Bachelor’s in Public Health (BPH) Programs

If you want a job protecting the health of people and the communities where they live, a bachelor’s in public health (BPH) could be a fit for you. With Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Public Health programs both available, you can find an option that suits your interests and prepares you to enter the field.

This page will walk you through the basics of bachelor’s in public health degree programs, explain what you’ll study and discuss possible career opportunities.

Is Public Health Right for You?

People who are interested in health and well-being, driven to help others and are drawn to research, education or policy making may consider earning a BPH. A bachelor’s degree in public health delves into a variety of topics, from building emergency preparedness plans to addressing health disparities. Taking public health coursework during your bachelor’s degree program can be an excellent way to determine if public health is the right career field for you. 

More broadly, it’s crucial to understand that research and education are important components of the profession. Part of your job as a public health professional may involve transforming scientific findings into usable, easy-to-understand material that can be used to develop public health policies and programs, and inform the communities you are serving. 

For those who are interested in the field, but are uncertain about pursuing it professionally, taking undergraduate public health courses may help you make up your mind. You can explore the Public Health 101 Series put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Health 

Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) courses typically focus on the natural sciences. Graduates with a BS in Public Health or BSPH may pursue a variety of science-based careers in the clinical field, such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and research. Students will cover much of what’s included in BA programs while also completing coursework in math, statistics, health informatics, or chemistry. BS students may also have an interest in working in laboratory settings after they start their careers.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Health 

A Bachelor of Arts in Public Health is generally designed for students with an interest in the socio-cultural, socio-economical, and health policy aspects of public health. While focusing on many of the same areas as its Bachelor of Science counterpart, a BA in Public Health puts greater emphasis on the social sciences. In practice, that could involve human behavior and development, social studies, and environmental health—as well as more general topics like politics and law. 

Bachelor’s in Public Health (BPH) Degree and Curriculum 

What exactly does a bachelor’s in public health cover? The answer to that question depends on your chosen institution and specialization, but you’ll study a range of topics in both science and the humanities. 

Typical Prerequisites for a BPH Program

Though the specifics depend on the university, many bachelor’s in public health degree programs have similar admissions requirements. In most cases, you’ll begin by applying for general admission to the university of your choice. Once accepted, you may contact the school to inquire about the specifics of the program admissions.

Many universities require high school transcripts (often with a GPA of 3.0), either an SAT or ACT score, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. A personal statement may also be required for admission into the public health program specifically. 

Concentration Options in BPH

Once you’ve gotten familiar with the basics of the field, a bachelor’s in public health offers a number of  public health specializations. Broadly, these are divided by degree type: a BA or a BS in Public Health. 

BA candidates tend to focus more on the social sciences, with specializations covering areas like health education, community health promotion, and global health. Conversely, BS students are likely to specialize in science and statistics, studying research methods, epidemiology, and health disparities. 

BS in Public Health programs generally don’t require an individual to choose a concentration. But if you’re hoping to obtain a more niche education, picking a specialization may help you do that. If you have one in mind, do your research to make sure your desired program offers it—some specializations are only available at the master’s level, such as a Master of Public Health (MPH). 

Typical BPH Curriculum and Courses

Though curricula vary between institutions and specializations, bachelor’s in public health students can expect to graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to address many of modern society’s fundamental public health challenges. As with many undergraduate programs, students will begin by taking general education courses, for example in biology or anatomy. 

The specifics vary by university, but once you choose to major in public health, you’ll take introductory classes across a range of topics, including the history of public health, environmental health, and epidemiology. 

After successfully completing these courses, you’ll be able to move on to more advanced study. At this point, choosing a concentration is sometimes required. In general, these courses may cover health psychology and behavior, or health management. Other concentrations go beyond the discipline itself, teaching students about public health education or administration.

Toward the end of your undergraduate degree, you may also be required to complete an internship or capstone project, but this varies by institution.

Traditional vs. Online BPH Programs

While some think it may lack the interactive environment of traditional BPHs, the online bachelor’s in public health comes with some benefits. Like other online degrees, this starts with flexibility. Since many courses are available part-time, you can comfortably balance school and work. 

