Study Public Health
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) curriculum is for students who want to apply the degree to social and behavioral sciences, while the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is for students who are interested in a broad-based natural science.
December 20, 2023 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
“Do it for your country,” Haichao Min says of choosing a career in public health.
Min witnessed this decision in action when the COVID-19 pandemic began. His older sister – a nurse – stepped up to aid their local community in China during the most chaotic phase of the crisis. When it came time for Min to choose a major, he knew public health would allow him to help as many people as possible.
“As a student in the field of public health, the ultimate dream is to be able to work towards improving people's lives and well-being,” Min says.
His first contributions to this type of impact took place during the second half of 2020. As a volunteer with the Health Commission of Jiangxi Province, Min helped formulate special health emergency plans, wrote press releasees and inventoried supplies and materials.
He would return to China during summer breaks from his undergraduate program to gain experience and do his part to improve health in his homeland. In 2021, he spent the summer interning with the Infectious Disease Control Department in the QingShanHu District – monitoring local and regional infection rates and testing for COVID-19 antibodies.
This past summer, Min split his time in the Jiangxi Province. He spent the first half of the summer as an intern with the infectious disease department at a local hospital and the second half as a business management intern with the province’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
At USC, he grew as a professional through his coursework and found mentors in Arnold School faculty. Min’s advisor, Sarah Patneaude, helped him chart a successful path as a public health professional. Charlotte Galloway taught a foundational course (PUBH 302) that set the stage for his knowledge of the field. Finally, Kersten Cope had a major impact on Min as the instructor for his capstone and global health courses.
“Ms. Cope has a unique perspective on public health, and she understands and takes care of foreign students,” he says. “She understands where our ideas are coming from and makes good suggestions.”
With interests in epidemiology and health management, Min is interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health or Master of Public Administration after graduating this month. Long term, he would like to hold a management position in a hospital or government agency.
“Public health is an ever-evolving field that faces numerous challenges, such as global health crises and outbreak response,” Min says. “Being prepared for these challenges and being willing to learn and adapt is the key to success.”
