Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Bachelor of Science Public Health

Bachelor of Science
Shenandoah University

The Public Health major prepares students to be able to identify the causes of disease and the principles and practices of health promotion, disease/injury prevention and protection, to understand national/international public health issues from historical, social, cultural, as well as a scientific perspective, and to integrate knowledge and methods into the practice of public health.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
Click here for details
External Link
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 Public Health is a diverse, interdisciplinary field that allows students to make a real impact on thousands or even millions of lives! There are many career pathways depending on the student's interest. Most of our classes occur face-to-face on main campus but there are some classes that are hybrid or blended with some of the content delivered online.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

The Public Health program is flexible and designed for students to be successful when transferring in at different points in their undergraduate careers. It is helpful to have taken Statistics and Anatomy & Physiology prior to Junior year (3rd year) but not required.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Shenandoah University within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses Many of our courses involve off-site experiences including service-learning and/or internships. It is helpful to have transportation to these sites.
Doing More With Your Degree Students majoring in public health typically take one of three paths after graduation. 1) Go directly to work in the field, 2) Master's degrees in Public Health, or 3) Graduate school for a clinical specialty, such as OT, PT, PA, or Nursing, for example.
Program Successes & Highlights Students completing our program have gone on to highly competitive graduate programs including Yale, UNC, GW, and University of Michigan, among many others! However, graduate school is not the only pathway for our students. Our students have gained employment in the private sector, non-profit organizations, healthcare institutions, and local health departments. Our small class sizes coupled with experiences in the field have prepared our graduates for challenges facing our public health and healthcare communities. Come see what we're all about!
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf 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.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Bachelor of Science Public Health
120
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
To earn this degree, students must earn a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA, complete at least 30 credits at SU, complete no more than 52 creidts per subject, and complete at least 30 credits at the 300 or 400 level.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
120
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
To earn this degree, students must earn a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA, complete at least 30 credits at SU, complete no more than 52 creidts per subject, and complete at least 30 credits at the 300 or 400 level.
SHEN ED
30
Communicative Literacy Written
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Communicative Literacy Oral
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Quantitative Literacy Region
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Navigating Difference Sphere - Ethical Reasoning Region
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Navigating Difference Sphere - Cultural Understanding Region
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Creative Expression Sphere
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Scientific Inquiry Sphere - Natural Sciences Region
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Scientific Inquiry Sphere - Social and Behavioral Region
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
FYS or Cultural Understanding
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Students enrolled as freshman must complete the FYS course.
Earn 3 credits: Complete the following
Earn 3 credits: Use the following rules
Complete courses from the following Category list:
OR
Complete courses from the following Course:
Credit and Language Requirements
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Students in this major are required to complete a language through the 202 level. If this requirement is met, students may select a course from any of the SHEN ED categories. This is an opportunity to select courses that will apply to a concentration or minor.
CAS Second Language Requirement
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
This requirement may be met by completing 4 years of one language in high school or passing a language exam. Students must still earn a total of 30 credits from general education courses.
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Additional 3 credits of SHEN ED
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
This is an opportunity to select courses that will apply to a concentration or minor.
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category list:
Public Health Core Requirements
26
Introduction to Public Health
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Global Health
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Epidemiology
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Program Planning
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
General Biology I
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Writing in the Health Professions
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Mathematics
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Public Health Electives
12
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Complete 12 credits with only one course at most being at the 100 or 200 level. All 12 credits can be earned by completing the 300- and/or 400- level courses.
100/200 Level
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
300/400 Level
9
Earn 9 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Rule Notes
Rule Notes:
Complete up to 12 credits from the 300-400 levels.
Methods Course Options
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Free Electives
49
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Use these electives to complete your concentration or explore other areas of study. Students must earn a total of 120 credits to meet degree requirements Complete credits from any discipline without exceeding 52 credits per subject. These electives should only be used once all other requirements have been met and may not be needed to meet the degree requirements.
Earn 49 credits by completing any available course
Applicable Admissions Agreements
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The table below lists admissions agreements between Shenandoah University 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.

Institution Name Type Title
Blue Ridge Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Central Virginia Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Danville Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Mountain Gateway Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Eastern Shore Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Germanna Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Brightpoint Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Laurel Ridge Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Mountain Empire Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
New River Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Northern Virginia Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Paul D. Camp Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Patrick & Henry Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Piedmont Virginia Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Rappahannock Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Southside Virginia Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Southwest Virginia Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Tidewater Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Virginia Peninsula Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Virginia Highlands Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Virginia Western Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University
Wytheville Community College Guaranteed Admissions Agreement Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Virginia Community College System and Shenandoah University

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?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Completion of an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Arts and Science will guarantee completion of general education requirements.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Completion of an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Arts and Science prior to high school graduation will guarantee completion of general education requirements with the exception that the First Year Seminar (3 credits) must be completed upon enrollment to SU.
Credit for Prior Learning
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Shenandoah University
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
450
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
Shenandoah's average acceptance rate over the last four years is 84%.
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Shenandoah offers an 11:1 student to faculty ratio, experiential learning opportunities, and integrative technology to prepare graduates for a successful career.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions Complete an Associate of Science, Associate of Arts, or Associate or Arts and Science with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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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
Marymount University Health Sciences (BS) - Public Health SpecializationBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
11-9111.00Medical and Health Services ManagersPlan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.Management Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 120 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Bachelor of Science Public Health at Shenandoah University
These costs are based on an estimated 8 semesters or 4 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $17,730 Per Semester $141,840 $0 $141,840 Per semester tuition for a full time status of 12 - 18 credit hours
Fees
Student Services Fee $195 Per Semester $1,560 0 $1,560 Full-time students only
IM Learning Fee $345 Per Semester $2,760 0 $2,760
Technology Fee $205 Per Semester $1,640 0 $1,640
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.