Bachelor’s Degree

Public Health

An affordable bachelor’s degree program to prepare for a career in Public Health services.

 

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Online
Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health degree program is designed to prepare students to take on public health roles; monitoring, evaluating, identifying, and treating health issues. Graduates of this program will have the opportunity for employment in educational organizations, government operations, or private companies in positions focused on creating public health policies, promoting health education, implementing and evaluating medical care programs, analyzing current health statistics, or working directly in their communities.  The interdisciplinary curriculum includes courses that effectively teach current and future public health professionals how to treat health issues on individual and group levels.  This program combines the natural sciences with statistical analysis and understanding, public health communications, program planning, research training, and ethical and legal aspects of public health.  The degree plan culminates in an integrative capstone project, which enables students to synthesize what they learn to address public health challenges.

Estimated Annual Cost: $8,280

Cost estimate based on enrollment in 45 annual quarter hours with current Tuition and Fees. Cost includes fees for textbooks and materials.

 

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Career Paths

Health Educator
Assess the health needs of individuals and communities. Develop programs, materials, and events to teach people about health topics, such as managing existing conditions.
Epidemiologist
investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. Seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education and health policy.
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators oversee the day-to-day administrative operations of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Their responsibilities include planning and supervising all medical services.

What You Will Learn

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Students will identify the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.

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Students will demonstrate the fundamental concepts of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation.

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Students will gain the practical knowledge necessary to work in various settings and industries, including:  hospitals and medical facilities, managed care organizations, nonprofit organizations, state and local health departments, or even the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Students will propose evidenced-based solutions in response to patterns and trends in public health.

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Students will characterize the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of healthcare and public policy.

Leadership. Character. Civility.

Attending GMC is about more than just earning a degree. We prepare our graduates to stand out in the world by teaching leadership skills, character education, and ethics. GMC grads have the grit and determination to be successful in an ever-changing job market.

See How GMC Builds Character

Why pay more for the same degree?

Thanks to our Transfer Agreements, GMC Online students can take their college credits with them to dozens of other colleges and universities. Why pay more for core curriculum when you take the same accredited courses at GMC Online for less, and then transfer to the four-year college of your choice? Here’s a cost comparison:

“My GMC Online Enrollment Coach really believed in me, and pushed me to want to do better for myself… One year later, I found myself with a degree and two jobs. I was very quickly able to get myself a new car, put my son in a better school, and eventually buy myself a house. I became an all-around happier and healthier person thanks to GMC Online.”

— Charity Suggs, Graduate

Recent Grads

Concentration Courses

PBH 300 Introduction to Biostatistics I 5qh

This course covers the essential components for the collection, analysis, and presentation of data in all areas of public health. Biostatistics is fundamental to ensuring that findings and practices in public health and biomedicine are supported by reliable evidence. Key to these skills is assessing the impact of chance and variability on the interpretation of research findings and subsequent recommendations for public health practice and policy. Topics covered include: general principles of study design; hypothesis testing; review of statistics methods for comparison of discrete and continuous data including but not limited to z-tests, Chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA and correlation/regression.

PBH 305 Research Methods in Health Sciences I 5qh

This course provides an overview to the fundamentals of research design, methods, and data collection. This course provides an overview of the common types of approaches used for health science research. Students will learn how to best present research, how to evaluate and critique a research article, and understand how to obtain and decipher evidence-based research.

PBH 311 Health Care Systems I 5qh

his course provides an overview of how healthcare and public health are organized and how their services are delivered in the United States. Topics will focus on current issues in health and medical programs, with an emphasis on leadership and management, communication, technology, documentation including e-health, and trends in health promotion and community health.

PBH 333 Epidemiology I 5qh

This course introduces the student to epidemiology, which is the comparative study of the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations. Students will consider the meaning, scope, and applications of epidemiology to the practice of public health, through the use of statistics, analytic reasoning, and experimental and observational study designs.

PBH 334 Community Health I 5qh

This course introduces the student to population health in the United States, with an emphasis on community health programs and current trends of population health. This course will explore disease management, chronic care management, and health policy making, and introduces students to the organization and financing of health services.

BSM 312 Healthcare Law and Ethics I 5qh

This course provides an overview of law and ethics relating to the healthcare industry. The legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements relating to the rights and responsibilities of patient/client decisions are presented.

PBH 340 Environmental Health I 5qh

This course introduces the student to environmental health, with an emphasis on exposure assessment, toxicology, epidemiology and risk assessment. This course will examine sources, routes, media, and health outcomes associated with biological, chemical and physical agents in the environment.

PBH 413 Principles of Health Education and Promotion I 5qh

This course introduces the student to the types of programs in the field of health education and health promotion, and techniques utilized in a variety of community settings. This course will explore social behavior in individual health decisions, and the role of the educator to provide promotional tools that lead to healthy lifestyles.

PBH 425 Program Planning and Public Health I 5qh

This course introduces the student to the concepts of program planning for health education in the community. This course will explore program development, implementation, and evaluation of currently functioning community health education programs.

PBH 435 Global Health I 5qh

This course introduces the student to critical links between global health and social and economic development. This course will explore major health problems of underdeveloped, developed, and emerging nations. Students will conduct in-depth analyses of health problems among various populations from selected countries.

PBH 497 Capstone Project in Public Health I 5qh

This course serves as the capstone for the Public Health major. The course will provide an opportunity for students to integrate, synthesize and apply their public health knowledge through cumulative and experiential activities. Students will be required to write a formal written report and presentation that demonstrates acquisition of the required public health competencies covered within the public health major.

Hiring Partners

GMC is fortunate to have partnerships with a wide range of businesses who hire our graduates. Here are a few of our partners:

Frequently Asked Questions

About This Program


Graduates of this program will have the opportunity for employment in educational organizations, government operations, or private companies in positions focused on creating public health policies, promoting health education, implementing and evaluating medical care programs, analyzing current health statistics, or working directly in their communities.

Degree Program Coordinator


Randy Elvidge, relvidge@gmc.edu

Program Benefits


Students completing the BAS in Public Health degree program will gain the practical knowledge necessary to work in various settings and industries, including: hospitals and medical facilities, managed care organizations, non-profit organizations, state and local health departments, or government health agencies. Jobs for public health professionals could include: occupational health and safety specialist, epidemiologist, nutritionist, biostatistician, environmental scientist, health educator, emergency manager, and hazardous materials specialist…just to name a few.

Cost for the Degree


Average Annual Cost for this Degree:
$8,280

Earn Rewards for Referring Students to GMC Online

Do you know someone who would be a perfect fit for GMC Online?

Introducing our Exclusive Referral Program! By simply connecting us with individuals who are ready to pursue their college degree, you can earn generous rewards.

Pocket up to $175 for every new student you refer.

Click the button below to learn more about our rewarding Referral Program.

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*Referral Verification Disclaimer: All referrals are subject to a thorough verification process to confirm their authenticity. GMC Online retains the right to withhold gift cards if any referral appears suspicious or violates our program guidelines. This is crucial in preventing fraud and maintaining the integrity of our program. 

*Terms & Conditions: This program applies solely to individuals referred to the GMC online campus and does NOT include GMC employees or those who have previously been referred to our institution. The referral program officially launched on June 23, 2023. Please note that referrals made before this date will not be eligible for rewards.

Academic Excellence.
Since 1879.

We’ve been educating bright minds for well over a century. That’s why a degree from GMC means more than just a great education. It means success.