Published Research Article

CHARACTERIZING THE GROWTH OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR: U.S. 1992-2012

September 19, 2018

ASPPH, along with the de Beaumont Foundation, conducted research that improves the understanding of trends in public health undergraduate training. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the researchers documented the growth from 1992-2012.

The undergraduate public health major grew from 759 degrees awarded in 1992 to 6,464 in 2012. Demographic trends within this growing public health student population showed a more ethnic diversity than the U.S. undergraduate population as a whole. Women were particularly well represented as public health majors. The number of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders more than doubled, and the proportion of Hispanic students increased dramatically. African American students represent the largest minority group in public health.