LSU Health Nola campus

Online Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Total Credit Hours

601

Cost Per Credit Hour

$380

Help People Thrive Through Public Health

LSU Health New Orleans' online Bachelor of Science in Public Health, offered through LSU Online, is a CEPH-accredited degree-completion program preparing students to improve community health through hands-on research and practice.

Application Deadline

Dec 1, 2026

Classes Begin

Jan 11, 2027

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1 A bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours. However, the BS in Public Health is designed specifically for students who have already earned 60 credit hours at another institution. This program provides the final 60 credit hours needed to complete your bachelor’s degree, allowing you to build on your previous education and graduate faster.

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Earn an Accredited degree

The BS in Public Health (BSPH) program is accredited by Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

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Delta Omega Honorary Society

Top students may be inducted into Delta Omega, which recognizes outstanding performance in students, faculty, and alumni in the field of public health.

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Student Research Opportunities

Students have multiple chances to engage in Public Health research, including class assignments, working with faculty, or as part of their Public Health Practice.

Earn an Online Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Designed as a 2 + 2 program where you will spend two years (on average) completing prerequisite coursework at another institution (60 credit hours) followed by two years at LSU Health New Orleans for the remainder of your coursework.

Accepts students from the Louisiana Transfer program, to help seamlessly transfer their completed 60 credit hours.

Future employers may include federal agencies, insurance companies, health delivery systems, non-governmental agencies (such as the Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders), research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies.

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Accredited

Accreditation

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The LSU Health New Orleans BS in Public Health (BSPH) program is accredited by Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Admissions

Whether you’re returning to school or advancing your career, our admissions team is here to support you every step of the way. This program offers three start dates per year. There is no application fee.

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Apply by

Dec 1, 2026

Classes begin icon

Classes begin

Jan 11, 2027

Admission Requirements

Completion of prerequisite courses (shown below) and at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 2.75. Students from the Louisiana Transfer program can seamlessly transfer their 60 credit hours to apply towards their BS in Public Health degree.

Prerequisite Courses Credit Hours

Arts

3

English

6

Humanities

9

Mathematics/Statistics

6

Natural Sciences (at least 3 credit hours in Biological Sciences)

12

Social Sciences

9

General Electives

15

Transfer

Designed as a 2+2 program, 60 credit hours earned at another institution will transfer into the Public Health online program. In addition, the School of Public Health allows individuals accepted to the program to transfer a maximum of 9 credits public health course credits completed at another accredited college/university toward the BSPH degree course requirements. Your academic advisor will work with you to determine if and how any prior college credits earned will apply toward your LSUHSC degree.

Transcript Submission

To complete the review of your BSPH application, please provide an official or unofficial transcript from each college or university where you completed prerequisite coursework for transfer to the BSPH program.

▪︎ If you have copies of your unofficial transcript(s), please upload them directly to your application.

▪︎ If you need to order official electronic transcript(s), please select LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans as the recipient institution. When placing your order, designate Ms. Isabel Billiot as the recipient by entering her email address: ibilli@lsuhsc.edu.

Submitting transcripts promptly will help ensure timely processing of your application.

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Tuition

60 credit hours1
Total credit hours per program
$380
Cost per credit hour
$22,800
Total cost with fees

LSU Health New Orleans programs offer competitive, flat-rate tuition with no out-of-state fees, helping you advance your career with predictable, affordable costs.

Tuition & Fees

LSU Online offers several ways to help you pay for your degree including credit for prior learning (PLA), financial aid, and veteran education benefits. Learn More.

The total cost above does not include transfer credit or financial aid. Cost per credit hour and fees are subject to change. Fee schedules may vary by program depending on course-specific fees for proctoring and/or books. Please contact a Student Success Coach for more information.

Financial Aid Available

LSU Health New Orleans offers several ways to help you pay for your degree including credit for prior learning (PLA), financial aid, and veteran education benefits. Learn More ›

Academics

Students who graduate with an online BS in Public Health will gain skills in the core disciplines of public health, including communication and teamwork, problem-solving, health economics, environmental health assessment, leadership, management and planning, and information management.

What will I learn?

Topics covered in this degree include: 

  • An introduction to public health 
  • Global public health
  • Climate change from a public health perspective
  • Health equity
  • Environmental determinants of health and disease
  • Public health policy and advocacy
  • The essentials of epidemiology

Courses
Public Health Core Credit Hours

BSPH 3100 Introduction to Public Health

3

BSPH 3102 Public Health Writing

3

BSPH 3200 Essential Global Public Health

3

BSPH 3300 Introduction to Biostatistics

3

BSPH 3302 Data Analysis in Public Health

3

BSPH 3400 Introduction of Environmental Science

3

BSPH 3500 Health Communication

3

BSPH 3600 U.S. Health Care Systems

3

BSPH 3700 Essentials of Epidemiology

3

BSPH 4100 Public Health in Action

3

BSPH 4102 Health Equity

3

BSPH 4104 Evidence-based Practice in Public Health

3

BSPH 4400 Climate Change - a Public Health Perspective

3

BSPH 4500 Project Assessment and Implementation

3

BSPH 4502 Foundations of Maternal and Child Health

3

BSPH 4600 Public Health Policy and Advocacy

3

BSPH 4602 Public Health Organizations and Leadership

3

BSPH 4604 Fundamentals of Healthcare Analytics

3

BSPH 4702 GIS and Public Health

3

BSPH 4704 Outbreak!

