The emergence of the public health course as a major medical course was not popular in the Nigerian higher education learning sector until 2020, when the offering of the course was embraced by many of the universities in Nigeria, setting a benchmark for knowing the best university in Nigeria.
Specializing in public health as a career is a huge boost and one of the most in-demand job opportunities for the modern Earth, which is often plagued by disease, which will demand the help of a public health specialist.
Are you interested in studying public health as a course? Then you are in the right place; we will expose you to what public health is and what the course entails. Before we dive fully into what a public health course means, first we will explain what public health means and what they do.
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What is public health?
Public health is a field of medicine and science that is involved with the practice of protecting and improving the health of families, communities, societies, and countries through disease prevention and disease outbreak contention. Unlike other fields of medicine that deal with individuals, public health’s main goal is to solve widespread population health issues.
There are different fields of public health professionals, but the same goal they have is to control disease outbreaks, improve sanitation in communities and societies, promote and develop healthy lifestyles, and also help in formulating and enacting health policies.
What is a public health course?
Public Health Course is a course that is an academic program that is designed to equip and prepare students by feeding them with the knowledge and skills that are needed to address health issues that affect communities and societies.
The course encompasses different fields of science, including biological sciences, social science, statistics, and health management principles, to prepare students for a wide range of difficulties that might arise in the future.
During the course of the study, students are taught how to identify health problems, conduct research in case of an outbreak or to formulate policy, and the best way to formulate policies that will improve communities’ health life.
Types of Public Health Courses
When a public health course is majorly Offered by universities across Nigeria because of accreditation, there are other forms of public health courses available in Nigeria, and some of them are
° Certificate in Public Health
This is the shortest public health course. The course does run for a maximum of 6 months at maximum, and the course only exposes students to the basic aspects of public health.
° Diploma in Public Health
This course is far more advanced and detailed than the certificate course. Students who take the public health diploma are taught the practical aspect of the course.
° Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BPH)
This is the most advanced form of course that is usually studied by undergraduates; it prepares students for professional exams in the public health sector, and it encompasses both the theories and the practical aspects of the course. It typically runs for 5-6 years at maximum.
° Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (PGD)
Postgraduate diplomas are public health courses that are designed for students who don’t have prior knowledge in public health courses but want to venture into the course as a career and want to use the route of postgraduate.
° Postgraduate Degree in Public Health
Postgraduate degrees in public health are public health courses that are studied by students who have completed their undergraduate studies and who want to advance their careers. Student can choose the route of Master and Doctor of Philosophy.
Public Health Course Duration
The duration of study for the public health course depends on the level of study and the route you used to process your admission. Below is the duration for the public health course in Nigeria, depending heavily on the courses and the level:
Public Health Course Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for public health courses in Nigeria are categorized using the O-level requirements. This requirement is your SSCE certificate and UTME requirement, also known as JAMB, and also the direct entry requirement for those who want to use the route of direct entry for admission.
O’Level Requirements
Candidates must obtain at least five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. These credits should be obtained in WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or equivalent examinations in not more than two sittings.
UTME Requirements
All universities that offer public health courses in Nigeria mandate that students must sit for the JAMB examination and must also choose the right subject combination.
Below are the subject combinations.
The subjects are English Language (compulsory), biology, chemistry, and mathematics.
Private universities’ JAMB cut-off marks will typically range from 150 to 250 if the private university is competitive and well-known, but this will be another case for less-known private universities. For public universities, students are advised to score at least a 250 UTME score if they want to be considered for admission into public health because of the competitiveness of the course.
Direct Entry Requirements
° ND in health-related disciplines with at least upper credit
° HND qualifications with atleast Upper Credit
° IJMB certificate
° JUPEB certificate
° A-Level passes in relevant science subjects
Public Health Course Subjects
Students studying public health are exposed to several important subjects during their duration of study.
° Epidemiology
° Biostatistics
° Environmental Health
° Health Promotion
° Community Health
° Occupational Health
° Public Health Nutrition
° Health Informatics
° Disease Prevention
° Global Health
° Research Methods
° Health Policy
Universities Offering Public Health in Nigeria
Federal Universities
° University of Calabar (UNICAL)
° Federal University of Technology Owerri
° University of Port Harcourt
° Federal University Birnin Kebbi
° University of Lagos (UNILAG)
° Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
° University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)
° University of Abuja (UNIABUJA)
° Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABUZARIA)
State Universities
° Lagos State University (LASU)
° Kaduna State University (KSU)
° Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko (AAUA)
° Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma (AAU)
° Ekiti State University (EKSU)
° Rivers State University
° University of Medical Science Ondo
Private Universities
° Babcock University
° Lead City University
° Afe Babalola University
° Bowen University
Public Health Course Cut-Off Mark
While the general cut-off mark set by JAMB is 150, courses like Public Health, which are competitive and are subjected to a high level of accreditation, demand a higher cut-off mark if students have it in mind to gain admission into the university.
The public health course cut-off marks for private universities range from 150 to 250, state universities range from 200 to 300, and federal universities range from 220 to 300.
Is Public Health a Good Course?
No doubt, the public health course is a good course to study in a higher learning institution; now it is even getting more embraced than nursing now because of its growing demand and also the large presence of job opportunities.
For studying the public health course, there lies a benefit, and some of the benefits are the following:
° High employment opportunities
° Diverse career options
° Opportunities for international employment
° Ability to impact community health positively
° Growing importance due to global health challenges
Career Opportunities for Public Health Graduates
We highlighted it above: the Public Health course is a course that is filled with a lot of job opportunities, and that is why, as a graduate of that course, you should be familiar with the job opportunities that are available for you immediately after graduation. Below are the career opportunities for job graduates.
° Public Health Officer
° Epidemiologist
° Community Health Specialist
° Environmental Health Officer
° Disease Surveillance Officer
° Health Policy Analyst
° Research Officer
° NGO Program Officer
° Health Data Analyst
Challenges Associated With Studying Public Health Courses
° Intensive science-based coursework
Students will be exposed to the side of science that is intensive compared to a normal science-based course that is less intensive in nature. Students who probably can’t cope with an intensive course might not have success in understanding the course.
° Statistical and research requirements
Statistics and research are part of public health, and it is what makes many students who are studying the course frustrated because they wonder what statistics are doing in public health, but this is a reality that many students have to face if they are to be awarded the certificate.
Students who have problems in calculation might have problems with tackling statistics problems in a public health class.
° Fieldwork responsibilities
Most of the public health professionals work out in the field, so expect a more tedious work of being in the field for a period of time, and this can be tedious for some students who don’t have the strength or ability for working outside their convenient area for a long period of time.
° Continuous learning due to evolving health issues
Because of the continuously evolving health challenges and problems, students will have to continue learning and learning in order to stay updated; that means continuous studies and research even if you are not students again.
Conclusion
No doubt the public health course is a good course to study in the 21st century age where unemployment is the nature of the day; the course, upon graduation, offers a flexible career route and more job opportunities because of its relevance to modern-day health issues and crises.
We can’t promise you perfect sailing during the duration of the study of the course, but rest assured, if you put your mind into it, you will surely finish the course with a good grade. Be determined; I want to see the best out of you.
Freeman is an education writer and the founder of Edulify. He has over four years of experience researching Nigerian universities, admissions, courses, and academic opportunities. His goal is to provide students with accurate, well-researched, and easy-to-understand educational guides to help them make informed academic decisions.