15 Best Online Public Health Degree Programs

Studying at the University of South Florida has its benefits when it comes to campus life. The school is located just a mile from Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, and just over an hour from Walt Disney World. A bachelor’s degree in public health online teaches students about the critical issues surrounding the health industry, including:

• public health programs and policies
• global health
• epidemiology
• biostatistics
• environmental health

As part of the 120-credit online program, students must take 30 core credits that focus on all aspects of the public health field. Students must also take 12 credit hours of foundational skills courses, which include the option of a public health seminar and studying abroad.

Applicants to this best online bachelors degree program must submit official transcripts and SAT and ACT test scores to the office of admissions as part of the required documentation. USF ranks No. 1 in the nation as the Top Public Health Program, according to its website.

The University of Arizona is one of the most diverse schools in the nation, with over 150 different countries represented on its campus. The Online Bachelor of Science with a major in public health teaches students about:

• health promotion
• disease prevention
• health disparities in the population

The 120-credit program has three emphasis areas including:

• global health
• health systems theory and practice
• public health practice

During the core coursework, students can take on an internship while enrolled in their studies. Courses can be taken online, which allows a more flexible and self-paced schedule.

Applicants to the public health program must have at least a 2.5 GPA, and a high school diploma, and are also required to submit official transcripts to the office of admissions.

With over 200 student organizations available to sign up for and be a part of, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers a great campus life for students who wish to study there. The UNCG Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education with a concentration in health studies strives to help students understand the mental, physical, and social health problems that are affecting society. 

The 120-credit program allows students the opportunity to take classes online and complete a mixture of general education and core curriculum courses. Students will have the opportunity within the major to conduct extended research and practice hands-on with patients as they prepare for a future in the field. 

For more information on admissions requirements and the documentation needed, contact the university through its website.

You will never go hungry at Kent State University. The school has more than 20 on-campus dining locations, including a giant food truck that serves appetite-driven students. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health helps train students to become health professionals, a field that is ever-growing.

Students can select a concentration in:

• Allied Health
• Clinical Trials Research
• Health Promotion and Education
• Health Services Administration

Each concentration has 21 credits that focus strictly on the major itself and must be taken after satisfying the general education requirements.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or GED and submit official transcripts and ACT/SAT test scores.

You can’t beat the scenery if you study at Northern Arizona University, located in beautiful Flagstaff. Surrounded by mountains, students can study in a perfect and serene environment as they begin their journey toward a public health degree. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health prepares students for careers in:

• hospitals
• schools
• government health agencies
• private industries
• non-governmental organizations

The 120-credit program requires at least 30 hours of upper-level courses and 71 hours of major and core courses. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 throughout their enrollment and follow the progress plan listed on the school’s website.

Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA in their high school or GED coursework, or a 2.5 GPA with three years of work as a public health professional. Other documentation to be submitted includes official transcripts and ACT/SAT test scores.

Located on the edge of Florida’s panhandle, in Pensacola, The University of West Florida is just minutes from the beach and has school colors that match the sky and the sea. Students can study online from the beach in courses that comprise the bachelor’s in public health program, which teaches students preventative health disease methods and prepares them for a future as a health professional.

With a public health specialization, graduates study the research of public health professionals and prepare to work in local, state, and federal agencies. Within the 120-credit program, an emphasis is placed on:

• history
• philosophy
• scope
• law and regulations
• recent trends in the health industry

Students are required to earn 13 prerequisite credits before enrolling in major coursework, which accounts for 60 credits.

Applicants must submit official transcripts and ACT/SAT test scores to the Office of Admissions.

California Baptist University is a religious school taught 100% by faculty members of the Christian faith. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health is an online degree that gives students the skills they need to excel in the public health field, such as:

• disaster preparedness
• emergency services
• health care planning
• program planning and evaluation
• academic and applied research methods

The 16-month program is self-paced and requires the completion of 30 upper-division units, 12 lower-division units, 19 major units, and six Christian study units. The rest of the coursework falls under CBU’s general education curriculum. 

Applicants must submit their official transcripts to the admissions counselor at CBU. Once approved, the counselor will arrange an interview with the student and go over the rest of the admissions process and financing plans.

With just under 900 daytime students, Rivier University is perfect for students looking for a small college in a quiet setting. The Online Bachelor of Science in Public Health allows students to earn a degree in a field that is one of the fastest-growing in the job market.

The curriculum includes a flexible format that allows students to pace themselves and complete the program in just two to four years, on average. A total of 123 credit hours are required to earn the degree, and courses are seven and 14 weeks long. Overall, 72 credits must be taken within the public health major itself.

