Studying Public Health at Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Master’s in Environmental Health Degrees Online.
Students enroll in public health programs at ODU within the School of Community & Environmental Health that was established in 1971, which was just a few years after the university became known as Old Dominion University. The bachelor’s degree program at the university was created in 1985, and a Master of Science degree program was instituted in 1987. The Master of Public Health degree program was first offered in 2002 in a partnership with Eastern Virginia Medical School. While enrolled in a degree program, students have access to two research facilities that include the Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health and Safety Teaching Laboratory. Topics students may research include behavioral health, health policy, environmental health, and health disparities & vulnerable populations,
Students who have not yet earned a college degree and wish to study public health will enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) with a major in Public Health. The university also offers a major in Health Administration within this degree program. Topics under discussion in the program include the tracking of disease spread, providing health education, finding strategies for disease prevention, and understanding current health trends. Classes in the program include health classes like Managerial Epidemiology, Ethics in Health Administration, and Population Health.
Students who already have a bachelor’s degree can consider the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, which is a degree that offers career advancement opportunities in many industries. The university suggests that some of the best reasons to enroll in the program include the curriculum’s diversity in offering experience-based and didactic courses. Classes are delivered to students in three terms each year, and the program may be completed in just two years with full-time study. Conveniently, students may enroll in courses online or on campus. Overall, the program requires that students complete 43 credits, and full-time enrollment should lead to a completion timeline of five semesters.
The MPH at Old Dominion University does not require that students take the GMAT or GRE to apply, and students can even choose to earn their MPH and a Graduate Certificate in Global Health concurrently. The program is designed to benefit working professionals who wish to design and implement programs, design administrative functions, conduct program evaluation, and engage in the research and development of coalitions to meet community needs. The curriculum features classes like Health Promotion Theory & Practice, Social Marketing for Public Health, Epidemiology, and Introduction to Public Health Practice.
About Old Dominion University
Established in 1930, Old Dominion University was once a satellite campus of the College of William & Mary. The school would become an independent entity in 1962 when it would change from the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary and become Old Dominion College. The name comes from the name King Charles II used to refer to the state when the region remained loyal to England during the English Civil War. The school’s official colors are silver and slate blue, and the modern campus covers 251 acres in Norfolk. With more than 25,000 students, the university is one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia. There are 168 different programs available for study at Old Dominion University.
Old Dominion University Accreditation Details
The regional accreditation agency for Old Dominion University is the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which has approved the university to award baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral, and education specialist degrees. Many programs are also accredited by specialized agencies that provide accreditation to schools across the country. Specialized accreditations include those from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the National Association of Schools of Music. The university’s programs are also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International and the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation – National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
Old Dominion University Application Requirements
Required application materials for first-year admission to Old Dominion University include a $50 application fee, online application, and delivery of high school transcripts and standardized test scores. Students who earned a GED may also apply. Some degrees require that students apply to their program in addition to the application sent to the university. Those programs include Cytotechnology, Environmental Health, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Ophthalmic Technology, Nursing, Medical Technology, and Dental Hygiene. Applications to graduate programs require items specific to each program. All programs require official transcripts, but specifics may include standardized test scores, a resume, some number of references, and writing samples. For example, application requirements for Community & Environmental Health programs require transcripts, an essay, two references, and a resume.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at Old Dominion University is $352.00 per credit hour for in-state students and $982.00 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Graduate tuition rates are $523.00 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,320.00 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Tuition rates apply to Norfolk campus courses, off-campus courses, designated distance learning locations, higher education centers, and courses offered online that are not offered at distance learning centers. Active duty members of the military can enroll in undergraduate classes at a reduced tuition rate of $250 per credit hour. A reduced rate is not available for graduate study. Students who enroll in online courses outside Virginia will pay $389.00 per credit hour for undergraduate classes or $568.00 per credit hour for graduate classes. Students may also need to cover fees like Technology Delivered Course Fees, General Services Fees, and Student Health Fees.
Students can qualify for financial aid at Old Dominion University when they submit a FAFSA form by the deadline. Eligible students will receive a notice of financial aid as long as they submit their documents by June 1st. Students are encouraged to file their FAFSA early by January 1st to qualify for priority consideration. Prospective students can qualify for student loans, grants, and scholarships. Loans and grants are available through the federal government’s loan program, as well as through private sources. Students may qualify for scholarships through the university when they reach certain performance milestones and apply by the early action deadline. Students enrolled in programs from the School of Community & Environmental Health at Old Dominion University may also qualify for state programs like the Commonwealth Award, or the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program award.