Program Overview

Public Health - Undergraduate Certificate

College of Public Health

About This Program

The Public Health undergraduate certificate integrates key aspects of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, communities and individuals. The certificate program is aimed at students who are interested in gaining exposure to the field of public health, do not intend to pursue a bachelor's degree or already hold a bachelor's or associate degree and wish to broaden their knowledge of public health. Certificate graduates have an understanding of emerging issues in public health, the social and behavioral aspects to preventing disease, environmental health concepts, the changing U.S. health care system and the monitoring of diseases in the community through applied public health research.

Contact Information

• Gretchen Thomas | |
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Fully online
  • Mostly online
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

• Medical and health services managers
  • 31.5% much faster than the average
  • 422,300 number of jobs
  • $104,280 potential earnings

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

• First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
• First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
• International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
• Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
• Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Program Requirements

• Certificate Requirements
  • Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours
    • PH 10001 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH | 3
    • PH 10002 | INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH (DIVG) | 3
    • Certificate Electives, choose from the following: | 12
      • PH 20001 | ESSENTIALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY |
      • PH 20392 | COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATION II-INTERNSHIP (ELR) |
      • PH 23000 | COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATION I |
      • PH 30002 | INTRODUCTORY BIOSTATISTICS |
      • PH 30005 | SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THEORIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH |
      • PH 30006 | INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY |
      • PH 30015 | UNITED STATES HEALTH CARE SYSTEM |
      • PH 30033 | PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING 1 |
  • Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18

Graduation Requirements

• Graduation Requirements Summary
  • Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA
    • 3.000 | 2.000
• Students must declare themselves as a certificate candidate prior to completing half of the courses.
• Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits at Kent State University.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Explain public health history, philosophy and values.
2. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. or other community relevant to the school or program.
3. Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities.
4. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease.

Why Kent State University

• Speak with an Academic Advisor

Connect with an academic advisor to learn about how you can start your public health degree at Kent State!

• Why Public Health?

Public health is the science, art, and practice of protecting and improving the population's health. Public health involves many different professions that all have one thing in common – they are focused on improving people’s health and protecting people from health risks.

• College Information Sessions

Connect with the College of Public Health to get an in-depth look at our academic programs. Join us for one or several of our upcoming College Info Sessions. Questions about our campus visit events? Contact us at 1-800-988-KENT or .