Public Health Programs at Purdue Global
Purdue Global appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable MPH Degree Programs Online.
Purdue Global offers an online Master of Public Health (MPH) and similar programs in health science. The MPH program includes 10-week terms and classes that ask students to spend no more than 15 hours a week on their assignments. As the university offers several terms every year, students can start classes at a time that is convenient for them. Students take 40 credits of required classes and 6 units of electives. Some of the classes include Foundations in Public Health, Principles of Epidemiology, Practical Skills in Public Health and Public Health Biology. This program features classes in biology and environmental health too.
Some of the university’s bachelor’s programs can help students learn about public health. It offers a bachelor’s program in health care administration that includes a final capstone. This course asks students to take a detailed look at one of the issues facing the health care system and come up with solutions to fix the problem. With the ExcelTrack option, students pay one rate and can take multiple classes in the same term. They can go through those classes as quickly or as slowly as they would like based on how well they understand the materials. This program and the health and wellness major include an accelerated track for students who want to get a graduate degree from the university. Other options for students at the undergraduate level include bachelor’s programs in nutrition and health science.
The university also offers two associate’s degree programs in health science: an Associate of Science (AS) and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS). Both programs include courses designed to help students look at health subjects from different points of view and to find work in technical positions. The AAS program includes more science and technology courses though. Those with a military background can get credit for their past experiences. This can reduce the number of classes they need to take down to just five.
Purdue Global now offers a graduate degree in health care administration that includes some public health courses. It helps students become hospital administrators and clinical or health managers. In the Master of Health Information Management program, students focus more on managing medical records and keeping those records secure. Another option is the university’s health education program, which helps students educate patients and groups on their health care needs. At the end of their studies, students can take the Master Certified Health Education Specialist or Certified Health Education Specialist exam.
About Purdue Global
Purdue Global is a public university known as PG that primarily offers classes for adult students. This university has six campuses and study centers where students can take classes and an online campus that includes a law school. Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, and Maryland have learning centers where students can get academic help. All campuses and the PG online system have an enrollment of 29,000 students.
Purdue Global Accreditation Details
Some of the health sciences programs at PG have accreditation from organizations that include the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The university itself has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This is the same regional accreditation held by Purdue University. Students can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the beginning of October and get financial aid for the next year because of the HLC accreditation.
Purdue Global Application Requirements
Before applying to PG, students should make sure that they meet the technology and admissions requirements of the university. Students need a good computer with memory and hard drive space as well as access to the internet. New students can call PG directly and talk to an admissions representative. Their representatives can interview them and make sure that they can handle the program that interests them. Students can also apply online, which usually takes a few minutes or less.
Signing the Enrollment Agreement is one of the main steps that incoming students need to take. This form states that the applicant understands what PG expects from them and what they will need to do in the future. Undergrads need a GED certificate, high school diploma or home school certificate. The university must receive this document before the student can register. Grad students will also need to send an unofficial transcript to PG. The university gives them up until the last day of the first semester they take to submit an official transcript.
Tuition and Financial Aid
PG does not offer one set tuition rate because students can get various discounts. Indiana residents qualify for the PG in-state rate of $280 per quarter-hour. Though most graduate students pay $420 per quarter hour, Indiana residents get a 10% discount on this price. Those in the military get a discount of 55% off the university’s standard rates, while veterans get a 38% discount on their classes. PG also offers a 10% discount for the spouses of military personnel. The university recommends that students use the online calculator and enter all their discounts to view their costs for the year.
An online guide is available that walks students through the financial aid process and shows them how to submit the FAFSA. Seven states offer grants that students can use at the university, including Indiana and Vermont. They can use those grants with the Pell and opportunity grants that they get from the government. Many students will also qualify for one or more loans. Financial aid goes to nearly all of the students in the public health degree programs at Purdue Global every year.