Public Health Degree - Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Public health promotes and protects the health of individuals and communities. Public health professionals focus on disease prevention, wellness promotion, and encouraging healthy behaviors. They implement educational programs, develop policies, administer services, conduct research, and regulate health systems. Now, more than ever, there is a great need for public health professionals!

Why should I choose to study public health?

Health education specialists teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities.

What are some public health courses I will take?

  • BIOL 2340 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BSPH 2350 Foundations of Health Education and Promotion
  • BIOL 2380 Microbiology
  • BSPH 4360 Pathophysiology of Chronic Disease
  • EXSS 3107 Advanced Cardiovascular Training
  • BSPH 4344 Leadership in Health Science

What is a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree

A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health provides students with foundational public health knowledge and skills needed to address community health problems and successfully plan, implement, and evaluate health care programs and interventions. A BSPH is a perfect degree for students looking to:

  • Help improve the overall health and well-being of individuals, families, and their communities
  • Empower people to properly manage chronic illnesses and disabilities
  • Advocate for public health policies to achieve health equity and equality at the local, national, or global level

Why should you get a BSPH at UMHB?


In our Public Health Program at UMHB, students will not only gain valuable knowledge and skills to excel in their future careers, but they will also receive a personalized educational experience with a low student-to-faculty ratio surrounded by faculty who care about their future success.


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What are some jobs for Public Health?

Health Education Specialist

  • Health education specialists are the public health professionals who work “on the ground” to teach people about health and to promote positive behavior change. They work in a variety of settings, including healthcare facilities, colleges, public health departments, and nonprofit organizations. They develop educational programs, assess the health needs of their community, help people get pertinent health information, and lobby to promote healthcare policies.

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

  • Occupational health and safety specialists collect data to determine the safety of various work environments and procedures. They work in a variety of settings, such as offices or factories. Occupational health and safety specialists examine the workplace for environmental or physical factors that could affect employee health, safety, comfort, and performance. A bachelor’s degree is required to qualify for a position as an occupational health and safety specialist.

Environmental Scientist and Specialist

  • Arsenic poisoning from wells, hazardous chemicals released from oil spills, air pollution from heavy traffic in metropolitan areas; these and many more are issues addressed by public health professionals working in environmental health. A bachelor’s degree is required at a minimum to become an environmental scientist, but a master’s degree may be needed for advancement in this field.

What is the five-year, combined BSPH-MPH degree?

Master of Public Health | MPH

The five-year, BSPH-MPH with a Health Promotion concentration is a

  • 162-credit hour combination degree plan with
  • 12 hours of dual credit for a total of 150 credit hours.
  • All undergraduate public health courses are offered in a face-to-face format, and
  • All graduate courses are offered online.
  • MPH coursework will include advanced topics specific to the public health field in epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods, population health, program planning and evaluation, health policy, leadership, as well as a capstone and internship at an extramural agency during the final semester of coursework.
  • The MPH degree with a Health Promotion concentration is designed to accommodate graduate students who seek an advanced public health degree to pursue a career as a public health professional. Students will have the option to take an elective course in specific topical areas related to public health and health promotion. Upon completion of the program, students will have the coursework required to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) examination. Students are required to declare the BSPH-MPH joint degree major with a Health Promotion concentration by the completion of their first year of coursework.

Public Health Degree | Health Promotion concentration

Here at UMHB, the BSPH degree with a Health Promotion concentration is a

  • 120-credit hour degree that includes
  • a chance to gain hands-on experience with an internship at an extramural agency.
  • BSPH is designed to accommodate undergraduate students who desire a position in public health and health education/promotion, or seeking advanced public health degrees, or advanced degrees in other health-related fields (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant).

The Public Health Degree with health Promotion program includes all coursework necessary to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam.


Jobs for Public Health | Salary

(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

Job Title

Expected Growth - Next Decade

Salary

Health education specialist

12%

$60,600

Occupational health and safety specialist

7%

$77,560

Environmental scientist and specialist

8%

$76,530

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