If you have a passion for improving the quality of healthcare for all, or a desire to enact change in public policies involving healthcare, a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from JWU Online could be the degree that helps get you started in this dynamic field.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), careers in this field are expected to grow 16% over the next decade, much higher than the projected average growth rate for all other occupations. As a result, this field is expected to see a strong demand for qualified professionals. A B.S. – Public Health degree from JWU Online offers graduates diverse career opportunities and greater job security in a dynamic and impactful sector.
“JWU Online’s B.S. – Public Health program provides students with a broad understanding of health issues that impact the community,” says Grace Pericolo, Associate Director of Enrollment Management. “The program helps prepare students for a variety of roles in the public health field, with flexible online coursework designed to support working professionals.”
What Makes JWU Online Unique?
Our coursework delves into practical applications to public health based on real-world data and current changes to the healthcare field. The curriculum of the Public Health program employs a heavy emphasis on the use of case studies, interdisciplinary coursework and analysis on current public policy surrounding healthcare.
“It’s all about developing skill sets and then allowing that skill to be applied to whatever interests our students in the public health or healthcare system fields,” says Cara Sammartino, Ph.D., Professor & Chair of the Department of Health Science at JWU’s College of Health and Wellness.
The program not only builds a solid foundation of the principles of public health, but develops skills in data analysis, economics and spreadsheet management. In addition, the Public Health program introduces critical thinking towards the use of AI in healthcare utilization.
“The Public Health program gave me the language and framework to better understand the ‘why’ behind the issues I care about: food insecurity, mental wellness and health equity,” states Hector Rodriguez ’25. “It didn’t just teach me concepts; it challenged me to apply them right away in my job.”
Furthermore, our 100% online degree program offers students the flexibility to achieve their degree at their own pace, allowing them to balance the demands of their academic work, personal and family commitments, and social lives.
Learn from Faculty with Real-World Experience
Our faculty at JWU Online bring to the table years of first-hand industry experience to the curriculum they teach.
Professor Sammartino has nearly a decade of experience in program evaluation, policy analysis and healthcare data modeling, including roles at BCBSRI and Rhode Island’s public health agencies. Sammartino brings a passion for mentoring students and continues to consult with state agencies while contributing to JWU’s Public Health and Healthcare Administration programs in the College of Health & Wellness.
Samantha Rosenthal, Ph.D. leads student research initiatives as Director of the Center for Student Research & Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and her teaching is informed by her extensive research on mental health, technology use and health disparities. Her work has been supported with a federal grant by the National Institute of Mental Health. She also remains heavily involved in public health policy at the state level, working with Rhode Island health departments and government officials on numerous public health issues.
Jennifer Swanberg, Ph.D. is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and work+life mindfulness coach with over 25 years of higher education experience. Her teaching emphasizes occupational health, health equity and the experiences of diverse working populations. She serves on the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Health Work Design and Well-being (HWD) Cross-Sector Council. She has spent her career dedicated to improving the quality of work life and well-being of vulnerable working populations through research and policy interventions.
In addition to their industry experience, our faculty prides itself on their mentorship to our students. The one-on-one guidance allows our students to help craft a curriculum that is geared towards their interests.
“I think it’s that faculty mentorship that gives students that leg up, being able to actually interact with faculty and really think about how to craft their degree to what is of interest to them,” notes Professor Sammartino. “I have students that are interested on the policy side, so what I’m going to do is I advise them to take more political science and leadership courses. I believe our faculty mentorship is a big strength of the program.”
Unique Courses and Curriculum Features
JWU Online’s Public Health program features a flexible and innovative curriculum that supports student success through interdisciplinary electives, robust faculty mentorship, and a strong emphasis on quality improvement and data-driven decision making. Students have the opportunity to tailor their studies to their individual interests and benefit from guidance that helps them develop the skills needed to excel in the evolving healthcare field.
One notable course in the program is Mindfulness for Health and Wellbeing, which is required for all Public Health students. Sammartino notes that the current literature shows that people who engage in mindfulness tend to have better health outcomes, especially on the cardiac side.
“Public health students are preparing to enter a workforce where burnout, chronic stress and compassion fatigue are common,” states Professor Swanberg, who serves as the instructor of the course. “These challenges not only affect the quality-of-care professionals can deliver but also directly impact retention, career satisfaction, and ultimately, population health outcomes.”
Most notably, Johnson & Wales University is one of the only public health bachelor’s programs in the country to require a Mindfulness for Health & Wellbeing course. Students in this course gain lifelong tools for managing stress and sustaining balance, while also learning the science of mindfulness and how to integrate it into public health strategies for disease prevention, chronic illness management, and health promotion.
“The course strengthens not only the students themselves but also the communities they will go on to serve,” notes Swanberg. Add to that our expert interdisciplinary faculty, required internships, and real-world experiential learning, and it’s clear why JWU stands out from other public health bachelor programs.”
Other courses, such as Research Methods for Health Science, Introduction to Global Health, and Comparative Health Systems, delve into examining healthcare both in the Unites States and globally with an emphasis on research methods and data analysis. The program prepares students to utilize data-driven decision making while building up their critical-thinking skills.
“Having students work on real-world problems is huge,” says Professor Sammartino. “For example, ‘How do you make a hospital more efficient? How do you lower costs in this population?’ It’s not about just looking at scientific literature; it’s also about being able to really think about contemporary issues now and what it looks like in the future.”
For a complete listing of courses in the Public Health program, please visit the program catalog page.
Further Your Education with an MPH at Johnson & Wales
Graduates of JWU Online’s undergraduate Public Health program can apply their coursework towards our Master of Public Health (MPH) program, offered at the Johnson & Wales Providence Campus. This program offers multiple enrollment choices, including one year, full-time and part-time options to accommodate students, as well as in-person day and evening classes and selected online courses for additional schedule flexibility.
Students that choose to enroll at JWU and stay for both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public health can accelerate through the programs fairly quickly, and it’s possible to achieve both degrees within 4.5 years. And best of all, after earning your bachelor’s at JWU Online, admitted students to the MPH program are eligible for the Wildcat Alumni Scholarship, a 25% tuition scholarship.
Career Outcomes and Graduate Success
Students of the Public Health program have found post-graduate success in multiple areas, including matriculating to graduate programs across the country, as well as finding employment in careers such as data analysts for major health insurance companies and government policy analysts.
“The Public Health program at JWU Online has been challenging and rewarding,” notes Reyna Salcedo ’25. “The coursework deepened my understanding of population health, health equity and policymaking, while my internship gave me real-world exposure to state-run health programs.”
JWU Online’s Public Health program not only prepares students for success in current careers in the healthcare industry, but also for the jobs of the future. Through our multifaceted approach to learning, students develop essential skills in multiple areas that are applicable to all areas of public health.
“We know that [some of] the jobs that exist today aren’t going to exist in 10 years,” says Professor Sammartino. “There’s going to be new jobs, and so I think the goal of the program is to instill a skill set that can adapt.”
Ready to take the next steps towards a rewarding career in public health with our fully-online B.S – Public Health bachelor’s degree at JWU Online? Complete the Request Info form, submit your free application, or email [email protected].