3

BSPH 4100: Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of fieldwork.

Students on academic probation are ineligible to take the Service-Learning course.

Testimonials

Why Choose LSU Health New Orleans BS in Public Health

Earn Your BS in Public Health Online | 100% Online & Career-Ready

Public Health is a dynamic field integrating epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, behavioral science, and health policy. Earning your Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree from LSU Health New Orleans opens doors to vital roles across hospitals, government agencies, non-profits, and corporate sectors. Whether you aspire to be a biostatistician, health educator, environmental scientist, or community advocate, we prepare you to lead. Join us and become a force for positive change!

Chih-yang Hu, MSPH, ScD

Chih-yang Hu, MSPH, ScD

Associate Professor
Director, Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program

Careers

Online public health degree graduates will be prepared to utilize a variety of media to communicate vital information to diverse audiences including legislators, community stakeholders, and scientific peers.

$90,150
Median Salary

The median annual wage for occupational health and safety specialists was $90,150 in May 2025 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

23%
Job Growth

Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 24% from 2025 to 2035 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Explore career paths and salaries in public health:

Entry-Level Roles (0-2 years of experience)
Role Salary

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

$61,560 (BLS)

Health Education Specialists

$64,070 (BLS)

Clinical Research Coordinators

$68,541 (Salary.com)

Mid-Level Roles (2-5 years of experience)
Role Salary

Social and Community Service Managers

$80,390 (BLS)

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

$90,150 (BLS)

Management Analysts

$101,860 (BLS)

Medical and Health Services Managers

$123,860 (BLS)

Advanced Roles (5+ years of experience)
Role Salary

Epidemiologists
*Epidemiologists typically need at least a master's degree, such as a Master of Public Health (MPH).

$87,220 (BLS)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will my degree say I earned it online?

No, graduates receive the same diploma as on-campus peers.

Will I pay out-of-state tuition if I am outside of Louisiana?

There are no out-of-state fees. Fully online programs offer the same flat-rate tuition no matter where you live.

How do online classes work?

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program offers three starts a year and seven-week terms. All courses are designed to be fully accessible and engage learners, no matter where you are located.

Why choose the online Bachelor of Science in Public Health from LSU Health New Orleans?

Tailored specifically for busy professionals, working adults, and ambitious transfer students, the online Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) from LSU Health New Orleans combines elite academic excellence with unrivaled flexibility.

Gain the skills to tackle today’s most pressing health challenges on a schedule built around your life.

What are potential public health career pathways?

Graduates of the BSPH program are prepared for diverse careers in both the public and private sectors, including:

  • Health Educator: Assess community health needs, develop educational programs, and lead impactful health promotion and wellness initiatives.
  • Program Analyst: Apply analytical and data-driven skills to evaluate public health programs, measure outcomes, and inform decision-making.
  • Program Coordinator: Manage the day-to-day operations of public health projects and ensure successful program implementation.
  • Community Service Professional: Connect individuals and underserved populations with essential healthcare, social, and community resources.
  • Health Communications Coordinator: Develop clear, engaging, and evidence-based health messages for diverse audiences across multiple communication channels.
  • Research Associate: Support public health and epidemiological research through data collection, management, analysis, and reporting.
  • Industrial Hygiene Manager: Promote workplace health and safety by identifying, evaluating, and controlling environmental and occupational hazards.
  • Infection Surveillance Coordinator: Monitor disease trends, track outbreaks, and support prevention and response efforts to protect community health.

And many more opportunities in healthcare, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, and industry.

What is public health?

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. While traditional medicine focuses on treating individuals after they become sick, public health works to prevent illness and injury in the first place.

Why does public health matter?

Public health matters because it protects and improves the health of entire communities, not just individuals. It focuses on preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviors, and creating safe environments where people can live longer, healthier lives.

Examples of Public Health success:

  • Elimination or control of diseases through vaccination.
  • Reduction in tobacco use through education and policy changes.
  • Improved road safety through seatbelt laws and traffic regulations.
  • Cleaner air, water and safer food through public health regulations.
  • Early detection of cancers and chronic diseases through screening programs.
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Ready to reach your goals?

Take the first step forward by completing the form, and our enrollment team will contact you soon to discuss:

  • What program meets your academic and career goals
  • Financial aid options (employer funding, military benefits)
  • Receiving credit for past education (transfer, professional development)
  • The admissions process and timeline

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