Bachelor of Science in Public Health Online

Learn public health and wellness promotion strategies and best practices for community advocacy through this accelerated online program that can be tailored to your unique academic and professional interests.

Apply by: 9/30/25
Start class: 10/20/25 Apply Now Apply Now

Program Overview

Improve community wellness with the online bachelor of public health

Build real-world experience with policy analysis and grant writing through the online Bachelor of Science in Public Health program. This accessible academic pathway explores epidemiology and emergency preparedness while empowering you to positively impact community wellness on local and global scales.

Learn from supportive, collaborative faculty who will elevate your understanding of evidence-based practice, clinical decision-making and health intervention methods. Earn your degree in less time by transferring up to 90 hours of previously earned credits and select relevant elective courses to align your studies with your goals. The online bachelor’s in public health program facilitates your transition to graduate studies or a career in healthcare and nonprofit settings.

Graduates of this online public health degree program will:

  • Analyze and interpret public health data for community planning and interventions
  • Design and evaluate health promotion programs
  • Navigate policy and communication strategies to support population health
  • Apply public health principles to diverse career paths including education, wellness, advocacy and emergency response
  • Collaborate across sectors to address health disparities and drive system-wide improvements
Graduates of this online public health degree program will:
  • Analyze and interpret public health data for community planning and interventions
  • Design and evaluate health promotion programs
  • Navigate policy and communication strategies to support population health
  • Apply public health principles to diverse career paths including education, wellness, advocacy and emergency response
  • Collaborate across sectors to address health disparities and drive system-wide improvements

Public health careers:

  • Community Health Coordinator
  • Public Health Educator
  • Epidemiology Assistant
  • Health Promotion Specialist
  • Policy Analyst
  • Health Communication Specialist
Public health careers:
  • Community Health Coordinator
  • Public Health Educator
  • Epidemiology Assistant
  • Health Promotion Specialist
  • Policy Analyst
  • Health Communication Specialist

Also available:

Northwest offers a variety of specialized online education program options. Check out our other online undergraduate programs.

Per Credit Hour $347*
Program Transfer Credits: Up to 90 hours
Credit Hours 120

Accreditation:

Higher Learning Commission transparency logo

Northwest Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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Need More Information?

Call 844-890-9304

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Tuition

Pay your affordable tuition one course at a time

Our B.S. in Public Health online program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. There is a $36 per course fee.

View additional tuition information+

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course
B.S. Public Health $347 $1,041

Important Refund Information

2nd day of class Last date for 100% refund for dropped course
4th day of class Last date for 75% refund for dropped course
6th day of class Last date for 50% refund for dropped course
8th day of class Last date for 25% refund for dropped course

Transfer Your Credits for Lower Tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

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90
Transfer Credits: 0
Your Estimated Tuition: $Your Estimated Tuition:
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Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student’s Northwest record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour $347*

Calendar

Choose the convenient start date that works best for you

Northwest online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working students, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 210/20/259/30/2510/6/2510/13/2510/15/2512/5/25
Spring 11/12/2612/17/251/5/261/7/261/8/262/27/26
Spring 23/9/262/16/262/20/262/27/263/3/264/24/26

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date: 9/30/25
Next Class Start Date: 10/20/25
Ready to take the next steps toward

earning your degree?

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Admissions

Apply with ease to the online bachelor’s degree in public health program

At Northwest, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the B.S. in Public Health online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them. The requirements include:

View all admission requirements +

To apply for this program, you must meet the requirements for one of the sections listed below.

Transfer Criteria

  • Students with 24 or more transferrable credit hours:
    • A minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Students with less than 24 transferrable credit hours:
    • Follow freshmen admission requirements and have a minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Transfer students from institutions not accredited by one of the agencies formerly recognized as a regional accreditor per the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) will be considered freshmen. Northwest does not accept transfer credit from institutions without accreditation from one of these recognized bodies.

