Public Health – Bachelor’s Degree Program (BS)
Earn your Public Health bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana
Learn to promote health, prevent disease and enhance the quality of life for your community. A bachelor’s degree in public health at UM offers unique opportunities to work with employers in the region, serve the needs of local communities and prepare for high-demand jobs.
As a public health major, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills and experience to tackle real-world health problems using scientifically sound and culturally competent strategies. You will specialize your public health degree in one of three concentrations: generalist public health, community health or global public health.
Our public health degree is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and is the only CEPH-accredited program in the state of Montana.
concentration options to specialize your public health degree
in grant funding in 2022 in UM’s School of Public and Community Health Sciences
fastest-growing bachelor’s degree program nationally, according to Hannover Re Group
Other degree options for public health at UM
Bachelor of Science - Public Health
Master in Public Health - Community Health and Prevention Sciences Concentration
Master of Public Administration/Master of Public Health Joint Degree
What can you do with a degree in public health?
If your passion is helping people and building stronger communities, public health is one of the most rewarding fields you can choose. It’s a career in which you can make a big impact every day you go to work. It’s also the fastest-growing degree program in health care.
Our public health bachelor’s degree graduates work in community-based organizations, universities, wellness programs, public health agencies, hospitals and clinics. Some serve their home communities here in Missoula and across Montana; others travel and aid communities abroad.
You’re likely to find there’s a critical need for skilled public health professionals wherever you choose to work. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that health care occupations will grow 14% from 2018 to 2028, adding 1.9 million new jobs.
Public health jobs
What jobs can you get with a degree in public health? Our graduates go on to exciting roles in fields such as environmental health, health education, emergency management and more. Some professions require additional education. Potential career options for public health majors include:
- Epidemiologist
- Health educator
- Community health worker
- Nurse
- Health care worker
- Health policy
- Research assistant
- Prevention Specialist
- Climate change researcher
- Mental health provider
- Biostatistician
- Health informatics
- Substance abuse counselor
- Emergency management coordinator
- Environmental health specialist
- Public health program director
Public health salary
In addition to excellent job security, public health jobs offer competitive wages. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, epidemiologists earn an average of $70,990 per year, nationally.
Health education specialists earn a median wage of $60,500, while community health workers can expect to earn $44,390, on average. Biostatisticians earn a median wage of $96,280.
Alumni Success Story
"My research projects as an intern really opened my eyes to what it means to be part of the public health community – serving not just the majority but also those who need more support. I also was able to take a lot of classes so I could become more culturally competent. Honestly, I got a whole new view of the world."
- Carissa Russell, Class of 2023, Public Health
Experiential learning in the public health major
Develop practical career skills through hands-on experiences including internships, service learning and more in the public health bachelor’s degree program at the University of Montana.
Public health internships and service work
Internships and service work experiences are great opportunities to develop your skills while helping people and supporting your community. Our majors in public health have worked at local and state health departments, clinics, hospitals, nonprofits and other organizations in the region and beyond.
Study abroad opportunities for public health majors
Take your studies global and experience public health work overseas. Our students have studied abroad in countries such as Morocco and Indonesia through opportunities in our program. Learn more about study abroad opportunities at the University of Montana.
Undergraduate research in the public health program
Our undergraduate students conduct research under the mentorship of public health faculty. Research specialty areas in our program include global public health, environmental epidemiology, computer modeling, tribal health, behavioral health, vaccine hesitancy, nutrition in rural communities and climate change and forest fire. In 2022, the School of Public and Community Health Sciences received $10M in grant funding, creating research opportunities for students.
Career development in the public health program
When you earn your bachelor’s degree in public health at the University of Montana, you can count on getting the support you need to succeed — not only in your classes, but also in your career.
Our faculty and staff maintain close relationships with local and state health departments, creating networking opportunities for UM public health majors as they enter the workforce. We also hold a weekly Public Health Seminar Series, giving students the opportunity to hear from and network with public health professionals from across the country. A dedicated workforce coordinator in the Public Health department works closely with students to identify internship and job opportunities.
UM’s Public Health Student Association
Our Public Health Student Association meets monthly to plan public health and outreach events across campus and in our community. The association is open to all current students and alumni and offers even more opportunities to make new friends and connections in the public health world.
Public health degree requirements
The bachelor’s in public health at UM includes coursework in public health policy, global public health, food and nutrition, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology and community health education. Concentrations are available in general public health, community health and global health.
View all classes in the bachelor's degree in public health – Community Health.
View all classes in the bachelor's degree in public health – General Public Health.
View all classes in the bachelor's degree in public health – Global Health.