5 core disciplines of public health:

Biostatistics

This competency applies the science of statistics to the field of public health. Biostatistics enable public health professionals to address pressing health issues by analyzing and interpreting data, then applying mathematical and statistical formulas to solve public health problems.

Environmental Health Sciences

Environmental factors can have significant impacts on the health of a community. The field of environmental health sciences focuses on how the environment—including biological, physical, and chemical factors—affects human health.

Epidemiology

A field commonly associated with public health and public health degree programs, epidemiology is the study of diseases within populations, including the patterns, detection, causes, and control of infectious disease epidemics.

Health Policy and Management

Access to and delivery of healthcare and healthcare programs can determine the well-being of communities. The multidisciplinary field of health policy and management is concerned with the delivery, quality, and costs of healthcare for individuals and populations from a managerial and a policy perspective, including but not limited to the cost, organization, and accessibility of care.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Sociocultural and behavioral factors greatly contribute to the health of populations. With an ultimate goal of creating and sustaining healthy communities, the study of social and behavioral sciences in the field of public health examines how behavioral, social, and cultural issues contribute to public health issues.