Returning Students (previously enrolled as degree-seeking at Northwest)

  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA in any coursework completed since last being at Northwest (on 4.0 scale)
  • A probation essay (if returning after being suspended or put on probation) explaining previous time at Northwest, what they've been doing since and how they plan to be successful when they return

Freshman Criteria (Adult - 24+ years old):

  • High school transcript showing graduation date or completion of GED/HiSET
  • Essay
  • ACT/SAT test scores optional; can be submitted for scholarship/placement purposes if available

Freshman Criteria (for non-adult freshmen and transfers with less than 24 transferrable hours):

  • Category I:
    • 21 or higher ACT composite (or the SAT equivalent: SAT-980 or 1060**)
    • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (weighted or unweighted) or above (on a 4.0 scale)

**Per 2016 SAT redesign.

  • Category II:
    • Have an admissions index score (see here) that equals or exceeds 100 points
    • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (weighted or unweighted) or above (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Category III:
    • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (weighted or unweighted) or above (on a 4.0 scale)
    • Complete high school college-preparatory curriculum
    • Students who have completed the GED or HiSET are eligible with a minimum score of 660 on the GED or a minimum score of 75 on the HiSET
    • This category is not an option for home-schooled or unaccredited high school graduates unless they have also completed the GED or HiSET

Home-Schooled Students

Applicants must have their ACT or SAT results submitted directly from ACT or College Board. A transcript listing of high school courses and grades in each course is also required for admission.

  • 21 or higher on the ACT (or SAT equivalent), OR
  • GED score of 660 or higher, OR
  • HiSET score of 75 or higher

GED Applicants/HiSET Applicants

A student may be considered for admission after receiving an equivalency certification, meeting the following criteria:

  • GED score of 660 or higher, OR
  • HiSET score of 75 or higher

Official transcripts can be emailed to [email protected]. To submit official documents by mail, send them to:

Office of Admissions
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468-6001

Have a question? Call us at 844-890-9304.

Click here for State Authorization information.


Admission Requirements:

  • GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended

Courses

Explore the customizable curriculum for the online bachelor of science in public health

For the online bachelor's degree in public health program, the curriculum is comprised of 120 credit hours, including: 44-47 credit hours of Northwest core (general education), four credit hours of institutional requirements, 63 credit hours of public health courses and as many credit hours of general elective courses as needed to fulfill the 120 credit hour degree requirement.

Expand All

Students must take 44-47 credit hours of general education courses to meet the degree plan requirements.

