Program Details
Program Details
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Bachelor of Arts
Roanoke College
Program Details
Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Studies
Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts in Public Health Studies
Roanoke College
Public Health Studies is a liberal arts program designed to illuminate the multiple and complex ways in which health is related to all aspects of human life and the function of societies. The B.A. in PHST prepares students in the breadth of public health as an academic discipline, and especially in areas of research methodology and analysis, health inequities, global perspective, and attending to the spread of disease. Our majors can move into the field of Public Health in the broadest sense: as graduate students in any of the health professions (MD, RN/BSN, PT, OT, MSW, MPH, etc.), as employees working in health care settings, community organizations, health-related businesses, in health analytics or IT, and in the many related fields that deal with the well-being of people and places.
Outcomes
Students develop the ability to define, distinguish between, and appropriately apply the population/public health perspective, to articulate the role of gender, race, socioeconomic status, and other evolving social categories in affecting personal and population health, and to apply course content and skills in their independent work. Students also learn to deliver evidence-based public health messages to both public and professional audiences.
Program Overview & Guidance
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Roanoke's Public Health Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to health care, and includes elective courses in both life and social sciences. Our program will help you find a niche in the health field that matches you own personal passions, and will give you an advantage over those who have pursued a purely technical approach to health education. One way we help you discover your path is by requiring independent work outside the classroom in either a research or workplace setting. |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes At the upper level, students complete a practicum requiring a student to learn and apply public health related skills outside a typical classroom. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Useful courses include introduction to public health, human biology with lab, or courses in social inequality, health economics, health policy. Transferring some foreign language courses will help students finish that college requirement faster.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | The Public Health Studies program encourages students to do a double major or add a minor from a wide range of programs. We also encourage study away. Students are expected to acquire practical experience through independent research or internships at sites such as the Bradley Free Clinic, Carillion Clinic, Lewis Gale Hospital, etc. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Through rigorous investigation and analysis, Public Health Studies provides you with a strong foundation for a range of careers in the health field, such as administration, advocacy, counseling, medical practice, public policy, research & analysis, social work and occupational & physical therapy. Our alumni are working as physical therapists, nurses, dieticians, medical social workers, and are attending graduate programs in public health and other health-related fields at a number of outstanding universities. |
Program Credit Requirements
Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Roanoke College and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Courses completed as part of an associate's degree or general education certificate will be evaluated by our Registrar at admission, and appropriate transfer credits will be awarded. Nearly all general education requirements can be completed with transfer credits. Transferrable courses from an accredited college or university will apply to general education, major, and graduation requirements. UCGS and Passport courses will all transfer. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Transferrable courses from an accredited college or university taken as dual enrollment while in high school will apply to general education, major, and graduation requirements. Up to three additional World Language courses can satisfy the language requirement. UCGS and Passport courses will all transfer. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | In general, Roanoke does not offer credit for prior learning outside of higher education coursework. Military training transcripted by an accredited institution of higher education is accepted. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
Number of Transfer Students
90
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
The average enrolled transfer student has a college transfer GPA of 3.12, and 58% of transfer applicants are admitted.
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | Roanoke has about 2000 students, mostly undergraduates. Classes are small, averaging 17 students, with a real commitment to teaching and supporting students. Expect close personal interactions with faculty and staff members who get to know you. Active athletic and recreational opportunities are part of the college as are a wide range of student clubs and activities. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by first semester of attendance. VCCS transfer students may choose a catalog from the two years prior to their first term of attendance if desired. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year for freshmen is determined by first semester of attendance. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Expected transfer students should notify the admissions office as soon as possible, so we can provide advice on courses which will transfer. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
This section displays degrees most closely related to this program
and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the
next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to
visit that program page.
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mennonite University | Bachelor of Science Public Health | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Radford University | BS in Health Sciences | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Old Dominion University | Public Health-BSPH | Bachelor | BS in Public Health | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1071.00 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 11-9111.00 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations. | Management Occupations |
| 21-1094.00 | Community Health Workers | Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs. | Community and Social Service Occupations |
| 21-1091.00 | Health Education Specialists | Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs. | Community and Social Service Occupations |
| 19-4061.00 | Social Science Research Assistants | Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
| 19-3099.00 | Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | All social scientists and related workers not listed separately. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
| 19-3099.01 | Transportation Planners | Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
Cost To Complete