BA vs BS in Public Health

Undergraduate public health majors are offered under several titles: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH), among others. Prospective students often ask which is better. The honest answer is that the title is a weak signal and the curriculum is the strong one. This guide explains what is known and what to check.

What ASPPH says

ASPPH, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, groups the BS, BA and BSPH together. It describes them as undergraduate degrees that lay the groundwork for a public health career and prepare graduates for entry-level jobs at health departments, nonprofits and private-sector employers. Its page does not say how the three differ from one another. ASPPH also notes that you do not need one of these degrees to apply to a graduate public health program, which means an undergraduate public health major is one route into the field and not a required one.

What a CEPH-accredited bachelor's must cover

CEPH, the Council on Education for Public Health, accredits schools of public health, public health programs outside schools of public health, and standalone baccalaureate programs, at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Its 2024 criteria for schools of public health and public health programs set out eleven foundational domains that a public health bachelor's major or concentration must address. In summary, they cover:

1. basic statistics;
2. foundations of biological and life sciences;
3. the history, philosophy, values and functions of public health;
4. public health data collection, use and analysis, and the role of evidence;
5. population health and the processes that address health needs;
6. the science of human health and disease across the life course;
7. cultural, socioeconomic, behavioral, biological and environmental factors in health and disparities;
8. project implementation, including planning, assessment and evaluation;
9. the structure of the US health system and comparison with other countries;
10. legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of health policy;
11. public health communication, including technical writing.

The criteria say a program can address these through any combination of learning experiences, so there is no single required course for each. They also say that if a program intends to prepare students for a specific credential, such as CHES, its curriculum must also address the areas of instruction required for credential eligibility. Bachelor's programs must have publicly available policies for reviewing coursework taken at other institutions, including community colleges, which may be set out in articulation agreements. Standalone baccalaureate programs are covered by a separate CEPH criteria document.

Because the same domains apply regardless of the degree title, a BA and a BS can both be CEPH-accredited and both meet them. The difference between them lies in the rest of the degree.

Where BA and BS programs often differ

These are tendencies. Verify each school.

• Science and math emphasis. Some BS programs require more natural science, mathematics or statistics. Some BA programs leave more room for languages, social science and humanities. Domains 1 and 2 above mean every accredited major has some statistics and biology, but the amount varies.
• Breadth for a second area. A BA may leave more electives for a minor or double major. Some BS programs have longer required sequences.
• Preparation for specific graduate or professional paths. If you also want to apply to medical, nursing or other health professional school, check the prerequisites those programs require and whether the undergraduate major includes them. The public health major does not by itself satisfy another profession's prerequisites.
• Concentrations. Some schools build in concentrations such as health education, environmental health or global health. See what you can study in public health.

A BSPH, where offered, is a bachelor's degree in public health in name; again, read the curriculum.

Accreditation and status

Not every school that offers a public health major has a CEPH-accredited program. CEPH's accredited list includes three categories: schools of public health, public health programs, and standalone baccalaureate programs. Entries show an accreditation date and expiration date, and some are flagged as probationary. Appearing on CEPH's separate list of applicants is not the same as being accredited, and CEPH states that applicant listing in no way guarantees that a school or program will become accredited. Read understanding public health accreditation before relying on any program page's wording. CEPH's list is updated within 30 days of an accreditation decision, according to the page itself, so check the CEPH site directly.

Does accreditation matter at the bachelor's level? It can matter to you if you want a program that meets a published set of standards or if you need to meet an employer's or graduate program's expectations. Some graduate programs, for example, may use prior completion of a CEPH-accredited degree as one way to show foundational knowledge, but practices differ by program, so ask the graduate programs you are considering.

Career fit

BLS describes health education specialists as typically needing a bachelor's degree, with some positions requiring a master's or doctorate, a median wage of $64,070 per year in May 2025 and projected employment growth of 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. It also says employers may require or prefer certification.

NCHEC administers the CHES credential. Its page says a CHES must have met required academic preparation qualifications, pass a competency-based examination and meet continuing education requirements to keep the credential. The page does not list the exact academic requirements, so check NCHEC's eligibility pages and compare them with your program's courses. Certification is separate from the degree; the degree does not grant it automatically. See public health careers and further study.

A bachelor's in public health is not a clinical license, and it does not by itself qualify you to practice a licensed health profession.

Planning for a master's

If you plan to follow with an MPH, you can do that from many undergraduate majors. Look at what the master's programs you like ask for, such as prerequisites, test scores or experience. Read how to choose an MPH program and compare options in the MPH directory. Some programs also offer combined bachelor's and master's tracks; CEPH's accredited list shows entries with titles such as "BS & MPH Programs," but each school sets its own admission rules and timeline.

A short checklist for comparing two majors

1. Is the program CEPH-accredited, and in which category? Verify on ceph.org.
2. How many credits does the major require, and which are science, math and statistics?
3. Which concentrations or electives are available?
4. Is there an internship or capstone?
5. Does it prepare for the CHES exam, and has the school stated that?
6. How do transfer credits work, especially from community college?
7. What do graduates report doing, according to the school?

Use the compare tool and the methodology page to understand what this directory shows. We do not claim to list every program, so confirm everything with the school.