Program Details
BS in Public Health
Bachelor of ScienceRadford University
Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree 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. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
The mission of the B.S. Public Health program is to develop a public health workforce dedicated to improving community health and wellness through education, advocacy, and service. Public health protects and improves the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations, locally and globally. Public health professionals aim to prevent disease and injury from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, advocating for policies, administering services, and conducting research. The B.S. Public Health Plan of Study was developed to align with competencies proposed by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). The CEPH Undergraduate Public Health Competency Domains include: Overview of Public Health, Role and Importance of Data in Public Health, Identifying and Addressing Population Health Challenges, Human Health , Determinants of Health, Project Implementation, Overview of the Health System, Health Policy, Law, Ethics, and Economics, and Health Communications. NCHEC oversees the areas of responsibility and competencies for Health Education Specialists and specifies coursework for students to be eligible to take the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination. Students will be eligible to take the CHES examination upon graduation. The eight areas of responsibility for Health Education Specialists include: Area I: Assessment of Needs and Capacity, Area II: Planning, Area III: Implementation, Area IV: Evaluation and Research, Area V: Advocacy, Area VI: Communication, Area VII: Leadership and Management, and Area VIII: Ethics and Professionalism.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes Students must complete their Plan of Study with a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. All program-specific courses require a grade minimum of “C” – 73% or higher. Students must complete a minimum of 25% of the Plan of Study at Radford University Carilion. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | |
| Program Successes & Highlights |
Program Credit Requirements
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Radford 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.
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 | Students who complete an approved VCCS transfer-oriented associate degree (AA, AS, AA&S, or a SCHEV-approved General Studies transfer degree) are considered to have satisfied Radford’s Core/REAL lower-division general education requirements. Students must still complete all other University, college, departmental, major-specific, prerequisite, and Radford residency requirements. You enter as a junior with general education requirements met as indicated in the pathway map. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | You enter as a junior with general education requirements met as indicated in the pathway map. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | Radford awards credit for AP, CLEP, and IB when official scores meet Radford criteria; AP/CLEP scores and IB courses are evaluated like transfer credit. Dual enrollment credit requires an official college transcript. Students may also seek prior-learning credit for professional work or life experience, military training, CLEP, departmental challenge exams, and national certification exams. Students should submit official scores, transcripts, or Joint Services Transcripts, and confirm with the Registrar/transfer team or academic advisor how awarded credit applies to their degree and major requirements. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | Radford University is a medium-sized public residential university in the city of Radford in southwest Virginia, with 7,837 students, 608 enrolled degree-seeking transfer students in Fall 2025, and an average class size of 20. Students learn across seven colleges and a growing Honors College, with 75 bachelor’s degree programs in 47 disciplines and academic options on the main Radford campus, Radford University Carilion in Roanoke, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, and online. Incoming freshmen on the main campus are required to live on campus for two academic years unless exempt; transfer and RUC students are welcome to live on campus but are not required. Students can get involved through 200+ clubs and organizations, Division I athletics, outdoor recreation opportunities, and transfer-focused options such as Tartan Transfer. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Generally, transfer students use the catalog year in effect when they first enroll at Radford University; under the VCCS/Radford GAA, students may request the catalog from the time of first post-high-school enrollment in an eligible VCCS associate degree, subject to GAA conditions. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the academic catalog year the student enters Radford University. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | VCCS/Radford GAA: Complete an eligible transfer-oriented associate degree, earn a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher, be in good academic and disciplinary standing, follow normal transfer admission timelines, and submit official transcripts from all colleges attended plus a final official transcript showing associate-degree completion. There are no GAA testing requirements and Radford does not charge an application fee. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollins University | BA in Public Health | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| George Mason University | Community Health, BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
Cost To Complete