Program Overview

Public Health - Bachelor of Public Health (Online)

The Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) degree is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of public health. The program is offered online and is designed to prepare students for careers in public health practice, research, and policy.

Departmental Requirements

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include:

• General Education requirements
• Viewing a Wider World requirements
• Elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above
• Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework

Course List

The following courses are required for the BPH degree:

• General Education:
  • Area I: Communications (10 credits)
    • English Composition - Level 1
    • English Composition - Level 2
    • Oral Communication
  • Area II: Mathematics (3 credits)
    • MATH 1350G: Introduction to Statistics
    • or MATH 2350G: Statistical Methods
  • Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences (10-11 credits)
    • PHLS 1110G: Personal Health & Wellness
    • Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (4 credits)
    • or Area IV: Social and Behavioral Sciences Course (3-4 credits)
  • Area V: Humanities (3 credits)
  • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts (3 credits)
  • General Education Elective (3-4 credits)
• Viewing a Wider World Courses (6 credits)
• Departmental/College Requirements:
  • Prerequisite Courses:
    • PHLS 2110: Foundations of Health Education
    • or PHLS 375: Foundations of Community Health Education
    • PHLS 395: Foundations of Public Health
    • or PHLS 2120: Essentials of Public Health
    • MATH 1215: Intermediate Algebra
  • Public Health Education Core:
    • PHLS 471: Health Informatics
    • PHLS 473: Health Program Planning
    • PHLS 475: Methods of Community Health Education
    • PHLS 459: Infectious and Noninfectious Disease Prevention
    • PHLS 478: Health Program Evaluation and Research
    • PHLS 496: Community Health Education Field Experience
    • PHLS 497: Public Health Seminar in Community Health Education
    • PHLS 499: Problems in Health Education
  • Public Health Core:
    • PHLS 450: Epidemiology
    • PHLS 451: Biometrics and Health Research
    • PHLS 452: Environmental Health
    • PHLS 457: Administration of Health Programs
    • PHLS 476: Theoretically-Based Interventions
  • Cultural Foundations Course Requirements:
    • Select 3 credits from the following:
      • PHLS 461: Health Disparities: Determinants and Interventions
      • PHLS 464V: Cross-Cultural Aspects of Health
      • PHLS 465: International Health Problems
      • PHLS 467: Rural Health Issues
      • PHLS 468: Coping with Loss and Grief: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
      • PHLS 469: U.S.-Mexico Border Health Issues
  • Departmental Electives:
    • Elective PHLS courses (24 credits)
  • Second Language: (not required)
  • Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 (15 credits)

Additional Requirements

All students are required to complete an exit survey. Please see the department for more information.

Suggested Plan of Study

The following is a suggested plan of study for students:

• First Year:
  • Semester 1:
    • ENGL 1110G: Composition I
    • MATH 1215: Intermediate Algebra
    • Area III: Laboratory Science Course
    • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course
    • Elective Course
  • Semester 2:
    • ENGL 2210G: Professional & Technical Communication
    • or ENGL 2221G: Writing in the Humanities and Social Science
    • MATH 1350G: Introduction to Statistics
    • or MATH 2350G: Statistical Methods
    • PHLS 1110G: Personal Health & Wellness
    • Area V: Humanities Course
    • Elective Course
• Second Year:
  • Semester 1:
    • PHLS 375: Foundations of Community Health Education
    • Area III: Laboratory Science Course
    • or Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course
    • General Education Elective Course
    • Elective Course
    • Elective Course
  • Semester 2:
    • PHLS 395: Foundations of Public Health
    • COMM 1115G: Introduction to Communication
    • or AXED 2120G: Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture
    • Elective Course
    • VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course
    • Elective Course
• Third Year:
  • Semester 1:
    • PHLS 450: Epidemiology
    • PHLS 476: Theoretically-Based Interventions
    • PHLS 471: Health Informatics
    • PHLS Cultural Foundations Course
    • Elective Course
  • Semester 2:
    • PHLS 451: Biometrics and Health Research
    • PHLS 473: Health Program Planning
    • PHLS 475: Methods of Community Health Education
    • VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course
    • Elective Course
• Fourth Year:
  • Semester 1:
    • PHLS 452: Environmental Health
    • PHLS 457: Administration of Health Programs
    • PHLS 478: Health Program Evaluation and Research
    • PHLS 497: Public Health Seminar in Community Health Education
    • Elective Course
    • Elective Course
  • Semester 2:
    • PHLS 499: Problems in Health Education
    • PHLS 459: Infectious and Noninfectious Disease Prevention
    • PHLS 496: Community Health Education Field Experience
    • Elective Course (as needed to fulfill 120 credit hour degree requirement)