Public Health

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Program Overview

Why Study Public Health at TFC?

The Public Health concentration in the Biology major approaches rigorous scientific investigation as a natural outgrowth of a Christian worldview, facilitating the development of knowledge, skills, and character necessary to produce graduates prepared to pursue a career, or graduate study, in ecology and environmental sciences. Students in this program will be prepared to serve the health needs of communities either locally or abroad. This concentration provides students with unique opportunities to integrate Christian faith with health education interventions. Understanding contemporary challenges in human health on a global scale will equip students to positively impact the societies in which they live and work while dealing with complex public health issues.

The Public Health concentration can prepare you to work in public health careers such as a Health Educator working one on one with patients, a Community Health Worker liaising with healthcare workers with diverse socioeconomic groups, or an Emergency Response Coordinator pulling together a team to respond to natural disasters or pandemics. This concentration can also prepare you for the more traditional career of Epidemiologist, or one of the emerging positions in Infection Prevention or Data Analyst. Likewise, this program can also prepare you to continue your education in Health Informatics, a growing field of data science used to make health insurance and policy decisions or be the policy writer with Health Policy & Administrations.

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Minors:
  • Chemistry
  • Business Administration
  • Mathematics
  • Management

Biology Program Video

“What’s exciting in the last few years is that we’ve added three concentrations to our biology program, namely Pre-professional, Public Health, and Ecology & Environmental Science. So, students who are particularly interested in one of those areas have the opportunity for some more specialized training.”

Dr. Kieran M. Clements

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Degree Layout

Public Health Courses

The Public Health concentration in the Biology major is a 126 hour program that includes 71 hours of general education courses (including 30 hours of Bible and Theology), 15 hours of open electives, and 40 hours in Biology-specific courses (21 of which are hours dedicated to the Public Health Concentration).

Featured Courses:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Global Public Health
  • Nutrition
  • Fundamentals of Epidemiology
Merritt Thompson

Testimonial

It is easy to say that the relationships and the opportunities that I had at TFC aided my pursuit to becoming a doctor. It consisted of the perfect size, location, and environment for me to succeed. The size of my classes allowed having close, meaningful relationships with my professors, who were all more than willing to explain difficult concepts in biology. They went even beyond that; taking personal time to prepare me for postgraduate admissions interviews and arranging summer research projects so that I would have a complete, well rounded resume. The student body was close-knit and students would not put others down just to see themselves achieve. Everyone wanted to see each other do well, and so test prep material and helpful advice was free flowing. Lastly, the community was very receptive. During my time in Toccoa, I shadowed at Stephens County Hospital, volunteered at the Open Arms Clinic, and worked at Maddox Drugs. The people I met were friendly and actively sought to help me. Overall, I cannot emphasize how much Toccoa Falls College means to me. Some of my fondest memories and greatest friends were made there. If anyone is looking for a small community of genuine people, TFC is the perfect place for them.
Merritt Thompson, Class of 2017
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Career Options

What can you do with a Public Health Concentration?

When you earn a Biology degree with a Public Health concentration, you will find that there are many career opportunities available to you. Graduates are qualified for a wide range of jobs, such as:

Health Educator/Community Health Worker

As a public health graduate, students would be well prepared for a career as a health educator or community health worker. These fields would involve working one on one with patients and liaising healthcare workers with diverse socioeconomic groups.

Emergency Response Coordinator

When emergency strikes, an emergency response coordinator is responsible for pulling together a team to respond to natural disasters or pandemics. Public health graduates would be equipped to navigate this growing, and needed field.

Epidemiologist

Public health studies can prepare graduates for the more traditional career of Epidemiologist. This is an area of medicine that studies and investigates the causes, distribution and control of diseases.

Infection Prevention/Data Analyst

Another area of interest for public health graduates are the areas in infection prevention and data analysis. As an infection preventionist, you would make sure healthcare workers and facilities are properly protecting against infections caused by bacteria and viruses.

Meet the Professors

Biology

Thumbnail for Dr. Gerald Woodworth
Thumbnail for Leslie M. Dowler, M.Ed.
Thumbnail for Dr. Kieran M. Clements
Dr. Kieran M. Clements Vice President for Academic Affairs kclements@tfc.edu