Second Major in Public Health
Public health is a growing and dynamic field that addresses the most pressing and challenging health issues in local communities, the region and the world. Combining both science and art, the goal is to advance the health of individuals, families, communities and populations.
Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities, and individuals.
— Charles-Edward Amory Winslow (1877–1957)
Aside from genetics and the individual factors that influence a person’s health, environmental factors also play a significant role. In fact, public health is connected to everything we do. The way we eat, live, learn, work and play — anything that affects your health and well-being is part of public health.
Second Major in Public Health
(Double Major Programme)
A Double Major is a single degree programme, in which a student satisfies the requirements of two Majors. It is conceived as an opportunity for students to broaden their knowledge and capacities by pursuing a second Major alongside their primary Major.
The Second Major in Public Health welcomes students who are keen to learn the approaches and skills necessary to understand the individual and social factors that impact the health of individuals, families and communities.
The curriculum is designed to complement students’ first major, grooming their soft skills and perspectives to work effectively as public health professionals or in public health teams. Students will graduate with the knowledge and approaches needed to address today’s public health challenges and improve health of the populations in Singapore, Asia and the world.
Data Analytics & Modelling
- Computing
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Statistics
Disease Prevention
- Business Administration
- Life Sciences
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Social Work
- Sociology
Health Policy
- Business Analytics
- Economics
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Political Science
- Social Work
Health Promotion
- Area Studies & Languages
- Communications & New Media
- Food Science & Technology
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
Health Systems
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Business Analytics
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Political Science
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Social Work
Research & Technology
- Business Analytics
- Data Science
- Engineering
- Food Science & Technology
Social Services
- Area Studies & Languages
- Communications & New Media
- English Literature
- Geography
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Social Work
- Sociology
Surveillance & Outbreak
- Business Analytics
- Data Science
- Geography
- Information Systems
- Life Sciences
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Role of public health in today’s context: Understand the broad functions and the multidisciplinary nature of public health
- Role and importance of data in public health: Learn to synthesise information and draw conclusions from evidence-based approaches, understanding their importance in public health practice
- Identify and address population health challenges: Understand the concepts of population health, and apply fundamental processes, approaches and interventions to identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations
- Determinants of health: Integrate the socioeconomic, behavioural, biological, environmental and other factors to understand how these factors combine to impact our health
- Health systems:
- Recognise the fundamental characteristics and organisational structures of the Singapore health system, as well as the differences in systems in other countries
- Understand and address how the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of healthcare and public health policy impact health
- Health communication: Learn to communicate public health information in both oral and written forms
Career Opportunities
The Second Major in Public Health prepares students who are interested in exploring careers in the public, private or non-profit sectors, in areas such as community health and health surveillance, urban space planning, environmental health, epidemiology, nutrition, biostatistics, healthcare data analytics, and health policy and planning.
Students will have the opportunity to explore and experience public health in action through internship attachments with organisations that engage in public health work.