Learn About Public Health

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!

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Degrees

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Public Health, B.S.

120 Credits to Graduate

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.

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Public Health, A.S.

60 Credits to Graduate

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.

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Public Health, Minor

63 Credits to Graduate

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.

What Is Public Health?

Public health is where professionals help individuals or communities maintain a healthy lifestyle by choosing healthy behaviors. Public health professionals may work for non-profits such as the American Diabetes Association, at a state or local health department, in hospitals, or with worksite wellness programs. Public health professionals have a variety of responsibilities which keeps the job interesting.  They may serve as a resource in the community to communicate and advocate for health and the profession.  They may also collect and analyze data, and plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs.

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Video Spotlights

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.

What they're saying...

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.

abby hall

Abby Hall

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!

Kelly Henderson

Kelly Henderson

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.  

Grace Miller

Grace Miller

Public Health Graduate

Faculty Spotlight

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"Public Health is a strong and thriving profession, providing numerous employment opportunities and exciting challenges within those positions."

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!

Dr. James Bemel, Associate Professor

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Accreditation

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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].

Program Application
Due date

Sept. 15

Spring Semester

May 15

Fall Semester

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