B.S. in Public Health
At Tarleton, we challenge public health majors to look at the world around them and think about their community through a holistic lens. With a bachelor’s degree in public health, you can have a lasting impact on a community by working to improve and promote health and wellness through public health education and research.
At Tarleton, we are well-known throughout Texas for producing competent, confident and caring professionals with the skills and experience to become entry-level public health educators and practitioners prepared to serve a variety of populations, from urban to rural communities. Choose from two tracks of study; Health Education and Pre-Graduate, based on your academic and career goals.
What is Public Health?
Spanning many disciplines, public health focuses on health advocacy and promotion, research for disease and injury prevention and detecting and controlling infectious diseases in order to improve and protect the health of families, neighborhoods, communities and entire populations such as countries or regions of the world.
To achieve these goals while addressing global health issues, public health professionals work to improve access to health care and reduce environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse and injury through public health education programs, policies, services and regulations.
What Can You Do With Your Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health?
Our public health bachelor’s degree program offers a unique approach to developing the knowledge and skills you need for a successful, long-term career. Entry-level jobs for public health majors are typically assistant or associate roles in government, nonprofit, consulting, advocacy, research and development. For example, you could work in local or state public health departments, worksite health promotion or hospitals.
Students in the pre-graduate track will be prepared for medical school, pharmacy school or other graduate or professional programs such as the Master of Public Health or Master of Health Administration. Public health master’s degrees open up opportunities for the upper-level public health positions.
Estimated Completion
120 Credit Hours (4 years)
Application Process
Cost
Locations Available
- Stephenville
- Some online courses are offered
College
Careers in Public Health
100% of public health majors agree their bachelor’s degree helped them get their current job.
How Much Do Public Health Graduates Make?
Public health professionals earned an average annual salary of $52,000 in 2019.
Why Major in Public Health?
We encourage you to experience public health from different perspectives to become a well-rounded, value-driven public health educator and practitioner.
Plan Your Future
Intern with a community agency. Study abroad in Nepal. Present undergraduate research at a professional conference. These opportunities offer hands-on experience, and you may be able to earn an Applied Learning Experiences distinction on your diploma.
Get to know your peers and professors for personalized, one-on-one attention and training.
Complete a field experience to engage with current public health practitioners in the community who offer mentorship and guidance.
Learn from experienced, dedicated professors
In the classroom, faculty members share insights and perspectives on the public health field through rich practice experience, robust research efforts and active leadership in professional organizations. With a variety of specialty areas, including medical and public health social work, emergency preparedness and disaster planning, epidemiology and health education, we provide critical professional development to public health majors as you navigate through the bachelor’s degree program.
What Classes Will You Take as a Public Health Major?
The program curriculum combines theoretical classroom learning with hands-on field experience that enables undergraduate students to become confident, competent public health practitioners. Study topics such as epidemiology, statistics for health care, health management and policy, public health law and more.
- The Health Education track focuses on interdisciplinary efforts to address the physical, social, behavioral, mental and environmental health concerns of communities and entire populations at risk for disease and injury through public health education. This specialty area also prepares you for global certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist.
- The Pre-Graduate track focuses on preparing you to qualify for entry into graduate schools of public health or related professional programs, as well as a career as a health education specialist.
View all required classes for the public health bachelor’s degree.
How Do You Get Started on Your Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health?
Take the next step toward earning your bachelor’s degree in public health. We have the resources to help you get started.
Health Education Track in Public Health
Pre-Graduate Track in Public Health
Tarleton Wellness Center
Home to Student Counseling and Student Health Services, the Tarleton Wellness Center supports the Public Health Services Living-Learning Communities, including public health, nursing, medical laboratory science, social work, sports medicine and kinesiology.
Public Health Student Association
Join public health majors for special student events and activities in the classroom, on campus and in the community. The Public Health Student Association sponsors and leads Lunch and Learns, field trips, guest speakers, holiday parties and more.
Professional Development
Home to Student Counseling and Student Health Services, the Tarleton Wellness Center supports the Public Health Services Living-Learning Communities, including public health, nursing, medical laboratory science, social work, sports medicine and kinesiology.