Public Health, BS
Are you interested in shaping a healthier society? Learn about community design, health program creation, the spread of diseases and practical ways to improve well-being for everyone.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
or MAT 117 College Algebra
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Public health is the practice of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people in communities or countries. The Bachelor of Science program in public health prepares you to make an impact in health care on a local and global scale. You engage in coursework related to the five pillars of public health:
- biostatistics: analyzing data to understand health trends and outcomes
- environmental health: how environmental surroundings such as air, water and living conditions affect human health
- epidemiology: how diseases spread, their causes and how to control their growth
- health administration: the delivery of health services
- health education and health promotion: creating and delivering programs to encourage healthier behaviors and lifestyles in order to prevent disease and improve well-being
While in the program, you participate in an internship that gives you practical experience in the public health workforce.
The BS program pairs well with the health education specialist certificate, the health care policy and delivery certificate, and the hospice and palliative care certificate, each offered by the College of Health Solutions.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| CHS 340 Health Behavior Theory |
| EXW 450 Social Drivers of Health |
| HCD 300 Biostatistics |
| HCD 332 Population Health Policy and Legislation |
| HCD 400 Evidence Odyssey: Decoding Peer-Reviewed Research for Future Practice |
| HEP 102 Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Utilize multilevel communication strategies when developing artifacts tailored for individuals, groups, communities, and the larger population.
- Synthesize large amounts of information on the history and evolution of public health concepts and practices.
- Develop strategic public health programs.
- Analyze the social-ecological factors affecting the health of a community (e.g., equity, income, education, and environment) when applying the five principles for moral common ground (value of life, goodness, justice, honesty, and autonomy) in academic and professional work.
Utilize multilevel communication strategies when developing artifacts tailored for individuals, groups, communities, and the larger population. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available to them, public health students are able to tailor their experience to their specific interests and skill sets. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S., or online, students build communication skills, learn to adapt and persevere, and are exposed to research and internships across the world, increasing their professional network.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocate | 7.4% | $45,930 | Learn more |
| Biostatistician | 11.0% | $105,650 | Learn more |
| Community Health Worker | 12.7% | $51,850 | Learn more |
| Community Specialist | 5.5% | $56,730 | Learn more |
| Environmental Protection Specialist | 6.1% | $82,220 | Learn more |
| Environmental Specialist | 6.9% | $55,090 | Learn more |
| Epidemiologist | 18.7% | $87,220 | Learn more |
| Health and Safety Manager | 18.5% | $90,150 | Learn more |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | 24.2% | $123,860 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Graduates qualify for entry-level positions in public health education, environmental and occupational health, public health administration, health promotion and similar areas.
Employment opportunities are available within national, state and local health departments and in community clinics, community and private advocacy groups, health education programs and nonprofit organizations.
Popular positions include:
- community health worker --- liaising with officials to improve the quality and cultural competence of health care service delivery to the community or to vulnerable groups
- environmental specialist --- investigating environmental health and food risks, advising communities on risk reduction, and implementing public health projects
- epidemiologist --- investigating patterns, causes and the effectiveness of public health interventions, policies and treatments
- occupational health and safety specialist --- inspecting workplaces for adherence to regulations and designing programs for injury and illness prevention
- public health educator --- developing and implementing strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities
Graduates are also prepared to continue their education in graduate programs in public health, population health or community health.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Technology for Public Health
|
MERCC 205
publichealthtech@asu.edu
602-496-0100
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
