Students in the Public Health major offered at Western Illinois University develop competence in the public health core disciplines of behavioral health/health education, epidemiology, biostatistics, health services administration, and environmental health and can choose an emphasis in either community health education or environmental and occupational safety. Students also take courses in other public health disciplines such as women's health, multicultural health, and public health preparedness. All majors in the BS in Public Health complete a "capstone" internship during their final semester before graduation.

The Public Health graduates are prepared in the disciplines of community and public health education and are extremely marketable. They have been successful in gaining employment in positions focused on planning, implementation, and evaluation of health-promoting and health-enhancing programs for individuals, groups, and communities. They work in business and industry; healthcare facilities; community organizations; and local, state, and federal governmental agencies.

The Public Health environmental and occupational safety graduates are prepared to address a variety of issues related to health and the environment, including water quality, food safety, air quality and pollution control, solid and toxic waste disposal, and public policy. They have been successful in gaining employment in local, state, and federal environmental agencies; business and industry; and environmental consulting agencies.