An online program also lets you live at home and potentially save money on travel. And for candidates craving more interactive learning, some online programs offer in-person components too. Whatever path you choose, remember that online and traditional Bachelor’s in Public Health programs normally share similar curricula, so you won’t miss out if you decide to study online. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Bachelor’s in Public Health Programs

Identifying the right bachelor’s in public health for you, can be confusing. Here’s a list of frequently asked questions—and answers to help you as you make a decision.

Bachelor’s in Public Health Programs List

Below, you will find a list of available Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Public Health programs that are accredited by CEPH.

List of CEPH Accredited Online MPH Programs

Institution	Type of Degree	Concentrations (If Offered)	Format
American University Washington D.C.	BA, BS	Contact school	Traditional
Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI	BSPH	Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, Environmental Health	Traditional
Appalachian State University Boone, NC	BS	N/A	Traditional
Arcadia University Philadelphia, PA	BSPH	Global Health	Traditional
Baylor University Waco, TX	BSPH	Community Health Education	Traditional
Brigham Young University Provo, UT	BS	Environmental & Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Health Science	Traditional
Brown University Providence, RI	AB, ScB	Statistics	Traditional
California Baptist University Riverdale, CA	BSPH	N/A	Online
California State University, Northridge Northridge, CA	BS	N/A	Traditional
California State University, San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA	BS	N/A	Traditional
Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI	BA, BAA, BS	N/A	Traditional
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, CA	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC	BS	N/A	Traditional
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA	BA, BSPH	Global Health	Traditional
East Carolina University Greenville, NC	BSPH	Community Health, Pre-Health, Worksite Health	Traditional
East Stroudsburg University East Stroudsburg, PA	BSPH	Community Health Education, Health Services Administration, Health Education	Traditional
East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN	BS, BSPH	Health Administration, Health Sciences: Human Health, Microbiology, Public Health: Community Health, Environmental Health	Traditional
Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY	BS	Community Health, Pre-Professional	Traditional
Florida International University Miami, FL	BA	Disaster Management, Dietetics & Nutrition, Social Work	Traditional
George Mason University Fairfax, VA	BS in Community Health	Global Health, Clinical Science	Traditional
George Washington University Washington, D.C.	BS	Nutrition Science, Exercise Science	Traditional
Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA	BSPH	Environmental Health Sciences, Global Health, Health Education & Promotion	Traditional
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA	BS	N/A	Traditional
Hawaii Pacific University Honolulu, HI	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
Illinois State University Normal, IL	BS	Health Promotion & Education	Traditional
Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN	BS, BSPH	Health Data Science, Health Services Management, Community Health, Epidemiology, Global Health	Traditional
Indiana University at Bloomington Bloomington, IN	BS, BSPH	Community Health, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Fitness & Wellness, Applied Health Science, Kinesiology, Recreation	Traditional
Jackson State University Jackson, MS	BS	Communicative Disorders, Healthcare Administration, Social Work	Traditional
Kent State University Kent, OH	BSPH	Allied Health, Clinical Trials Research, Community-based Public Health, Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health Science, Global Health, Health Promotion & Education, Health Services Administration, Pre-Medicine	Online, Traditional
La Salle University Philadelphia, PA	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
Liberty University Lynchburg, VA	BS	Health Promotion, Pre-Clinical	Traditional
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL	BS	N/A	Traditional
Mercer University Macon, GA	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
Montclair State University Montclair, NJ	BS	Community Health Education, Health Systems Administration & Policy	Traditional
New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM	BPH	N/A	Traditional
Northeastern University Boston, MA	BS	Health Science	Traditional
Ohio State University Columbus, OH	BSPH	Environmental Public Health, Public Health Sociology	Traditional
Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University Portland, OR	BA/BS	Healthy Aging, Community Health Promotion, Health Services Administration, Clinical Health Science, School Health Educator	Traditional
