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Public Health - Undergraduate Certificate

The Public Health undergraduate certificate integrates key aspects of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, communities and individuals. The certificate program is aimed at students who are interested in gaining exposure to the field of public health, do not intend to pursue a bachelor's degree or already hold a bachelor's or associate degree and wish to broaden their knowledge of public health. Certificate graduates have an understanding of emerging issues in public health, the social and behavioral aspects to preventing disease, environmental health concepts, the changing U.S. health care system and the monitoring of diseases in the community through applied public health research.

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Program Information for Public Health - Undergraduate Certificate

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Explain public health history, philosophy and values.
  2. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. or other community relevant to the school or program.
  3. Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities.
  4. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease.
Admissions for Public Health - Undergraduate Certificate

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
PH 10001INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH 3
PH 10002INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH (DIVG) 3
Certificate Electives, choose from the following:12
PH 20001
ESSENTIALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
PH 20392
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATION II-INTERNSHIP (ELR)
PH 23000
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATION I
PH 30002
INTRODUCTORY BIOSTATISTICS
PH 30005
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THEORIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH
PH 30006
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
PH 30015
UNITED STATES HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
PH 30033
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING 1
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18
1

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree may substitute NURS 40045 for PH 30033. 

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 2.000
  • Students must declare themselves as a certificate candidate prior to completing half of the courses.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits at Kent State University. 
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Public Health - Undergraduate Certificate

Medical and health services managers

31.5%

much faster than the average

422,300

number of jobs

$104,280

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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