Ohio Public Health Career – OH

By Joanna Pelletier, allied health world contributing writer
Published: February, 18 2010

Public Health Programs in Ohio

Undergraduate Public Health majors provide students with a general scope of the components that make up Ohio public health careers. Students in these programs combine their classes in epidemiology, biostatistics, bioterrorism, health education, and behavioral science with liberal arts classes. Aspiring public health professionals in other programs (nursing, biology, microbiology, etc.) follow a similar curriculum.

Ohio offers plenty of graduate programs that allow students to explore their specific interests or become an expert in a certain area of their field. While most of the Master's degrees in this State are geared toward health education and the general field of practice, students can still pursue internships and research projects in health education, epidemiology, biostatistics, or bioterrorism through any of Ohio's universities.

Unlike other professions, there is no general examination to become a certified public health professional. Rather, students who have graduated from an accredited and recognized program take board examinations for their specific profession (nursing, epidemiology, etc.), which can help them gain clearance into the profession.

Public health officials can expect to spend between $ 40,000 and $ 60,000 total if they plan to pursue an undergraduate and graduate education at any one of Ohio's universities. An undergraduate education in itself can cost up to $20,000 per year, while a graduate education can cost up to $ 30,000.