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR	BS	Health Management & Policy, Health Promotion & Health Behavior	Traditional, Online
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ	BS	N/A	Traditional
SUNY – Cortland Cortland, NY	BS	Community Health, Health Education, Healthcare Management, Human Service Studies, Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy	Traditional
SUNY – Old Westbury Old Westbury, NY	BS	Health & Society	Traditional
Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO	BA, BS	Biostatistics, Health Management, Social Work	Traditional
Salisbury University Salisbury, MD	BS	Community Health	Traditional
San Diego State University San Diego, CA	BS	N/A	Traditional
Simon Fraser University Burnaby, Canada	BA, BSc, BA-BA	Health Sciences: Life Sciences, Health Sciences: Population & Quantitative Health	Traditional, International
Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CT	BS	N/A	Traditional
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL	BS	N/A	Traditional
St. Catherine University St. Paul, MN	BA, BS	Community Health Worker, Health Promotion & Education, Health Science, Public Policy & Social Sciences, Community Health Worker, Health Promotion & Education, Health Science	Traditional
Syracuse University Syracuse, NY	BSPH	Addiction Prevention, Community Health Education, Health & Society, Healthcare Management	Traditional
Temple University Philadelphia, PA	BS	N/A	Traditional
Tennessee State University Nashville, TN	BS, BSHS	Health Sciences	Traditional
Texas A&M Health Science Center Bryan, TX	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
Tulane University New Orleans, LA	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
University at Albany – SUNY Albany, NY	BS	Interdisciplinary Studies: Bioinstrumentation	Traditional
University at Buffalo – SUNY Buffalo, NY	BA, BS	Statistics, Exercise Science	Traditional
University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL	BS	Environmental Health, General Public Health, Global Health	Traditional
University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	BS	N/A	Online, Traditional
University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AK	BSPH	N/A	Online, Traditional
University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA	BA	N/A	Online, Traditional
University of California Irvine, CA	BA, BS	Public Health Policy, Public Health Sciences	Traditional
University of Florida Gainesville, FL	BHS	Communication Sciences & Disorders, Health Science	Online, Traditional
University of Georgia Athens, GA	BS	Environmental Health, Health Promotion	Traditional
University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI	BA	N/A	Traditional
University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL	BA, BS	N/A	Traditional
University of Iowa Iowa City, IA	BA, BS	N/A	Traditional
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	BPH	N/A	Traditional
University of Louisville Louisville, KY	BAPH, BSPH	N/A	Traditional
University of Maryland Shady Grove, MD	BS, BS-MSA, BS-Mfin	Community Health, Family Science, Kinesiology, Public Health Science, Joint Degree	Traditional
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA	BS	Communication Disorders, Kinesiology, Nutrition	Traditional
University of Miami  Coral Gables, FL	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI	BPH	N/A	Traditional
University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
University of Nevada Las Vegas, NV	BS	Health Care Administration	Traditional
University of Nevada Reno, NV	BS	Community Health Sciences	Traditional
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC	BSPH	Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Health Policy & Management, Nutrition	Traditional
University of North Carolina Charlotte, NC	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC	BS, BS-MS	Community Health Education, Global Health, Gerontology, Pre-Clinical Health	Traditional
University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL	BSH	N/A	Traditional
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Oklahoma City, OK	BA, BS, BPH	Community Health	Traditional
University of South Carolina Columbia, SC	BA, BS	N/A	Traditional
University of South Florida Tampa, FL	BS, BSPH	Health Sciences	Traditional
University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS	BSPH	Allied Health, Health Education, Health Policy & Administration	Traditional
University of Washington Seattle, WA	BA, BS	Food Systems, Nutrition & Health, Public Health: Global Health, Environmental Health, Health Informatics & Health Information Management	Traditional
University of Wisconsin La Crosse, WI	BS-PH	Community Health Education	Traditional
Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	BS	Public Health Sciences, Community and Population Health, Patient Navigation	Traditional
Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT	BS	Health Education, Health Promotion Studies	Traditional
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY	BSPH	N/A	Traditional
William Paterson University Wayne, NJ	BSPH	Generalist, Public Health Education, Health Studies	Traditional

Information last updated October 2020