Bachelor of Science in Public Health
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Graduates are prepared to use their skills in a variety of government agencies, hospitals and other facilities of the health care system, community mental health agencies, employee health programs in business and industry, student health services on college campuses, and many non-profit health agencies and communities. Many students choose to pursue advanced degrees in public health, and this is strongly encouraged.
What is Public Health?
Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases.
The field of public health is constantly evolving in response to the needs of communities and populations around the world. The underlying mission of public health is to improve the conditions and behaviors that affect health so that all people can attain it.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Graduates are prepared to use their skills in a variety of government agencies, hospitals and other facilities of the health care system, community mental health agencies, employee health programs in business and industry, student health services on college campuses, and many non-profit health agencies and communities. Many students choose to pursue advanced degrees in public health, and this is strongly encouraged.
Public Health students have the option to minor in Health Care Administration, or Health Education. Both require a minimum of 23 semester hours, and are compatible with many majors to enhance student’s career opportunities and as preparation for graduate study in a variety of health disciplines.
Choose from 7 undergraduate certificate Programs:
- Environmental Health
- Health Education & Promotion
- Health Informatics
- Long-Term Care Administration
- Occupational Safety & Health
- Public Health
- Worksite Health Promotions
Students in the Public Health program are required to complete PH 490, Fieldwork in Public Health. Students will participate in supervised field experience planned with various agencies, organizations, facilities, industries, and businesses with health-related missions or programs, which will all be approved by the Department of Public Health. Students will be placed in internships in the type of agency and the geographic location of most interest to them. Students are expected to fully participate in assigned activities, conduct themselves professionally and represent WKU at these sites. Interns will be supervised by an agency staff member that serves as a preceptor.
Guidelines:
- Participate in a mandatory internship orientation.
- Must meet program pre-internship requirements.
- Submit completed application forms.
Potential Opportunities:
- SouthCentral Kentucky Area Health Education Center
- WKU Health Education and Health Promotion/Student Wellness
- WKU Center for Applied Science in Health & Aging
- WKU Center for Environmental & Workplace Health
- Housing Authority of Bowling Green
- International Center of Kentucky
*Not all locations are listed.*
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Any inquiries about the program's accreditation should be directed by mail to CEPH, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 220, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, or by phone at (202) 789-1050.
View our most recent self-study and the program's letter of result from CEPH.
WKU’s Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health programs are currently undergoing accreditation review from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). CEPH would like to hear from you regarding these programs! Third-party comments can be submitted to CEPH by emailing them to submissions@ceph.org. Comments will be accepted until 30 days prior to the site visit scheduled for March 11th-12th, 2024. Submit your comments to CEPH by February 10th, 2024 for consideration.
Guiding Statements & Governance
Dr. Grace Lartey
Director, Undergraduate Public Health Program
Phone: (270) 745-3941
- grace.lartey@wku.edu
Academic Complex 129D
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