Public health is an interdisciplinary field that deals with health care practices in local, regional, national, and global environments. This article covers the different options and specializations available for Public health in Universities, requirements for admission and the Nigerian schools that offer these options.
Read on below:
Public Health courses in Nigeria are:
- Environmental public health
- Drug Education
- Primary Health care
- Community Health Education
- Reproductive and Family Health
- Safety Health Education
- Community Health
- Tropical Public Health
- Epidemiology and Community Health
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Health
- Health Management and Health Education
- Tropical Public Health
- Epidemiology and Community Health
- Health Policy & Management
- Health Services Administration
- Health Promotion and Education
- Population and Reproductive Health Education
- Health Promotion and Education
- Human Nutrition and Dietetics
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Field Epidemiology
- Medical Demography
- Biostatistics
- Child health and family planning
- Emotional health
- Mental health
- Health care delivery system and organization
- Health economics
- Dental health assisted with an emergency oral surgeon
- Health management and Informatics
- Public health Technology
- International Public Health Management
- Public Health Policy & Management
- Public Health Education
- Public Health Information, Education & Communication
- Epidemiology, disease control & surveillance
- Occupational health
- Health Systems Management & Administration
- Community/Family and Reproductive Health
The department of Public Health sciences is under the faculty of Health Sciences where its president asked us ¨have you heard about this home health care?¨ where they send most of their senior care trainees as their first experience.
Admission Requirements into Public Health Science
Candidates seeking admission to the Department of Public health must have a minimum of 5 credit passes in O’ level examinations such as SSCE/NECO/NABTEB or its equivalent in five subjects to include English Language, Mathematics, Biology/ Health Science, Chemistry, or A-Level Biology, Chemistry. Mathematics is mandatory. The result must be obtained at not more than two sittings
Admission requirement for Direct Entry
- Candidates with a Grade B in NCE degree in any of the following subjects: Physical/Health Education, Science Education, Nutrition, and Home Economics are eligible for admission into 200 level.
- Candidates with upper credit in Higher National Diploma in any of the following courses are eligible for admission into 200 level:
Community Health Office Training Certificate (CHO)
Food science and technology
Home economics
Science lab tech
Medical Lab. Sciences
Candidates who have qualifications in any health-related discipline may be considered for admission via direct entry
Candidates with 1-year post qualification experience in their health discipline are also eligible for admission.
UTME subjects should include Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
General Admission Requirements for Postgraduate programs in Public health Science
Postgraduate Diploma:
Candidates for Postgraduate Diploma in Public health science must have graduated from a recognized University or must have qualifications in whatever field considered to be equivalent to a first degree.
A holder of a minimum of upper credit in the Higher National Diploma from a recognized institution may also be admitted into 200 level
Admission requirements for a Masters Degree in Public Health Science
A candidate with a first degree from any recognized University and with a minimum of a second class lower division may be admitted.
A candidate who has a good postgraduate Diploma in addition to a first degree, HND or certain professional health certification from a recognized Institution may also be admitted to a Master’s degree program.
Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in the sciences in the following disciplines, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Botany, Geology, Geography, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Medicine/Medical Sciences, Medical lab Science and Technology particularly Civil and Chemical Engineering(with at least a 2nd class) are eligible for a Masters degree
Candidates with experience in the health sector, education, social welfare, health promotion or other appropriate Ministry, Agency or Institution may be an added advantage.
Masters of Philosophy
A candidate who has had a weighted coursework average between 3.0 to 3.49 CGPA (on 5-point grade average) or between 50% to 54.99% at the Masters level to include course work and dissertation from any recognized University, may be admitted into the M.Phil degree program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree:
A candidate with a course work average, not less than 4.00 CGPA (on a 5-point scale) or 60% in his or her Master’s Degree to include course work and dissertation from any recognized university, may be admitted into a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.
Universities that offer a B.Sc in Public health include:
National Open University of Nigeria
Babcock University
Madonna University Nigeria
Federal University of Technology Owerri
Universities that offer Postgraduate options in Public health are:
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
University of Ibadan
University of Lagos
University Of Nigeria, Nsukka
University Of Port Harcourt
Babcock University
University of Calabar
University of Ilorin
These universities offer different options, ensure you find out if the school provides you with the specific area you want to specialize in.
Career opportunities available to Public scientists
- Health Informatics Specialist
- Healthcare Administrator
- Public Health Nurse
- Rehabilitation Counsellor
- Health Administrators/Managers
- Program Directors
- Epidemiologist
- Public Health Statisticians
- Environmental Health Educators
- Sanitary officers
- Healthcare Administrator
- Public Health Project Manager
- Health and Safety Engineer
- Public Health Educator
- Healthcare Consultant
- Consumer Safety Officer
- Behavioral Health Program
- Health and Wellness Manager
- Environmental Health Technician
- Community Health Worker
- Reproductive Health Specialist
- Medical Investigator
- Public Health Journalist
- Tropical Disease Expert
- Medical Director
- Management Policy Advisor
- Public Health Veterinarian
- Public Health Lawyer
- Biostatisticians
- Environmental Health Emergency Response Expert
- Nurse Educator
- Academic Policy Advisor
- Health Communication Specialist
- Disease Ecologist
- Health Promotions Program Coordinator
- Nutritionist
- Public Health Information Officer
- Medical Writer
- Public Health Consultant
- Director Of Family Health
- Public Health Engineer
- Health Center Administrator
- Industrial Hygienist
- Federal Or State Environmentalist
- Mental Health Researcher
- Vaccine Researcher
- Behavioral Health Program Coordinator
- Health And Wellness Manager
- Environmental Health Technician
- Health Teacher
- Community Health Worker
- Reproductive Health Specialist
- Medical Investigator