Six Public Health Career Pathways at ECU
East Carolina University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Master’s in Environmental Health Degrees Online.
In Carol Belk Hall, the College of Health & Human Performance grants a 124-credit BS in Public Health for East Carolina University undergrads promoting population well-being in three concentrations: Worksite Health, Community Health, or Pre-Health Professions. Chaired by Dr. Don Chaney, the BS in Environmental Health follows a 126-credit Greenville sequence of courses like Waste Water Management and Disease Ecology at a 19:1 engagement ratio.
The Master of Public Health integrates 240-hour practica into 45-credit tracks for Epidemiology, Health Administration, or Health Behavior in the Brody School of Medicine. Satisfying CHES certification, the 30-credit MA in Health Education coordinated by Dr. Michele Wallen offers online Blackboard classes from Research Methods to Intervention Strategies.
On-site or online, the MS in Environmental Health prepares for 10-year 28 percent job growth protecting the planet with 35 credits. Lastly, the 51-75 credit Doctor of Public Health welcomes Environmental & Occupational Health or Health Policy & Administration cohorts to Lakeside Annex for terminal study ending in dissertations.
Note there are also 15-credit Public Health Foundations & Practice and Ethnic & Rural Health Disparities Certificates.
About East Carolina University
East Carolina University originated on March 8, 1907, when the NC General Assembly passed Senator James Leonidas Fleming’s bill to invest $15,000 in a Teachers’ Training School. That June, the State Board of Education chose a six-building Greenville campus for Robert H. Wright to welcome an inaugural class of 123. Approved for bachelor’s degrees in 1921, it became the East Carolina Teacher’s College the next year. By 1935, it began the first graduate degree, a Master of Arts. Desegregated in 1963, it tripled enrollment and started the School of Allied Health during Leo W. Jenkins’ tenure. The East Carolina University name was adopted in 1967 before joining the UNC System in 1972. Partnered with Vidant Health, the Brody School of Medicine engaged its first class of 28 in 1977. The Board of Governors’ Committee plans to add an ECU School of Rural Public Health in August 2020. Generating $46 million, East Carolina University now enrolls 29,131 Pirates, including Master of Public Health majors, from 36 nations with 82 percent retention.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked East Carolina the 194th best university, 106th top public college, 32nd top medical school, and 135th best public health program. On Niche, ECU boasts America’s 59th best Greek life, 101st best kinesiology courses, 131st most student life, and 201st top campus. Times Higher Education placed East Carolina University 500th overall. Forbes picked ECU for the 194th most impactful research and 167th best public schooling. College Factual noticed East Carolina for the 67th best health professions programs and 57th top value. The Center for World University Rankings honored ECU for the 235th top faculty and 388th best alumni employment. PayScale calculated the 762nd biggest 20-year ROI of $239,000 for East Carolina University alums. ECU also landed 57th on the Social Mobility Index with Washington Monthly’s 14th best graduation rate.
East Carolina University Accreditation Details
On January 14, 2014, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees voted to reaffirm the Level V accreditation at East Carolina University through 2023 based on a Quality Enhancement Plan under its sixth chancellor, Dr. Steven Ballard, who received the Leo M. Lambert Engaged Leader Award. Located 479 miles southwest via Interstate 20 in Decatur, this notable 11-state Coastal Plains accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to assess ECU’s 102 baccalaureate, 77 master’s, and 16 doctoral options. Specifically, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited East Carolina on July 19, 2012. The College of Health & Human Performance was approved by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) through December 31, 2019. Since 1975, the Master of Science has also been reviewed by the National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC).
East Carolina University Application Requirements
Attending East Carolina University is labeled “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 12,615 of the 16,007 Fall 2017 applicants were victorious for just 79 percent acceptance. First-year Pirates sailing into the BS in Public Health must build atop a high school or GED diploma with major prerequisites. Sought-after courses include Biology, Chemistry, Economics, and Psychology. The BS in Environmental Health often follows a 2+2 format mandating “C” or higher grades in 60+ credits like EHST 2110. Exceeding a cumulative GPA of 2.5 is expected, but the Pre-Health Professions Track has a 3.0 minimum. The College of Health & Human Performance seeks master’s applicants with accredited four-year baccalaureates. Incoming MPH cohorts can transfer a maximum of 12 credits with 2.7 GPAs or better. Reaching a Graduate Record Exam mark of 300 is strongly preferred. The MS in Environmental Health offers Professional Track Admission to those with 5-10 years of experience. Doctor of Public Health candidates need a CEPH-accredited master’s, 24 months of practice, and GRE scores in the 30th percentile.
East Carolina University has November 11th Honors College, December 15th scholarship priority, and March 1st final deadlines for freshmen. Intrigued BS in Public Health transfers apply anytime until April 22nd for Summer, June 10th for Fall, and November 30th for Spring. The Graduate School has general cutoffs of August 15th, December 20th, May 5th, and June 15th yearly. However, the MPH only admits until April 15th and October 15th. Accessing the ECU Admissions Portal or Common Application online incurs a $75 non-refundable fee. Prospective students have official academic records sent to Mailstop 517 at 106 Whichard Building in Greenville, NC 27858. Electronic test results are generated with ACT code 3094 or College Board code 5180. Don’t forget the course evaluations, professional résumé, three recommendation letters, essay of intent, and immigration records if applicable. Please contact (252) 328-6640 or admissions@ecu.edu to learn more.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, East Carolina University is charging in-state BS in Public Health majors $3,594 per semester or $7,188 annually. Non-resident undergrads pay $11,732 each term or $23,465 yearly. Summer Session is discounted for $1,786 to $5,855. Living at the Greenville campus’ dorms like Umstead Hall adds $5,366 for housing. Standard meal plans for Todd Dining Hall are $4,031. ECU budgets $1,432 for books, $1,262 for personal, $1,356 for transportation, and $80 for loan fees. Annual bachelor’s attendance is roughly $21,672 in-state and $37,949 out-of-state. The Graduate School is currently charging North Carolinians $7,485 and non-residents $20,634 per nine-month year. However, the Online MA in Health Education bills $249 per in-state and $893 per out-of-state credit. Master of Public Health cohorts are assessed an extra $100 per credit too.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Student Financial Aid in Old Cafeteria Complex gives median assistance of $7,681 for 52 percent of ECU Pirates for $90.86 million overall. Health-related funds include the Abeyounis Family Scholarship, Berbecker Foundation Fellowship, Bessie McNeil Scholarship, Captain Christopher Cash Scholarship, Daniel & Roelyn Adams Scholarship, Dave Alexander Scholarship, Dr. Ed Element Scholarship, Glascoff Scholarship, Judy B. Baker Scholarship, Louise Metts Lloyd Scholarship, Souza Endowed Scholarship, and Mabel Cooper Hayden Memorial Scholarship. The EC Scholars Award worth $62,000 helps BS in Public Health majors undertaking study abroad and Honors projects. Finishing FAFSA forms coded 002923 might unlock Federal Pell, SEOG, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants. Federal Work-Study positions in Greenville pay $8-$10/hour. Master of Public Health students qualify for 20-hour assistantships at a $9,000 minimum. The College Foundation of North Carolina also offers the UNC Need-Based Grant, Safewater Endowment Scholarship, People Helping People Scholarship, and Eunice M. Smith Scholarship.
Keep reading about East Carolina University at the Department of Public Health website.