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Aspiring professionals take their first steps toward a fulfilling career improving people's lives with a public health degree. Potential career paths include community health educator, refugee coordinator, and public health researcher. Workers with experience and additional training, such as a master's degree, can attain employment as government analysts or epidemiology research associates.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compiles salary data on numerous healthcare-related positions throughout the United States. According to the BLS, community health educators earn a median annual salary of $46,910. The BLS also projects a 13% job growth rate for these professionals between 2019-2029. This figure outpaces the median projected growth rate for all U.S. careers by a wide margin.
Typical bachelor's program admission requirements include earning a high school or GED diploma. Some colleges and universities also ask for recommendation letters and standardized test scores. Schools use the latter to make institutional financial aid determinations.
FAQ on Public Health
Is public health a good career?
The answer depends on prospective students' personalities and career goals. Public health professionals should possess a desire to help others through educational initiatives and one-on-one guidance.
What jobs require a public health degree?
Numerous jobs require a public health degree, including public health advisor, health educator, and community health worker. Companies and organizations reserve management-level positions for master's degree-holders.
What are the different fields of public health?
The public health field contains multiple specialties, including biomedical lab sciences, dental public health, and maternal and child health. Public health degrees feature concentrations that prepare students for their chosen specialty.
What does a career in public health look like?
No matter public health professionals' job titles, they strive to improve people's health through different initiatives and advocate for relevant laws and regulations.
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What Are the Goals of a Public Health Degree?
An online public health degree prepares students for their careers with numerous skills. Coursework teaches degree-seekers how to analyze problems, develop solutions, and reflect on their work's effectiveness. Bachelor's in public health degrees also emphasize a global mindset. Students must think globally, as developing nations face serious public health issues.
A four-year public health program features a mix of general education and major courses. Typical core courses include the biological concepts of public health, social and behavioral health, and programming planning. Students train for a specialization by completing a concentration, such as environmental public health or public health sociology.
Why Get a Public Health Degree?
A public health degree leads to many professional and personal benefits. The following list contains just a few reasons why prospective students apply to an online program.
- Keep Communities Healthy
- Professionals with a public health degree keep communities healthy through educational campaigns and speaking to community members individually. These efforts help people improve their quality of life.
- Mitigate Disasters
- Public health workers assist disaster relief experts after a hurricane, earthquake, fire, or other event that puts people's short- and long-term health at risk.
- Gain Personal Satisfaction
- Public health workers take great pride in their job, as they see their actions' positive benefits on communities and individuals.
- Make Lasting Change
- Public health professionals who work at the local, state, and federal levels create programs that impact people's lives long-term.
- Promote Environmentalism
- Many public health experts lobby for environmental regulations promoting clean air, water, and soil. These efforts extend people's lifespan and preserve biodiversity.
What Are the Requirements for a Public Health Degree?
Typical admission requirements for public health degrees include earning a high school or GED diploma. Some programs accept only nontraditional students or those who possess an associate degree or ample transfer credit. Other colleges and universities also charge an admission fee.
Many schools do not require standardized test scores. However, these colleges and universities may use scores as a way to determine merit-based financial aid. Prospective international students must complete two additional steps. The first involves proving English language proficiency. These applicants also submit their foreign high school or college transcripts for evaluation.
Public health degree students remain in good academic standing by meeting their institution's minimum undergraduate GPA requirement. Some programs also feature a capstone course in the final semester. A capstone course involves synthesizing new knowledge and skills by completing a research project or developing a professional portfolio.
Professional Organizations for Public Health Students
Learners enrolled in an online public health degree prepare for a career by earning good grades and networking with professors and peers. Other steps involve joining one or more professional organizations. Professional organizations, like the two below, connect students with public health professionals, host job boards, and offer professional development opportunities.
APHA dates back to the 1870s. Its members strive to create new public health infrastructure and expand healthcare to underserved communities. Student members enjoy networking opportunities, the CareerMart job site, and a resume review service. Degree-seekers who join also receive access to two professional publications at no additional charge.
SOPHE helps aspiring and practicing public health professionals complete professional development and prepare for career advancement. Student membership benefits include a career hub, volunteering opportunities, and a subscription to three peer-review journals with the latest public health research. More than 25 states feature a SOPHE chapter where online public health program learners network in person.
Scholarships for Public Health Students
An online public health degree confers many benefits, including cost savings. However, all prospective students should explore ways to reduce their tuition burden. The internet provides hundreds of private scholarship opportunities for learners enrolling in a public health program. Explore the awards below to start your scholarship search.
Who Can Apply: The IHS offers three scholarship opportunities to Native American students. Applicants should possess membership in a recognized tribe, earn a minimum 2.0 high school or college GPA, and agree to completing a service project after graduation. The scholarship committee considers applicants' academic performances, recommendation letters, and essays.
