Curriculum

Designed for those who have a broad interest in public health or who want to address social justice and health inequity, the online courses in Oregon State’s B.S. in Public Health program will enable you to advocate for policies that advance wellness and help people live to their full potential. You’ll learn from program faculty who are engaged in a wide range of research related to public health, health management, health promotion and behavior, and public policy.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits are required to graduate with your public health degree, including:

• OSU's Baccalaureate Core (general education)
• Major requirements: Public health
• Specialization requirement: One of two options

Honors degree online

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

Specialization options

As a way to focus your studies in a particular area of interest, you will select from one of  two specialization options.

Health management and policy

Undergo training and acquire skills in the management of public health and health care programs and agencies, and in the analysis of public health policies. View the curriculum »

Health promotion and health behavior

Learn a variety of skills and strategies that will provide you with the necessary proficiencies you'll need to improve population health in diverse settings. View the curriculum » 
(View the option sheets for a list of major requirements.)

Sample course topics

• Introduction to the health care management
• Health data analysis
• Social and individual health determinants
• Health policy
• Human disease
• Environmental health
• Epidemiology
• Advanced topics in health care management

Additional program features

Internship

A 360-hour, 12-credit internship is required for this program. Visit the College of Health website for more details.

Accelerated Master's Platform

Get a jump-start on your Master of Public Health (MPH) degree while working toward your undergraduate degree in public health. Through Oregon State’s Accelerated Master’s Platform, current undergraduate public health students can take graduate-level courses online that will be applied to their bachelor’s degree, and the credits earned will be transferred to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Students enrolled in Ecampus graduate courses will pay the graduate tuition and fees rate.

Transfer credits

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits will need to be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

Add a minor

As an OSU Ecampus student, you'll have the ability to add a minor to your bachelor's degree program. Oregon State offers a diverse selection of minors online. Combine public health and a Spanish or business minor, or public health plus a medical humanities undergraduate certificate to create an even more powerful résumé that's fit for today's job market.