Online Bachelor of Arts in Community Health

Build a Career That Improves Health

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At a Glance

Advance your career with the University of Oklahoma’s online Community Health degree—a flexible, 100% online program designed for students seeking to complete their degree for career change or advancement. You’ll be prepared for a range of entry-level or advancement opportunities that support community and population health, such as community outreach, program support, health education, patient navigation, and prevention and wellness initiatives.
This degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate-level study in public health and related social and behavioral fields, including areas like health promotion, health policy, and community-based research programs, or immediate entry into community health practice.
*This program is not Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredited.

100% Online

Time to Complete:

24 to 36 months

Credit Hours:

120

Time Commitment:

10 to 15 hours weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring, Summer

cost

OU’s online BA in Community Health is an investment in your future — and OU Online is committed to making that investment accessible and transparent.

Tuition and fees for the program are $550 per credit hour.

Books and additional materials are not included.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

About the Community Health Degree

The University of Oklahoma’s online Bachelor of Arts in Community Health is a 120-credit-hour degree designed for transfer students with at least 24 hours of college credit. Offered through OU’s Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, this flexible, 100% online program equips you with the practical skills to implement community health programs and advocate for wellness strategies that improve lives and strengthen populations

The curriculum takes a community-focused, accessible approach to public health education, emphasizing social determinants of health, health equity, community engagement, and culturally sensitive practice alongside foundational epidemiology, program planning, and health communication.

The program develops entry-level public and community health practitioners who can work across nonprofit organizations, health departments, community clinics, schools, and social service agencies.

Bachelor’s in Community Health: Career Paths in Public Health and Wellness

OU’s 100% online BA in Community Health prepares you to lead change in communities and organizations that need it most. Whether you’re advancing in your current role or pivoting to a new career, this degree equips you with the skills to design health programs, promote wellness, and advocate for populations facing health challenges. Graduates are prepared for impactful careers in nonprofit organizations, health departments, hospitals, schools, and public health agencies. Career opportunities include:

Community Health Worker
Wellness Coordinator
Community Health Advocate
Social Services Coordinator
Community Liaison
Community Health Program Assistant

Patient Navigator
Health Outreach Coordinator
Health Promotion Specialist
Population Health Specialist
Health Equity Coordinator
Disease Intervention Specialist

Whether you’re seeking advancement, transitioning from healthcare support roles, or entering the public health field for the first time, OU’s Community Health degree gives you the tools to make a meaningful impact.

Industry Insights: Public Health Workforce Outlook

Community health professionals are in high demand as organizations invest in preventive care and population health. OU’s online Bachelor of Arts in Community Health prepares graduates for roles that address health disparities, improve wellness, and strengthen communities.

Median Pay: $51,030 for community health workers
Job Outlook: 11% projected growth for community health workers through 2034—much faster than average
Job Opportunities: Approximately 7,800 openings annually due to growth and workforce transitions

The median pay figures reflect earnings for professionals working in these occupations and may represent mid-career compensation. Entry-level salaries vary based on role, employer, experience, and geographic location.

As healthcare systems and nonprofits focus on social determinants of health, the need for skilled professionals who can design programs, engage communities, and advocate for health equity continues to rise. This degree positions you to meet that demand and make a lasting impact.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Community Health Workers

Program Outcomes: Community Health Expertise for Career Growth

OU’s online Bachelor of Arts in Community Health equips you with the knowledge and skills to improve population health, reduce disparities, and lead community-based initiatives. You’ll graduate ready to design programs, engage stakeholders, and advocate for healthier communities.

Through this program, you’ll learn how to:

Explain and apply core theories, methods, and determinants of population health across environmental, social, behavioral, and policy domains
Analyze public health data and research literature to draw evidence-based conclusions about community problems
Collaborate with different groups of people and communicate findings to a variety of audiences appropriately
Design feasible, creative interventions or policies and demonstrate leadership behaviors that mobilize community assets
Advocate for equitable policies and evaluate the implications of public health actions

Whether you’re advancing in your current role or entering the public health field, this degree gives you the tools to lead with confidence and create lasting impact.

