What do you learn in a bachelor's in public health?
By pursuing a bachelor's in public health degree, students can build the knowledge to address a variety of health challenges at community or global levels. As there's an ever-increasing focus on health issues, choosing this field of study could lead you toward a handful of in-demand and potentially rewarding careers.
Discover what you'll learn in a bachelor's in public health program and what requirements you'll need to meet to graduate.
What to expect from a bachelor's in public health program
A bachelor's in public health program provides a solid foundation in health sciences and policy, helping equip you for diverse roles in healthcare and community wellness. The program focuses on prevention, promoting health initiatives, and addressing health disparities within communities.
Students will learn how to assess, design, and implement health programs so they can prepare for entry-level roles and advanced studies. Most programs last up to four years, and a student may require around 145 credit hours.
Costs vary significantly by institution based on course format, but students can focus on different areas such as health policy, epidemiology, or biostatistics.
Schools may also require students to complete capstone projects or internships to gain practical, real-world experience before graduating.
Bachelor's in public health curriculum
The curriculum for a bachelor's in public health program will provide students with a blend of analytical, scientific, and managerial skills that will be essential to help them address complex health challenges. They'll discover various dimensions of public health to help them understand disease patterns, design community health programs, and more.
Some potential course paths for graduates of a bachelor's in public health program include:
- Epidemiology: This component focuses on the study of diseases, including their causes and how and why they spread across populations. Students will learn how to analyze data related to outbreaks, so they can design preventative strategies. This path calls for critical thinking, data analysis, and problem solving as primary skills.
- Biostatistics: This element teaches methodologies and introduces tools to help interpret public health data. Students will work on a real data set as they discover trends, evaluate interventions, and learn how to make decisions based on supporting evidence. They'll need proficiency in various tools, such as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), to interpret complex health data.
- Health policy and management: Students will learn how health policies originated and assess their impact on the population. They will also learn how to analyze healthcare systems and recommend improvements that are both cost-effective and accessible. This course requires skills in strategic planning, health administration, policy analysis, and communication.
Specializations and concentrations
Some public health programs can help students specialize in an area that may be of particular interest. Potential specializations include:
- Global health: Students can focus on health issues that affect worldwide populations, crafting culturally sensitive solutions or emphasizing international collaboration.
- Community health: Students concentrate on designing and serving health promotion programs in local communities.
- Environmental health: This specialization examines the relationship between health and the environment, focusing on climate change, occupational hazards, and pollution.
Graduation requirements for a bachelor's in public health
If you want to graduate with a bachelor's in public health degree, you may need to:
- Complete a capstone project: This often involves tackling a real-world public health challenge through program design or research.
- Participate as an intern: Many programs require that you get hands-on experience through a third-party organization or public health agency.
- Complete a certain number of credits: The required credit hour minimum threshold is typically around 145 credit hours.
Explore bachelor's degrees in public health
Are you ready to explore the fascinating world of healthcare at the community level? Then check out edX's bachelor's in public health programs and get started today.