To be admitted to the online public health degree program, applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and a high school diploma or GED.

What makes Southern New Hampshire University unique is that it has more than 90,000 online students, compared to just 3,000 on-campus students. The school is great for students who are all about technology.

The Online Bachelor of Science in Public Health gives students the opportunity to interact with their professors and classmates in a virtual setting while obtaining the skills they need to excel in the public health field. With a degree, graduates can pursue jobs in:

• state and local health departments
• nonprofit organizations
• managed care organizations
• hospitals
• medical facilities

The 120-credit bachelors in public health online includes courses in:

• Social and Behavioral Health
• Ethics and Legal Considerations of Healthcare
• Principles of Epidemiology
• Research and Assessment in Public Health

Students close out their coursework with a capstone communications course.

Applicants should submit to the Office of Admissions official transcripts and an electronic attestation form that verifies they have earned a high school diploma or GED.

Brigham Young has graduated some of the nation’s most prominent names, including Senator Mitt Romney, Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, and activist Elizabeth Smart. BYU has a number of different campuses in the American West; the Idaho campus provides those interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health the opportunity to earn their degree online. With this degree, graduates enter the world of public health with a strong knowledge of the causes of disease and the keys to living a more healthy lifestyle.

After completing 39 general education requirements, students earn 18 credits in the public health core module covering areas like:

• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Program Planning/Implementation

Students then complete 15 credits in the public health science module and 14 credits in the public health C.H.E.S. module. The degree offers the choice of a concentration in Health Education and Promotion or Health Science.

Applicants should submit to the admissions counselor all official transcripts and proof of a GED or high school diploma.

More than 87% of the students who attend American Public University System are working adults, making it convenient for them to study for a degree online. APUS offers more than 200 online degrees, all of which can be started at any time throughout the year. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree focuses on science, psychology, and sociology tied into health issues and helps prepare students for all aspects of public health.

After completing 30 semester hours of general education requirements, students take another 90 semester hours that focus on:

• major courses
• concentration courses
• electives

Students can choose a concentration in:

• Emergency and Disaster Management
• Nutrition and Wellness
• Public Health Informatics

Before graduation, students must successfully complete the Senior Seminar in Public Health.

Applicants can sign up for the program online and should contact the admissions office for all required documentation. APU offers ebooks to its online bachelors in public health students for no additional charge during their enrollment.

Mississippi University for Women, which is known simply as “The W,” offers many online degrees. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health Online degree focuses on teaching students the skills to help:

• prevent disease
• prolong life
• promote health

With a full-time schedule, students earn 15 to 16 credits each semester, which includes an internship during the final semester. Overall, 124 semester hours are required to complete the program. A list of prerequisite general education courses is listed on MUW’s website.

All students studying online must be sure to have the required computer applications for online courses. Applicants must submit official transcripts and ACT/SAT test scores to the Office of Admissions.

Nearly one-third of the students who study at The University of the Cumberlands do so through dual-enrollment courses, beginning their undergraduate degree while completing high school. This is good for students who want to begin working as a public health professional while studying for a Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree online.

As part of the curriculum, students must complete 77 semester hours of general education courses, 33 semester hours of bachelor’s core requirements, and 18 semester hours from the elective bank. Included among the core courses, students take classes in:

• Substance Abuse
• Nutrition
• Public Health Administration
• Epidemiology
• Introduction to the Study of Disease

Applicants must have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in high school and submit official transcripts and ACT test scores to the admissions office. For transfer students’ requirements, visit the school’s website.

Excelsior College is revolutionary in its approach, offering innovative solutions to non-traditional students so that they may earn a degree in the program of their choice. Future health professionals can study online for a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with an emphasis in Public Health, a dual degree program that aims to allow students to move on to their master’s degree and gives students a firm understanding of the U.S. healthcare industry.

The online bachelor’s degree public health program places an emphasis on health and wellness management, and on public health. Students are required to complete 147 semester credits to earn the degree, which includes 60 credits in the arts and sciences and 51 credits in health sciences. Students must also take a 1-credit online information literacy course at the beginning of their studies.

Applicants must submit official transcripts along with their online application. Excelsior College is located in Albany, NY, just under three hours from New York City.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, students will gain the tools necessary to have a positive impact on the population and help those who are in need of service. The program is designed to be completed in four years.

Students complete 120 semester credits as part of the curriculum; 42 of these are focused solely on the College of Public Health. Students may also choose up to 27 elective credits from the Public Health curriculum.

Applicants must submit transcripts along with their application and schedule an interview with an admissions counselor prior to acceptance into the college. Monroe College is located in the Bronx, just 15 minutes from Yankee Stadium.