Students are required to take a University Seminar (1 credit hour) and a digital literacy course, usually Computers and Information Technology (3 credit hours). Below is the information for each course.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
University Seminar is designed to help students transition to college life and achieve success. Topics of exploration will include the privileges, rights, and responsibilities associated with a university education, skills necessary for success, assuming responsibility for one's own university experience, and available resources.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to computer systems. Topics include integrated office applications, hardware, software, Internet, and the rights and responsibilities of computer users.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An emphasis on public policy in terms of personnel and budget administration. This course is divided into two distinct but complimentary parts. The first part of the course will focus on personnel administration in the public sector, while the second part of the course will focus on government budgeting. Case studies and exercises will be used in both parts of the course in order to gain an understanding of the key principles, concepts and methods associated with both of these areas of government.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A survey course designed to introduce students to the foundation of human and animal behavior. Students will study the content and the processes used by behavioral scientists to discover, describe, explain and predict human behavior. The course provides an environment in which students learn how to critically evaluate the biological, social/cultural and psychological variables that contribute to behavior and to reflect on those to develop an informed sense of self and others.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide a greater understanding of the social world. Sociology is defined as a scientific study of human behavior in social life with an assumption that there are social forces which shape and influence patterns of behavior and ways of thinking. These include social forces such as culture, stratification, age, gender, race and ethnicity, and globalization. Several sociological perspectives serve as the point of reference by which human behavior at the micro and macro level are better understood.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic concepts of decision making, central values, variability, probability and statistical inference, elementary concepts of correlation, parametric tests of significance, and regression analysis. Will satisfy The Northwest Core requirement in mathematics. Proficiency examination is available. Prerequisite: An ACT Math score of 22 or higher, high school GPA of 3.00 or higher, or a minimum grade of C in MATH 17082, or concurrent enrollment in MATH 17014.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course offers an introductory experience to the field of public health, providing students with a foundational understanding of key concepts and best practices nationally and globally.  
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and principles of epidemiology as it is used in the field of public health. Students will explore key concepts of epidemiology as it is related to disease and health outcomes for the population and will be introduced to skills involving critical evaluation of public health data, assessment of the impact of disease on the population, and the role of epidemiology in evidence-based practices. Prerequisite: MATH 17114
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is an introductory course that provides the fundamental components of the healthcare system and its delivery, including the organizational structure, policies, key stakeholders, and ethical considerations.  Healthcare systems nationally and globally will be explored on a small and large scale to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with healthcare environments. 
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The activities in this course introduce students to different approaches and challenges faced globally in the public health sector by exploring various cultures and how they affect public health outcomes.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the relationship of environmental health, both built and natural environment, contributing to the health and wellbeing of the population.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of public health emergency preparedness, emphasizing practical approaches for managing real-world public health crises. Using foundational principles and case studies, students will explore topics such as disaster response coordination, risk communication, resource management, and ethical considerations in public health emergencies. Through interactive activities and applied learning, students will develop skills necessary for effective preparedness planning and response to natural disasters, pandemics, and other public health threats.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to Health Communication through the lens of health behaviors and outcomes in Public Relations, Organizational, Mediated, and Interpersonal Communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course in American policy-making processes and problems of policy development at the national level. The focus is on the analysis of current public policies and their consequences.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An emphasis on public policy in terms of personnel and budget administration. This course is divided into two distinct but complimentary parts. The first part of the course will focus on personnel administration in the public sector, while the second part of the course will focus on government budgeting. Case studies and exercises will be used in both parts of the course in order to gain an understanding of the key principles, concepts and methods associated with both of these areas of government.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An entry-level nutrition course which provides basic nutrition information and the science behind nutrition and diet behavior. Coursework will include a self-assessment of nutrient intake utilizing computer analysis.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Acquaints students with the vocabulary, concept and practices in the study of grants administration and management. Enables practicing the skills necessary in obtaining outside funding and provides awareness of the individual roles and agencies within public funding.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A gradual induction to the professional setting is provided through a progression of opportunities. The experience should include a supervised practical experience over a semester period. The experience will be directed and supervised by a health science professional and a designated University supervisor. Settings for experiences include opportunities within the health science field such as cardiac rehabilitation facilities, private and not-for-profit wellness and fitness centers, municipal health agencies, senior centers, long term care facilities, athlete training centers, and other health science related organizations. Repeatable for additional experience, new material, and progression of study. Prerequisite: Program advisor approval
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Historical, physical, biological, and socio-cultural factors that influence the magnitude and character of health problems, goals, and solutions
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The study of the organization and implementation of a comprehensive health promotion program. Practical applied experiences are included.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Behaviors play a major role in the overall health of children, adolescents, adults, and the aging. Health behavior change models provide tools for health professionals to assist individuals with both strategies and interventions designed to impact the quality and quantity of life across the lifespan.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will take part in practical exercises designed to develop competency in the use of evidence based practice. EBP processes for identifying and critiquing existing evidence will be explored. Integration of existing evidence with clinical judgment, patient preferences, inter-professional perspectives and other resources form the basis for the clinical decision-making process will also be covered.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The structure and function of the skeletal, muscular, and circulatory systems.

Students must also complete general education free electives as needed to reach a minimum 120 graduation hours.

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Ranked among the top 5 “Public Universities in Missouri” by Niche.com (2022)

Highly Qualified Faculty

100% of classes are taught by professionals, not graduate assistants

*Tuition and fees are based on current rates. Textbooks and laptops are not included with tuition.

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