Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Public Health

With over 15,000 online students, Brigham Young University-Idaho has one of the largest online student bodies in the nation. While a formal public health degree isn't offered, students interested in the field may want to consider the online bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies. Through this 4-year program, students can design their own program by choosing courses from 2 or more disciplines. They can also pursue a minor or a cluster in public health, while specializing in health promotion or healthcare administration. This highly-customizable program lets students study and prepare for their specific career goals and interests.

At Northern Arizona University, the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences: Public Health degree can be earned entirely online and is tailored to working students. The degree requires 120 credit hours; transfer students may bring in up to 64, making this ideal for students who already possess an associate degree. Students gain an understanding of the U.S. health system, concepts in policy and law, and societal and behavioral influences on human health. They go on to work in environments such as clinics, colleges, or county health services departments.

Kent State University students can choose from several options to pursue an online bachelor's degree in public health. Four concentrations are available: allied health, clinical trials research, health promotion and education and health services administration. Undergrads can also add a certificate in public health. After completing the degree, graduates will be parepared to work in a variety of settings, including public health departments, clinics, community health organizations and insurance companies.

Missouri Southern State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Science Business/Life-Health as a degree completion program. This distance learning option is aimed at transfer students who already hold an associate degree but who do not have a background in health. The curriculum teaches students about issues and principles related to public health, such as epidemiology and environmental problems, as well as arming them with practical business skills to use in administrative roles. The degree requires 124 credits to complete.

For those interested in pursuing a career in public health, Bellevue University offers an online health science degree. This multi-disciplinary program combines the studies of health, illness and disease prevention and offers 2 areas of emphases so students can develop specialized skills. One option is the science emphasis which focuses on the life sciences and the second option is the eldercare emphasis which focuses on the growing elderly population and prepares students for the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).

Youngstown State University offers its online bachelor's in public health program in 2-, 3- or 4-year formats, depending on how many credits a student has previously earned; 120 credits total, including general education requirements, are necessary to graduate. Students can choose from one of two tracks: environmental health and safety or health education/promotion; throughout the program they must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. Many students choose to go on to graduate studies, as well as to careers in health education, community practices, and health policy and management.

Originally a women's college, Mississippi University for Women has since expanded to include men, and has 2 online bachelor's degree options in public health. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education is designed both for freshmen and for transfer students who hold an associate degree; the latter may transfer up to 62 credits. The online Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health Education is for students who hold an associate degree in allied health; they may transfer up to 43 technical credits toward the baccalaureate degree. Both 124-credit programs train students to work in a variety of jobs that promote and improve public health.

Founded with non-traditional students in mind, National University has been offering online courses and programs for over 2 decades. Its bachelor's of science in public health is an online option for those looking to work in public health but need flexibility while pursuing their degree. Offered in either an entirely online or hybrid format, this program covers key topics such as personal health, human anatomy, human sexuality, health informatics and microbiology, to name a few course examples. 180 quarter units are required to earn this degree, the majority of which must be completed at National University.

While the majority of its students study on-campus, the University of North Carolina Greensboro's distance learning offerings has expanded in recent years. The online degrees are often more affordable than the on-campus counterparts, so students interested in degrees like a bachelor's in public health are starting to opt for online study. UNCG's online public health program gives students a strong foundation in the field, preparing them for health careers that focus on alleviating health disparities. Through elective courses, students can focus more on their desired niche, leaving some room for specialization.

Delaware State University is a smaller school that caters to non-traditional students. Nearly half of the student body lives off campus and many of these students don't commute and opt for online learning formats. Those interested in the public health field can look into the online bachelor in public health degree. Structured the same as the on-campus version, the BS in public health is entirely online and prepares students for various entry-level positions such as STD prevention specialists, employee wellness coordinators or state immunization program coordinators. A senior capstone project is required, giving students valuable experience prior to beginning their public health career.