (MPH) program and the only undergraduate major in public health in Connecticut, leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.  Both programs are highly respected and truly outstanding.  The excellent education our students receive is on full display in their exciting and successful careers, and the program's sterling reputation stands behind its graduates.  You can learn about these programs on this website and by contacting Department faculty, who stand ready to tell you about educational opportunities and pathways.

Among other offerings of the Department are Continuing Education activities for public health practitioners across the discipline; the Environmental Health Training Program for sanitarian training, co-sponsored with the Connecticut Department of Public Health; a credit-bearing international field study in Guatemala each summer; a robust summer school program; and innovative cooperative programs with our community partners.

Is public health for you?  There are many ways to find out.  Explore this website, speak with someone who works in the field, take a course.  If you decide to pursue an education in public health, I challenge you to find another program with the extraordinary quality, exceptional faculty and extremely affordable price that we offer at Southern.

Anne Frank wrote: "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."  I invite you to learn about the Department, its faculty and programs, and to consider a career in public health.  For, as Mahatma Gandhi said, "You must be the change you want to see in the world."   Be a part of public health, and be the change!

Sincerely,

William G. Faraclas, Dr.P.H., M.P.H
Professor and Chair