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If you aspire to have a career in public health, a bachelor's degree in public health makes an excellent start. Find public health bachelor's programs and learn where the degree can take you.
Explore online bachelor’s in public health programs
Why pursue an online bachelor's in public health degree?
Qualify for advanced public health education
A public health bachelor's is an ideal educational base for an MS or master's in public health.
Learn healthcare research methods
Public health professionals rely on evidence-based methodologies. Bachelor's programs build important research proficiencies.
Impact community health
Whether you work in a frontline or behind-the-scenes role, you'll have many opportunities to positively impact your community in your public health career.
Browse online bachelor’s in public health programs
What jobs can you get with an online bachelor's in public health degree?
Public health bachelor's degrees lead most directly to entry-level positions with community-focused health agencies. You can also work in research or the private sector, particularly in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.
Some of the specific careers you could pursue include:
- Community health worker
- Environmental science specialist
- Health educator
- Pharmaceutical sales representative
While job duties vary by role, these career paths generally leverage your specialized knowledge of public health research methods and practices to protect and improve community-wide health outcomes.
With experience and/or advanced degrees, you can grow into management-level roles in pharmaceutical sales, medical services management, or healthcare administration.
Salary expectations and career outlook for public health
Here are some of the roles available to professionals with a bachelor's in public health degree, with salary and job outlook data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
Community health worker
These frontline professionals implement health programs and connect people with health-focused services and resources to help people embrace healthy habits.
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $48,200
- Projected job growth (2023-33): +13%
Environmental science specialist
Public health-focused environmental scientists conduct studies and research into environmental conditions or events that could impact the health of nearby human populations.
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $78,980
- Projected job growth (2023-33): +7%
Health educator
Health educators design and lead programs that teach community members about specific health and safety practices.
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $62,860
- Projected job growth (2023-33): +7%
Pharmaceutical sales representative
These professionals help pharmaceutical manufacturers market medicines with the potential to positively impact community health.
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $99,710
- Projected job growth (2023-33): +3%
What can you learn in an online bachelor's in public health program?
Public health bachelor's programs typically cover community health advocacy, public health research methods, and responses to public health emergencies and disease outbreaks.
You can pursue a generalist degree or a concentration in a focused field, such as:
- Clinical health
- Gerontological health
- Health service administration
- Public health policy
- School health
Whether you opt for a general or specialized degree, your program will typically cover about 120 semester credits. General public health courses in your curriculum may include:
- Fundamentals of epidemiology
- Health informatics and biostatistics
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Human behavior and public health
- Public health policy and program design
Many programs include optional or mandatory fieldwork components, such as research practicums or internships. If you elect to learn online, remember that you must complete these requirements in person.
Related bachelor's degrees in public health
- Bachelor's in health administration: Health administration programs focus on care delivery in healthcare facilities. They typically cover topics like operations management, healthcare technologies, compliance standards, and ethics.
- Bachelor's in nursing: Bachelor's programs in nursing train students for frontline careers in healthcare delivery and prepare them to become licensed registered nurses. They mainly focus on nursing science with supplementary coverage of research, leadership, and other practical topics.
- Bachelor's in health science: These versatile interdisciplinary programs combine the study of biology, physiology, and healthcare delivery with psychology, sociology, and other social science topics.
Further education in public health
- : Master's in public health (MPH) programs offer deep explorations of public health research and best practices. The MPH is a terminal professional designation that can lead to advanced .
- Doctorate in public health: Doctorate in public health (DPH or DrPH) programs represent an upgrade over the MPH path. DPH programs mainly appeal to mid-career professionals seeking to advance in the field.
- PhD in public health: Doctor of philosophy (PhD) programs focus heavily on methodologies and best practices in public health research and policy development.