Course Details

OU’s Bachelor of Arts in Community Health delivers a curriculum that blends public health foundations with practical skills in health promotion, program planning, and advocacy. Students begin with core courses in public and community health, then advance through epidemiology, health systems, and social determinants of health before completing a capstone project that applies learning to real-world challenges.

The program is designed for flexibility with fully online, asynchronous, 8-week courses that fit your schedule. Each course emphasizes practical application, critical thinking, and collaboration—preparing graduates to lead community health initiatives with confidence.

Introduction to Public and Community Health

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to fields of public and community health, including principles of population health, determinants of health, prevention of disease and disability, public health institutions and systems, essential health services, the US healthcare system, health policy, and the role of advocacy and politics in public health.

Introduction to Epidemiology

Credit Hours: 3

Principles of epidemiology, the systematic approach to collecting and evaluating information on distributions of health outcomes in populations; history of epidemiology, descriptive epidemiology, epidemiologic methods, association and causation, evidence-based public health and applications.

Health Data and Statistics

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis. Specific topics may include biostatistical and epidemiological methods, informatics, and the use, management, and dissemination of big data.

Public Health & Healthcare Systems

Credit Hours: 3

Designed to introduce students from multiple disciplines to the fundamental characteristics of health care systems; the organization, financing, and delivery of services in the US health care system; the role of prevention and other non-medical factors in population health outcomes; key management and policy issues in contemporary health systems; and the process of public policy development.

Social Psychology

Credit Hours: 3

The science of how people think and feel about, relate to, and influence one another. Topics include classic and contemporary research on stereotypes, persuasion, attitude change, emotions, the self-concept, aggression, impression formation, and altruism, among others.

Introduction to Ethics in Healthcare

Credit Hours: 3

An overview of important issues in health care ethics, including dilemmas facing providers, patients, researchers, and society at large. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from health care practice, and a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical dilemmas.

Scientific Principles of Health & Disease

Credit Hours: 3

Students will be exposed to the basic science-based principles needed to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of human health. The course is designed to assist students in the development of a basic understanding of the anatomical structures and physiological process that are critical to understanding the development of various diseased/disorders.

Sociology of Aging

Credit Hours: 3

Comprehensive description of the dimensions of aging. The point of departure is the notion that to talk meaningfully about one aspect of aging requires consideration of its other dimensions.

History of Modern Medicine

Credit Hours: 3

Examines the history of modern medicine in Europe and America. Aims to connect medical ideas and practices to the broader social and cultural contexts in which they were developed.

Personal Computing Productivity Tools

Credit Hours: 3

Designed to help all business majors and business minors succeed as students and young professionals. Being able to effectively utilize OneDrive (cloud storage system) and Microsoft Excel are skills recognized by all employers. These skills allow young professionals to differentiate themselves from others when applying for internships or jobs.

Health Policy, Law, & Ethics

Credit Hours: 3

Examines the legal and ethical dimensions of public health, preparing students to make informed, ethical decisions in arenas such as policy development, clinical care, research, environmental health, occupational health, resource allocation, and genetics.

Health Communication

Credit Hours: 3

Explores key concepts and strategies of communication specific to public health, including risk communication, the use of mass media for health communication, and evaluation of public health communication effectiveness.

Determinants of Health

Credit Hours: 3

Explores key social determinants of health, including: socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, neighborhood environments, social relationships, and political economy. Mechanisms through which these factors are hypothesized to influence health, such as stress and access to health resources and constraints, will be discussed, as well as the ways in which these mechanisms can operate across the lifecourse.

Elements of Psychology

Credit Hours: 3

A survey of the scientific study of human behavior. Emphasis is placed upon scientific method, basic life processes, mechanisms of adaption, individual differences and group behavior. Students have the opportunity to be exposed to the research process either by serving as participants in research experiments or by conducting reviews of research topics.

Introduction to Nutrition

Credit Hours: 3

Evaluation of basic composition of nutrients and accessory factors required for adequate human nutrition. Application of nutritional principles to the planning of normal and special dietary regimen.

