Office of Student Services979.436.9463Suite 154, Reynolds Medical Sciences Building (REYN)206 Olsen Blvd., College Station, TX 77843-1114
Public Health professionals with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health-Internship Track (BSPH-PHI) are prepared to:
The BSPH program is based on a philosophy of health promotion and disease prevention, to improve the quality of life of individuals, families and communities through education and program intervention. The BSPH discipline focuses on four areas:
The BS Public Health-Internship Track is unique in that it offers a wide range of approved electives permitting the student to develop a program according to the student’s needs and interests. A student can complement or enrich a pre-health professions degree plan for students intending further education in nursing, occupational therapy, and some additional health professions.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health-Internship Track degree is more than a means to produce ready public health practitioners. The curriculum for the BSPH-PHI exposes a student to pre-professional training through a non-paid, full semester internship during the final semester. This experience provides the student with on-the-job training and employment opportunities. This internship track places students in a setting which best fits their professional goals.
The Internship Track is not available for students wanting to pursue a BSPH 3+2 program.
The coursework for this program will qualify students to be able to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.
Cost of Attendence
For a better understanding of your total cost of attendance (COA), please visit our cost and tuition rates webpage (https://aggie.tamu.edu/billing-and-payments/cost-and-tuition-rates). This webpage will provide you with an opportunity to review estimated COA information for undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as other resources such as the tuition calculator and billing and fee explanations.
The public health workforce has experienced significant fluctuations over the past decades. In 1980, the workforce was estimated at 500,000 individuals, which declined to 448,254 by 2000. A 2012 enumeration reported approximately 290,988 workers, indicating a substantial decrease over time.
In Texas, a survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers, local health departments, and state health and human service agencies completed in 2009 found vacancy rates as high as 8 percent for epidemiologists and environmental health workers, 10 percent for health educators, and 22 percent for public health technicians; the agencies desired an additional 134 Full-Time Employees over their vacancies for those four categories.
Recent analyses project a shortage of 100,000 healthcare workers in the U.S. by 2028, driven by ongoing worker burnout and rising demand for care from an aging population. This shortage underscores the critical need for trained public health professionals to fill the workforce gap between untrained workers and those with graduate degrees.
Student interest in public health has grown nationally. Between 2003 and 2007, the number of bachelor's degrees awarded in public health doubled, increasing from 1,322 to 2,639. By 2008, approximately one in every six four-year institutions offered a major, minor, or concentration in public health or a related field.
Current and anticipated public health workforce gaps require not just replacement but a recalibration of the workforce. To meet the more complex challenges and opportunities they face, agencies need workers with new and different skills and a broader background that includes health information technology and informatics, cultural competence, global health, communication, policy, community participatory research, and disaster preparedness, as well as skills in the core functions of public health practice.
The Public Health-Internship Track prepares and educates students to serve as community and public health educators and promoters in a variety of government and private health agencies, clinical settings, nonprofit organizations, volunteer agencies, and other community organizations. Graduates will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to communicate health and health education needs, concerns, and resources effectively.
This program provides a strong foundation in public health, health promotion, and health education, preparing students for a range of career opportunities. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (SOC 21-1091.00), health education professionals “provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles.” With a firm grounding in the sciences, students in the program receive training in foundational public health concepts, epidemiology, community needs assessment, program planning and implementation, and health program evaluation.
Graduates may work in a variety of settings, including:
The Public Health-Internship Track is designed to not only equip students with the theoretical knowledge of public health but also provide hands-on experience through an immersive internship. The structured internship is a full-semester, non-paid experience during the final semester, allowing students to gain real-world exposure in a professional setting that aligns with their career aspirations. This internship provides invaluable on-the-job training and networking opportunities, setting graduates apart in the job market.
Furthermore, the program offers a diverse selection of approved electives, enabling students to tailor their studies to align with their personal interests and career goals. Whether students aim to pursue further education in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or related health professions, the program provides a strong foundation in public and community health.
Graduates of the Public Health-Internship Track may also advance into high-demand careers within the health sciences, benefiting from a deep understanding of population health dynamics and collaborative models between clinical and community health settings. Career paths include worksite wellness programs, continuous quality improvement, research, and public health advocacy.
For those seeking advanced education, graduates are well-prepared to pursue master’s or doctoral programs in public health, law school, or specialized health disciplines.
Additionally, coursework in this program qualifies students to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam, further enhancing their professional credentials and career opportunities.
Applicants wishing to submit an application to the BSPH degree program will apply through ApplyTexas.
Detailed information on freshman and transfer application submissions can be found on the Texas A&M Office of Admissions website.
With the recent administrative reorganization under Texas A&M’s Path Forward, Allied Health and Community Health have been merged with Public Health. Students will change major into Public Health and follow the Public Health curriculum.
This information is for current Texas A&M University–College Station campus students.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health Non-Internship and Insternship programs will accept changes of major according to Texas A&M University policy, but restricts major changes according to the criteria listed below. In addition, the dean or designate must verify availability of resources necessary to ensure the student’s full-time enrollment in required courses prior to admission to the BSPH programs. If such resources are not available, admission will be denied. Current students at Texas A&M University wishing to change their major from another college must meet the following requirements for the application to be considered:
Howdy portal change of major is NOT required. Students initiate change of major during walk-in advising hours.
Please check in at the front desk in Suite 154 in the Reynolds Medical Sciences Building.
Applicants using the Apply Texas application portal as transfer applicants to the BSPH degree program must meet the following requirements to be considered for transfer:
