Department of Health Sciences and Public Health

Welcome to the Department of Health Sciences and Public Health! We're here to help you turn your passion for service into a high-impact career.  We believe in a holistic, whole-person, whole-community approach to health professions education. Our curriculum embraces the intricate connections between individuals, communities, and the environment. 

Our program integrates the natural and biological sciences witih a deep understanding of social, psychological, and environmental factors that prepare you to address the root causes of disease.  Field-based experiences bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. Students learn actively by doing, reflecting, and engaging in hands-on challenges. Students build critical skills and gain confidence that textbooks and theory alone cannot provide. 

Not sure which major is right for you? Many of our students come to Ithaca knowing they want to help people, but still exploring how.  Our department gives you room to explore our two undergraduate degree pathways to discover which program aligns with your purpose and vision for the future. Our goal is to prepare future healthcare leaders as compassionate change agents committed to equity, sustainability, and health for all. 

We offer two majors for undergraduates, responsive to the wide range of interests that students have in the health professions field. 

Connect Science, Service, and Professional Purpose
The Health Science major is a rigorous curriculum tailored for students with goals to practice direct patient care or clinical research.  We offer two concentrations: premedical concentration and planned clinical concentration.  These concentrations will position you for future studies and success in areas such as direct patient care (physician assistant, physician, nurse practitioner, physician, dietician, nutrition educator, occupational therapy or physical therapy) or clinical researcher.

Connect Advocacy, Equitable Outcomes, and System Redesign
The Public and Community Health major prepares graduates to improve human health through developing knowledge and skills to prevent diseases and injuries, protect the public from harm, and promote health throughout the state, nation and around the world. Public Health is a field that provides many rewarding career opportunities. You can enter the workforce upon graduation or pursue further specialized study in graduate school. 

No matter what major you choose, you'll find your education extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. 

• Hands-On Practice: Classroom lessons come to life as you work with real people in structured fieldwork settings. These supervised workplace settings offer opportunities to make a connection between theory and practice.
• Global Engagement: Take advantage of IC's short- and long-term student away options that will broaden your perspectives.
• Networking and Student Clubs: Build lifelong friendships, collaborate on advocacy, and network with professionals through our active student organizations. 
  • Pre-Health Sciences Club
  • Pre-Physician Assistant Club
  • Voices of Equity (Public Health)
  • Nutrition Club
  • Aging and Gerontological Education Society (AGES)

Our Health Sciences graduates frequently pursue advanced degrees in clinical and healthcare fields. Public and Community Health graduates often transition directly into the workforce or choose specialized graduate studies. 

We encourage students in both majors to explore our institutional partnerships and pathways: 

• Nursing Pathway:  Gain an accelerated bachelor's or enroll in a master's degree in nursing through our partnership with the University of Rochester School of Nursing. 
• Public Health Advanced Study: Expand your expertise and fuel your passion through Boston University's Select Scholars Program. 
• Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3)-Ithaca College Dual Enrollment: Seamlessly transition from TC3 after graduation (A.S.) to Ithaca College Health Sciences or Public and Community Health program for a B.S. degree through our TC3-IC dual enrollment program. 

For more information about these programs, contact Department Chair Dr. Amy Frith.

Customize your degree by exploring topics aligned with your personal interest.  Our department minors give you the change to deepen your health-related knowledge and complement your major in areas such as aging studies, food and nutrition, coaching, and public health and wellness.

Many students strengthen their credentials with minors in chemistry, biology, neuroscience, Spanish, or writing. Using free electives often allows you to complete a minor without adding extra degree requirements.