Indiana State University Public Health Degree Options
Indiana State University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Cheapest MPH Degrees Online.
Indiana State University (ISU) offers several public health degree options out of its College of Health and Human Services. These include an on-campus and online MS in Public Health degree and an undergraduate Public Health minor. The College of Health and Human Services believes in a holistic approach to health that encompasses physical, mental, and social well-being. Their various programs, including public health degrees and coursework, seeks to implement this belief through training professionals who can work as team members and leaders to implement positive health solutions in diverse neighborhoods and communities. The three objectives of the college are education, research, and outreach. In particular, the public health programs provide students with the opportunity to explore strategic solutions that can be implemented at an organizational level to create broad-based change.
The undergraduate public health minor is an 18-credit minor that requires three core courses: Personal Health Science and Wellness, Public Health Concepts, and Educational Methods. For the remaining nine credits, students may select from electives such as Principles of Environmental Health, Mental Health and Stress Education, Human Sexuality Education, and Cooperative Practice. The range of electives allows students to select a course of study that complements their career interests. This minor is an effective complement to a nursing, counseling, or human services majors and provides preparation for individuals who wish to earn a master’s degree in public health.
The Public Health Master of Science degree at ISU prepares students to work beyond entry-level positions in organizational and policy roles related to public well-being. Candidates will complete an internship, giving them real-world experience in a public health organization. To complete the degree, students may choose from a research project or a thesis. Each track provides opportunities to do original research and to specialize in the region, population, or public health issue that interests the student. In addition to the general Public Health concentration, students may pursue the Public Health Nutrition concentration which focuses on the dietary components of public health issues. The MS in Public Health is offered as an on-campus or an online program. The online program provides flexibility for students who are unable to meet the demands of a traditional school schedule. Classes may be completed fully online, and no campus visits are required.
About Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public research university in Terre Haute. The university offers over 175 graduate and undergraduate majors out of its six colleges: the Bayh College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, the College of Health and Human Services, the Donald W. Scott College of Business, and the College of Technology. The online branch of ISU includes 20 baccalaureate degrees and 29 graduate level degrees, including 7 doctoral programs. ISU has consistently been ranked as one of the best public universities in Indiana and throughout the Midwest.
ISU was founded in 1865 as a teacher training school for elementary and high school teachers. As its programs began to expand, ISU awarded its first bachelor’s degree in 1908 and its first graduate degree two decades later in 1928. In 1961, the school was renamed Indiana State College to reflect its growth beyond simply teacher training. Finally, ISU gained university status in 1965. While the main campus has always been in Terre Haute, ISU operated a second campus in Evansville starting in 1965. Eventually, this branch became an independent institution and is now known as the University of Southern Indiana.
Indiana State University Accreditation Details
Indiana State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). HLC is recognized by the US Department of Education as a regional accrediting agency. ISU was first accredited in 1915 and has maintained continuous accreditation through its most recent reaffirmation in 2011. The university is scheduled for its next reaffirmation in 2021.
Accreditations maintained by the College of Health and Human Services at ISU iincludeones from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Indiana State Board of Nursing.
Indiana State University Application Requirements
Undergraduate admissions to ISU requires that each applicant submit an online application along with a $25 nonrefundable fee. Students must send the ISU admissions office an official copy of their transcripts from any secondary and post-secondary school they have attended. Official SAT or ACT scores are also required for applicants under the age of 21. Adult students may submit GED scores in place of high school transcripts. Once accepted, students may declare their decision to pursue a minor in Public Health with the registrar.
Graduate candidates must apply to ISU’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies using an online application. If a student has an undergraduate GPA lower than 2.8, they must submit GRE scores to the college. In order to be accepted into the MS in Public Health degree, students must have completed a health education, sciences, or related degree from an accredited institution. Candidates must submit a statement of purpose that outlines a research focus and selects two faculty members who would be appropriate advisors to this research. Finally, students must submit a resume and two professional references.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The cost for one year of study for an in-state, undergraduate student at ISU is $22,265. An out-of-state undergraduate student will pay $32,801 per year. This cost includes tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and personal expenses. ISU offers a range of academic scholarships that may cover a significant portion of tuition. The university encourages students to seek outside scholarship options that candidates may be eligible for due to academic performance, background, or professional engagement within their field.
In-state graduate tuition is $8,916 per term, and out-of-state tuition is $14,747 per term. On-campus graduate students may apply for assistantships using a separate application process. Additional laboratory and class fees will be assessed depending on the field of study. Full-time and part-time assistantships are available and will waive all or part of the selected students’ tuition.
For more information on the public health degree options at Indiana State University, visit the program page.
