Purpose: to analyze the students’ understanding of public health training in the speech-language-hearing programs at public universities in Northeastern Brazil. Methods: a qualitative, multiple-case study that interviewed key informing students of seven universities in the Northeast to collect data. The analysis was based on the theme content analysis technique, having as theoretical reference the conception of curricula. Results: three categories emerged from the analysis: public health training experiences, influence of the experiences at the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS) on the speech-language-hearing therapist’s training, and potentials and limitations in public health training. Conclusion: the public university students of Northeastern Brazil perceive public health training as a means to prepare them for their future inclusion and professional practice at SUS.