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Bachelor of Science

Public Health

OVERVIEW

Make the World a Healthier Place with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health


 

If you feel strongly about making a difference in the lives of others, including those in your community and beyond, then earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Health is a great place to start your career journey.  
 
You’ll be introduced to the foundations of public health and expand your general healthcare knowledge to become a more informed and effective public health expert. These topics include:

  • Community and public health
  • Gender health
  • Mental health
  • Human sexuality
  • Health and wellness
  • Chronic and infectious diseases

NOTE: This degree program is currently NOT available to students who have a permanent residence in Missouri while the accreditation is pending approval. Please check back regularly for updates.

63% of graduates finish similar programs in 

24 Months*

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance when you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.

*WGU Internal Data

Tuition per six-month term is

$4,210

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps students reduce the ultimate cost of their degrees. Finish faster, pay less!

Average salary increase

$11,059*

Leavitt School of Health undergraduates see an average salary increase of $11,059 after finishing their degree programs.

*WGU Internal Data

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COURSES

Public Health Courses

Program consists of 33 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff. This program features scaffolded learning throughout the standard path, requiring the standard path order to be followed for optimal student success outcomes.

WGU's Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is designed to meet the needs of public health employers and the communities they serve. The curriculum was developed with input from public health experts and focuses on the in-demand skills and knowledge required to excel in the field.

Graduates who earn this public health degree will support their community's health by monitoring its status and needs, promoting disease prevention, improving access to healthcare and public health resources, and creating policies, plans, and laws that positively impact the public's health.

This program culminates in a capstone course that requires students to apply the knowledge they’ve gained to real-world situations. They will also develop plans for educating the public in response to those situations.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree is an all-online program that you'll complete by studying and working independently with instruction and support from WGU faculty. Most of your courses can be accelerated based on your prior knowledge and hard work.

Program consists of: 33 courses

An unofficial estimated 14 courses are fulfilled by your associate degree leaving 27 courses.

Courses Fulfilled By Your Associate Degree

This is an unofficial estimate of your transfer credit. You may recieve more or less credits depending upon the specific courses taken to complete your degree and other credits you may have.

Below are the anticipated courses that will be fulfilled based on your indication that you have earned an associate degree. During the enrollment process this information will be verified.

General Education
Foundations of Success
Health and Human Services
General Science Content
Psychology
Public Health

33 Courses

Program consists of 33 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

Capstone Project

Special requirements for this program

At the end of your public health program, you will complete a capstone project that represents the culmination of all your study and effort. 

“I don't think there is a best time to finish a degree, but there is a point where it becomes clear that you have to start or you won't get to it. I reached that point and discovered WGU was the perfect fit for my educational requirements and was the answer to the time management challenge."

—Mitchell Thornbrugh
B.S. & MBA Healthcare Graduate

WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years

TRANSFER CREDITS

Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses

A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

TUITION STRUCTURE

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

SUPPORT

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

EXAMS

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

SCHEDULE

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options

TIME TO FINISH

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years

TRANSFER CREDITS

Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses

TRANSFER CREDITS

A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation

Why WGU?

You Aren't On Your Own

WGU has Program Mentors who work with you from the day you start, all the way through graduation. They help you chart your courses, answer your questions, and ensure you can go through your program. You're not alone when you choose an online degree at WGU.

Flexibility You Need

Students choose WGU for their online degree program because of its flexibility. Whether you already have a full-time job, have responsibilities as a parent, or just have a busy schedule, WGU can work for you.

Strong Alumni Network

When you enroll in this healthcare program at WGU, you join an impressive network of healthcare professionals. This network is key in helping boot credibility and respect for your degree from WGU.

Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.

COST & TIME

An Affordable Public Health Degree

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.

Tuition Calculator
Pay less by completing your program faster
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A Health Science Bachelor's Degree Is Within Reach

There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.

Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health—Designed to Fit Your Life

Online. Flexible. Student-focused. These are just some of the qualities that make our programs a great fit for today’s working students—and make WGU a different kind of university. 

Our degree programs allow you to speed up your progress—no waiting for other class members to catch up or for a new semester to start. Taking a course covering concepts you’ve been applying for years? Review the online course material, take the online assessment, and move on. Taking a course in a subject you’ve never tried? Maximize all available resources to ensure you’re comfortable with the material by the time you take the assessment.

“I found WGU coursework to be very competitive with other universities. The content was directly applicable and improved my performance immediately. The time it took to complete was much less than a traditional program, yet was rigorous and flexible around my family, community and professional responsibilities. I highly recommend WGU."

—Melanie Oyler
WGU Healthcare Graduate

CAREER OUTLOOK

Expand Your Career Opportunities with a Bachelor’s in Public Health

This online Bachelor of Public Health degree program is your chance to fill a much-needed role in the healthcare field and positively influence your community.

Public health professionals are key figures in preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviors, and reducing health disparities across the globe. They’re also heavily involved in responding to national and global public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. With your degree, you’ll be prepared to advocate for your community's health in various ways, such as:

  • Promoting disease prevention
  • Improving access to healthcare and public health resources
  • Developing policies and plans for better public health outcomes

Return on Your Investment

On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation

Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2023 Harris Poll Survey of 1,655 WGU graduates.

Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.

Earning your bachelor's in public health from WGU means you’ll be ready for a variety of career paths to help your community become healthier for everyone. You may find your calling in environmental health, infectious disease prevention, maternal health, nutrition, public policy, research, healthcare nonprofit management, or health education. Whatever path you choose, you’ll be making a positive impact.

For those considering jumping directly into WGU’s Master of Public Health program after graduation, there is a bridge option available that gives you a head start. This allows four of the courses you completed during your bachelor’s to be applied to your master’s completion.

14%

The number of positions for community health workers is projected to increase 14% from 2022 to 2032.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Use Your Public Health Skills to Excel Across Industries

WGU’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health primes you for thriving careers across various industries by instilling the sought-after skills employers value. Developed in partnership with public health experts, our curriculum teaches key competencies like problem solving, communication, systems thinking, environmental literacy, grant writing, evidence-based practice, and beyond—ensuring you're ready for success in any public health role you pursue.

Possible Jobs

  • Health education specialist 
  • Community health worker
  • Medical and health services manager
  • Social and community services manager
  • Social and human service assistant
  • Medical records specialist
  • Remote sensing scientist and technologist

Possible Work Settings

  • Healthcare institutions 
  • Nonprofit organizations 
  • Universities and research institutions  
    Government agencies  
    Community health centers

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

Hospitals and clinics around the country know the benefit of a degree from WGU, so your healthcare degree is valuable.

ADMISSIONS

Bachelor of Public Health Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following: 

Option 1: Submit transcripts documenting completion of college-level coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. 

Option 2: Possess a bachelors or associates degree (A.A or A.S. acceptable) from an accredited post-secondary institution. 

Option 3: Submit high school transcripts for review with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Safety Notice: WGU and the Leavitt School of Health are committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all patients, community members, and key stakeholders that interact with WGU students at various clinical/host sites. Interactions might include direct patient interaction, observation experiences, laboratory experiences, project development, or conducting research.  

Get Your Enrollment Checklist

Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.

Get Your Questions Answered

Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.

Transfer Credits

Get Added Support and Flexibility as You Start Your Degree 
Take a course or two at your pace before committing to a full degree program. Strengthen your study habits, gain essential learning skills and, best of all, each completed course counts toward your degree requirements. 

Learn More about Pathways to Starting

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