Lifespan Development

Credit Hours: 3

Survey of the psychological changes across the life span; the changes in cognitive, social, emotional, and physiological development from conception to death will be included.

Community Health Capstone

Credit Hours: 3

Integrates knowledge and skills developed in previous coursework to prepare students to become impactful community health practitioners. Students will work in groups to develop, implement, and evaluate a community health project.

Why Choose OU Online for a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health: Accessible, Impactful, Career-Ready

OU Online delivers high-quality, career-focused programs built for working professionals—combining the flexibility of a 100% online format with the academic excellence of a flagship public university. Offered through the University of Oklahoma’s Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, the Bachelor of Arts in Community Health prepares you to lead initiatives that improve population health and strengthen communities.

With a curriculum grounded in public health principles and practical application, this degree equips you to design programs, engage stakeholders, and advocate for health equity. OU Online’s student-centered approach ensures you receive personalized support, expert instruction, and a flexible learning experience that fits your schedule and goals.

Whether you’re finishing a degree you started years ago or advancing in your current role, OU Online gives you the tools to make a meaningful impact in community health.

Faculty Expertise: Informed by the Field of Community Health

Learn from faculty who bring strong academic backgrounds and a deep understanding of community health practice. Courses are designed to reflect current research, public health priorities, and real-world contexts. Faculty perspectives help connect theory to practice and prepare you to navigate today’s evolving health challenges.

Robust Student Support

OU Online offers comprehensive student support services tailored to the needs of working professionals. From academic support and online tutoring to mental health counseling and career development resources, students in the BA in Community Health program receive the guidance they need to succeed. The program’s flexible format allows you to access to tools that help you succeed—without putting your life on hold.

Global Alumni Network

As a student in the BA in Community Health program, you’ll join a global network of more than 250,000 University of Oklahoma alumni. OU graduates lead across industries—from business and nonprofit to government and education—creating a powerful community of professionals who share your drive to lead and make an impact. Becoming a Sooner means gaining access to mentorship, career connections, and leadership opportunities that can accelerate your professional growth.

Flexible Format

The Bachelor of Arts in Community Health is delivered 100% online in a flexible format designed for working professionals. Earn your degree while balancing full-time work, family responsibilities, and personal goals. Study from anywhere and build the leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills needed to advance your community health career.

With asynchronous, 8-week courses and a student-centered approach, OU Online makes it possible to grow your career without putting it on hold. Whether you’re seeking promotion, transitioning to a new industry, or stepping into a leadership role, this program is built to fit your schedule and support your success.

Tailored Experience

Elective options and interdisciplinary coursework allow students to customize their learning experience based on career interests in business, nonprofit, government, or education. The program’s dynamic format keeps professionals engaged, fosters collaboration with faculty and peers, and builds the skills needed to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact in today’s evolving workplaces.

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your Bachelor of Arts in Community Health is an investment in your future—and OU Online is committed to making that investment accessible and transparent.

Tuition and fees for the program are $550 per credit hour.

Books and additional materials are not included.

Financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance may be available to help offset the cost. For questions about financial aid for your online program, contact the Online Aid office at onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.

*Please be aware that tuition and fees may change, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Take the Next Step

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the online Bachelor of Arts in Community Health program is designed for students ready to finish what they started and make a meaningful impact in public health. Whether you’re currently working in healthcare, social services, or community organizations, this program offers a flexible path to degree completion.

To be considered, applicants must:

Complete the online application and submit the $50 application fee
Have at least a 2.5 GPA and at least 24 post-high school, non-remedial credit hours; completion of an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science at an accredited Oklahoma community college; OR a GPA of 2.0 and and at least 60+ post-high school, non-remedial credit hours
Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions
This program welcomes motivated learners who are ready to advance their careers and strengthen communities through evidence-based health strategies.

Application Timeline

The admissions committee uses a rolling admissions process, reviewing applications as they are received. Admissions may remain open until two weeks before classes begin, though some programs may have earlier deadlines. The committee typically responds within two weeks of receiving a completed application.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Complete the online application.

Step 3

Provide undergraduate transcripts for all prior institutions.