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.
April 27, 2026 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
“My experience at USC has been the best four years of my life,” Caitlin Monaghan says. “This community is very supportive and welcoming, which makes it easy for freshmen to get involved, and the city of Columbia has so much to offer and is always filled with Gamecock pride. On gamedays, I love how the entire community comes together to support our teams and cheer them on.”
With plans to pursue a career in health care, the University of South Carolina caught Monaghan’s eye because it offered a strong academic foundation and an array of opportunities through the Arnold School of Public Health. The Long Island, New York native wanted to better understand the factors that influence overall health.
Get involved early on. This can be through community service, research or student organizations. These experiences will help you better understand the field of public health and build long-lasting connections.
Monaghan knew that the B.S. in Public Health program would help her understand the social, economic and environmental conditions that shape health outcomes, which she believes is essential in becoming a more compassionate provider. Two other factors cemented her commitment to attend USC: her acceptance into the South Carolina Honors College (No. 1 in the nation among public universities) and her twin sister, Megan’s, decision to enroll in the Darla Moore School of Business.
During her undergraduate tenure, Monaghan leaned into her coursework on health disparities and improving health outcomes in underserved communities. She found mentors in upper classmen, who shared their experiences with the program, why they chose the field of public health, which student organizations were the best fit, and how to best support her academic pursuits.
“Their advice and support played a key role in helping me navigate my time at USC,” Monaghan says.
Outside the classroom, she volunteered at local organizations such as Harvest Hope Foodbank. Together, the Monaghan sisters along with some friends founded the community service-based student organization, Carolina’s Compassionate Connections (members are pictured above and to the right), which partners with Epworth Children’s Home to and maintain the campus and engage residents in activities.
“These experiences have allowed me to see firsthand how social and economic factors impact health,” Monaghan says. “My passion for improving access to care and addressing health disparities has continued to grow throughout my time in South Carolina.”
In addition to her volunteer work, Monaghan played an active role in the Association of Pre-Physician Assistant Students. She also found time to shadow clinicians at the New York Firefighters Heart and Lung Institute and serve as an Emergency Medical Technician. Following her May graduation, Monaghan will return to her home state to pursue a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree at the New York Institute of Technology.
Her advice to future students?
“Get involved early on,” she says. “This can be through community service, research or student organizations. These experiences will help you better understand the field of public health and build long-lasting connections. I would also encourage you to explore more options and different areas within public health to find what you are passionate about.”
