A public health degree from Samford University opens myriad doors on one’s career path.
And with a new online curriculum, students need only open a window on their laptop to earn one.
Samford’s School of Public Health and Professional Studies program have officially launched an online Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
The degree is geared toward nontraditional students and professionals in public health and health care who aim to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
“It truly is a remarkable time to earn a degree in public health,” said Melissa Lumpkin, interim dean of the School of Public Health and chair and professor of the Department of Public Health. “We live in an age when knowledge and technology are changing at a rapid pace, and because of this, public health professionals require a broad education that emphasizes problem solving, critical thinking, interdisciplinary teamwork and strong communication skills. Samford’s cutting-edge curriculum and diverse faculty prepare graduates for a career in service to humanity.”
The new degree will also diversify the School of Public Health’s student population, reaching across state lines and even internationally, while offering nontraditional students a unique opportunity.
“The public health major has been offered at Samford on-campus for some time now,” said Nicole Otero, associate director of Professional Studies. “Samford’s School of Public Health wanted to be able to open this degree up to more students who may already be working in the health care field or those who may be interested in starting a new career but work during the day, making it impossible for them to attend classes during the day.”
Public health is a field that intersects with a broad spectrum of professions, including government (local, state and federal health agencies), hospitals and health systems, industry, nonprofit health organizations and private sector health organizations, to name but a few.
“We often say public health is one degree with many paths, as the careers in public health are diverse and dynamic,” Lumpkin said. “Samford allows students to personalize their degree—through elective courses, scholarly projects and internship experiences—to expose them to a range of professions within the industry and to align their education with their future career goals.”
That includes taking their degree further—and faster. By declaring public health as a major, students are eligible to apply for a fast-track program, which enables them to complete their bachelor's degree and a Master of Public Health in just five years of study.
Furthermore, applicants can expect to receive the same quality education online as they would in person.
“You’ll get just as high a quality course as you would face to face, with the unique flexibility of it being online,” said Ahinee Amamoo, professor in Samford’s School of Public Health. “In terms of the course content, I feel it’s as strong as a face-to-face traditional degree, and it may be even better, because with asynchronous courses, you have the opportunity to learn at your own pace.”
As offered through Professional Studies, the degree is positioned for accessibility.
“Professional Studies is a great program to offer the Bachelor of Science in Public Health because our program is online, affordable and will help students to start down a very diverse career path,” Otero said. “Professional Studies students tend to work during the day, they avail themselves to fewer university resources and can therefore enjoy a reduced tuition rate. This is helpful for a working adult. This degree being online will bring a wide variety of students into Samford that may have not been able to attend in any other way.”
Learn more and apply here.