Amount: Full tuition plus stipend
Who Can Apply: The NIH offers the scholarship to college students who possess financial need and major in a healthcare-related field. Other application requirements include U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, a minimum 3.3 undergraduate GPA, and full-time enrollment. Applicants also complete a criminal background check.
Amount: Up to $80,000
Who Can Apply: Undergraduate and graduate health education students who join SOPHE can apply for this competitive scholarship. Academic requirements for undergraduate applicants include sophomore or junior status, official transcripts, one recommendation letter, and a resume. Find information regarding the next application deadline on the SOPHE member website.
Amount: $2,500
Best Online Bachelor's in Public Health Degrees 2021
#1 Best Online Bachelor’s In Public Health Degrees
Northern Arizona University
- Flagstaff, AZ
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
For individuals seeking a flexible education to prepare them for the public health field, the bachelor's degree in public health at Northern Arizona University is a great choice. The public college connects 14,098 distance learners with a top online education, offering 18 bachelor's programs remotely.
Students get the tools they need to succeed in the public health field from the bachelor's in health sciences program. The variety of classes in the curriculum benefits enrollees, giving them broad knowledge of both foundational and advanced public health topics. Experiential learning opportunities deepen degree-seekers' industry knowledge, helping them advance their career goals. Learners gain many benefits from internships, externships, and applied research projects. Students can speak with their academic advisor and career services to receive guidance throughout the duration of their studies.
Eligible applicants can pursue scholarships, fellowships, or other funding opportunities from within or outside of the school to help bring down degree costs. At the college, 95% of degree-seekers receive aid from the online education leader to support their academic journey.
Percent Online Enrollment
46%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#2 Best Online Bachelor’s In Public Health Degrees
California Baptist University
- Riverside, CA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Looking for a flexible education that prepares you for the public health field? Consider California Baptist University’s online bachelor's degree in public health. The private college offers 24 premier virtual bachelor's programs for its 6,112 remote learners.
Students prepare for a successful public health career with the tools they gain in the BS in public health program. Classes provide enrollees with broad knowledge of the public health field, covering both foundational and advanced subjects. Degree-seekers can deepen their industry knowledge with experiential learning opportunities to further their career goals. Applied research projects, externships, and internships impart learners with valuable knowledge. Academic advisors and career counselors assist students through the course of their degree.
Scholarships, fellowships, and other internal and external funding opportunities let applicants decrease their educational expenses. Degree-seekers get support for their educational endeavors from the leader in online education, with the college awarding financial aid to 98% of enrollees.
Percent Online Enrollment
55%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
#3 Best Online Bachelor’s In Public Health Degrees
University of Arizona
- Tucson, AZ
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Its flexibility makes the BS in public health with an environmental and occupational health emphasis at the University of Arizona a good choice for many people seeking an online education in public health. A total of 18,590 remote degree-seekers attend the public institution, which features 24 online bachelor's programs with industry relevance. From its campus in Tucson, Arizona, the college provides institutional resources to benefit its online learners, such as a supportive remote community.
The public health program's hands-on classes impart industry knowledge to its students. The curriculum for the public health degree includes courses on general education and advanced topics, with the option to individualize classes and choose electives. Experiential learning opportunities add to enrollees' educational experiences. Internships, externships, and research projects give degree-seekers first-hand experience of working in the public health field.
The admissions office can tell applicants more about enrollment requirements. Students can meet with the financial aid office to discuss if they meet the requirements for any funding opportunities, since 91% of all enrollees receive some kind of financial aid. Learners who meet the proper criteria can bring down degree expenses with scholarships, fellowships, and other types of aid.
Percent Online Enrollment
42%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#4 Best Online Bachelor’s In Public Health Degrees
Delaware State University
- Dover, DE
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Students looking for a flexible online education in public health should consider Delaware State University’s bachelor's degree in public health. The five industry-relevant online bachelor's programs at the public institution educate 2,288 remote degree-seekers. The Dover, Delaware, college supports distance learners with institutional resources, like a helpful online community.
The public health program's hands-on classes impart industry knowledge to its students. General education and advanced courses make up the public health curriculum, which also allows for modifying classes and choosing electives. Enrollees supplement their education with hands-on learning experiences. Degree-seekers get first-hand experience of what it's like to work in the public health field through internships, externships, and research projects.
Applicants can talk to the admissions office to learn more about enrollment criteria. Students should meet with the financial aid office to check whether they qualify for any funding opportunities, since 98% of all enrollees received some kind of financial aid. Eligible learners can decrease their educational expenses through scholarships, fellowships, and other types of aid.
Percent Online Enrollment
48%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
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