The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. This accreditation signifies excellence among public health programs and is a testament to the quality of public health professionals graduating from the program. A copy of the final accreditation report is available to anyone by emailing Dr. James Bemel at [email protected].
The Department of Public Health is where academic excellence meets real-world impact. Our programs equip students with the knowledge and skills to drive positive change in healthcare and community well-being. Students engage in hands-on learning experiences, like our public health students who conducted free health examinations in rural communities, gaining invaluable practical insights.
Apply now and become a catalyst for positive change in the field of public health!
The Department of Public Health understands that not every student has the option of sitting in a classroom. Students now have the option of earning a B.S. in Public Health completely online. Course modalities rotate, allowing students the ability to earn a B.S. in Public Health without ever setting foot in a classroom.
For more information about completing a B.S. in Public Health online, click the box below to contact an advisor for the online program.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health prepares students to serve as effective and competent public health professionals. Public health graduates are equipped with knowledge to help individuals, families, and communities improve and maintain healthy lifestyles. Students will be prepared to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate public health programs. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in health behavior theory, data collection and analysis, social determinants of health, communication and marketing, policy and advocacy, and ethics. The program is designed to prepare students to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam (optional but highly recommended). Public health professionals work in government, private, and nonprofit sectors. Employment settings include healthcare facilities, hospitals, state and local health departments, businesses, worksite wellness programs, schools, universities, and a variety of nonprofit organizations.
Students in the Department of Public Health may receive an Associate in Science in Public Health. The AS degree is a steppingstone to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
The Public Health minor prepares students to serve as effective and competent health professionals. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in nutrition, drugs, human sexuality, and health behavior theory. Students will be equipped to identify factors that influence health choices and to apply health theories to help individuals, families, and communities improve and maintain healthy lifestyles. The Public Health minor compliments majors related to the health professions including pre-med, pre-dental, nursing, dental hygiene, and respiratory therapy.
Focuses on the role of communication strategies and media in influencing individual, community, and policy decisions that enhance public health. Offers strategies to create professional public health messages. Includes instruction in the use of health-related theory to create, disseminate, and increase public acceptance of health communication campaigns. Provides instruction in social marketing, social media, intervention planning, and analyzing health communication campaigns. Applies communication strategies to various public health topics such as disease prevention, promoting healthy lifestyles, and disseminating new health innovations.
The Certificate of Proficiency in Public and Community Health is available for all
UVU students with a particular focus designed to provide high school students an opportunity
to obtain a stackable certificate of proficiency with an emphasis in career and technical
education while still enrolled in high school. This certificate is available from
the University for college students/adults looking for basic entry-level skills leading
to further academic advancement, and to learn more about Public and Community Health
as a career field.
Pass rate for CHES Exam, April 2025: 100% passed (2 students took the exam & the national
pass rate was 73%), October 2025: 100% passed (2 students took the exam & the national
pass rate was 67%).
We welcome diverse students in our program; there is a place for everyone here.
See what our graduates do with a degree in Public Health Education.
If you're passionate about health but don’t want to go into the clinical side of things, public health is the way to go. We get to help people on a larger scale. We get to help full communities rather than focusing on individual people, so your impact can be really big.
Public Health Graduate
I loved my experience in the UVU Public Health program. The professors were amazing and helped me build a strong foundation for my career in public health. I gained invaluable knowledge and skills that prepared me for my future in the field. If you are interested in health education, UVU Public Health is the place for you!
Program Manager - Wellness Programs & Public Health Graduate
A wonderful thing about the Public Health Department specifically at UVU is my professors. I've been able to go to places that I don't think I would have gone if I were at another institution because my professors have cared so much about me individually.
Public Health Graduate
The discovery and management of the COVID-19 pandemic opened the world’s eyes to the important role played by public health professionals. The Public Health program at UVU graduates professionals who are ready to work on real-world problems. Our graduates demonstrate the skills necessary to tackle current public health issues and are preferred by some public health employers in Utah. Over the past five years, 90% or more of public health students who sat for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification exam passed the exam, signifying the quality education received in the UVU Public Health program. I look forward to seeing you in some of our classes!
Find out what research opportunities we have available.
