Public Health Degrees Offered at the University of West Florida
The University of West Florida appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable MPH Online Degrees in the East
The Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion provides students with the education and training to help improve the health of individuals and communities. It does this by:
- encouraging healthy behaviors
- educating target populations
- teaching behavior change
- implementing environmental strategies
A total of 120 credit hours are required to complete the degree. The major courses include:
- Foundations in Health Education
- Human Environmental Health
- Current Issues in Health Promotion, Epidemiology
- Health Promotion and Planning
- Research Methods and Evaluation in Health Promotion
- Senior Capstone Experience in Health Promotion
Graduates of the program are prepared to take the Certified Health Education Specialist examination through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health teaches students about the principles of public health practice. It has a focus on:
- history
- philosophy
- scope
- law and regulations
- recent public health trends
A total of 120 credit hours are needed to complete the degree. The major courses include:
- Career Essentials for Healthcare
- Informatics and Your Health
- Data Analysis in the Health Sciences
- Essentials of Public Health
- Health Information Systems
- Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
- Public Health Planning and Analysis
- Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health
- Health Sciences Capstone Course
The Master of Public Health provides students with a high-quality, competency-based, interdisciplinary understanding of public health. The curriculum teaches effective practices in addressing a wide range of public health issues. Students are able to select from various concentrations:
- generalist
- health promotion
- education
- behavior or global health
Students must complete at least 42 credit hours for the degree. The core courses include:
- Biological Basis of Public Health
- Epidemiological Research Design and Methods
- Applied Data Analysis in Public Health
- Principles of Public Health
- Global Health
- Internship in Public Health
Students must also complete a practicum in public health and pass a comprehensive examination.
The Master of Science in Health Promotion and Worksite Wellness focuses on issues related to:
- the effects of physical activity and inactivity
- nutrition
- obesity and metabolic irregularities
- disease prevention
- wellness enhancement
- health promotion
Students focus on health education in the community and the workplace. A total of 39 credit hours are required to complete the program. The courses include:
- Advanced Epidemiology
- Philosophical Foundations of Health Education
- Current Issues in Worksite Wellness
- Health Education Program Planning and Evaluation
- Social Marketing in Health Education
- Health Education and Interactive Technology
Graduates of the program are prepared for the Certified Health Education Specialist examination.
The Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Occupational Health prepares students working in:
- public health
- health care
- environmental areas
A total of 18 credit hours are needed to complete the program. The courses include:
- Environmental Health
- Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene
- Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health
- Principles of Public Health
- Disease Surveillance and Monitoring,
- Environmental Toxicology.
About the University of West Florida
The University of West Florida is a public university in Pensacola, Florida. It was established in 1963 and is a part of the State University System of Florida. Today, more than 13,000 students attend the University of West Florida. It functions on the semester-based academic calendar.
The University of West Florida is committed to providing high-quality education and meeting the needs of professionals and society. The values of the institution include:
- innovation
- inclusiveness
- entrepreneurship
- creativity
- caring
- collaboration
The university offers than 45 undergraduate, 25 master’s. It offers two specialist degrees and a doctorate degree in education. The most popular majors include:
- psychology
- registered nursing
- mass communication
- fitness
- physical education
The student/faculty ratio is 21 to one and about 34 percent of classes have below 20 students.
The University of West Florida Accreditation Details
The University of West Florida is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of West Florida Application Requirements
Undergraduate
- Undergraduate application
- Nonrefundable $30 application fee
- Official high school transcript
- Official transcripts from previously enrolled institutions of higher learning
- Official SAT or ACT scores
Graduate
- Online graduate application
- Nonrefundable $30 application fee
- Official transcripts from previously enrolled institutions of higher learning
- Official GRE, GMAT, or MAT scores
- Additional requirements for certain programs
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition
Undergraduate
- Full-time resident students: $6,360 per year
- Part-time resident students: $212 per credit hour
- Full-time Alabama students: $9,506 per year
- Part-time Alabama students: $317 per credit hour
- Full-time non-resident students: $19,238 per year
- Part-time non-resident students: $641 per credit hour
Graduate
- Full-time resident students: $4,536 per year
- Part-time resident students: $378 per credit hour
- Full-time Alabama students: $5,796 per year
- Part-time Alabama students: $483 per credit hour
- Full-time non-resident students: $12,444 per year
- Part-time non-resident students: $1,037 per credit hour
Financial Aid
Scholarships
- Admissions Academic Merit Scholarship
- Admissions Foundation Scholarships
- Pace Presidential Scholarship
- Pensacola Pledge Scholarship
- UWF Educational Enhancement Grant
Grants
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
- Florida Student Assistance Grant
- First Generation Matching Grant
- Financial Aid Grant
- Graduate Grant
Loans
- Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
- Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- Federal PLUS Loan
- Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
Federal Work-Study
The Federal Work-Study is a federally funded option that allows eligible students to work part-time to help pay for their college education. Students can work up to 20 hours per week and make at least the current federal minimum wage. Actual pay depends on each student’s situation.
Public health programs provide students with the necessary education and training to make a difference in the health of:
- individuals
- communities
- populations
Students learn how to implement health promotion initiatives in:
- schools
- health care facilities
- governmental organizations
- non-profit entities
- health departments
- postsecondary institutions
Public health degrees offered by the University of West Florida prepare students for an array of jobs, including:
- health educators
- wellness coordinators
- public health specialists
- community liaisons
- community outreach workers
- public health educators.