Students have four options to choose from when deciding on a public health school or program in Washington State. This includes the University of Washington, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and new for the fall of 2021, the University of Puget Sound. The University of Washington is the best option if you are seeking a degree from an extensively developed school of public health with a full range of degree offerings.
| University Name | Bachelor’s Degree? | Master’s Degree? | Doctoral Degree? | Certificate Programs? | CEPH Accredited? |
| University of Washington, School of Public Health | Numerous BA and BS options | Numerous MPH, MS, and MHA options | PhD | No | Accredited as a school of public health |
| Eastern Washington University, College of Health Science and Public Health | BSPH | MPH | No | No | Accredited as a public health program |
| Western Washington University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences | BSPH | No | No | No | Accredited as a stand-alone baccalaureate program |
| University of Puget Sound | No | MPH | No | No | Not accredited due to newness of the program |
The University of Washington, School of Public Health
The University of Washington, School of Public Health (UW School of Public Health) has the most extensive public health school in the state of Washington. Located in beautiful Seattle, Washington, the School has five academic departments: biostatistics, epidemiology, global health, health services, and environmental and occupational health sciences. It has five interdisciplinary programs: health administration, maternal and child health, nutritional sciences, public health genetics, and public health-global health. Information for these departments and interdisciplinary programs can be found here.
Our vision is a world of healthy people in sustainable communities-locally, nationally, and globally.
University of Washington, School of Public Health. (n.d.). About. https://sph.washington.edu/about/sph-facts.
The degrees offered at UW School of Public Health broadly extend from undergraduate to doctoral degrees.
Undergraduate Degrees at UW School of Public Health
Undergraduate programs include the following:
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health
- Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics & Health Information Management
- Bachelor of Arts with a major in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Global Health
The School also offers three minor choices: environmental health, global health, and nutrition minors.
An MPH Degree With Various Concentrations is Available
The UW School of Public Health offers an MPH degree with concentration choices of environmental and occupational health sciences, epidemiology, global health, health services, nutritional sciences, and public health genetics.
The School has an exciting “common core curriculum” that “integrates research and practice skills while preparing students to solve” complex health problems. The common core courses “expose students to diverse perspectives of public health, rigorous training and exciting field opportunities.”
Two Masters in Health Administration Degrees are Offered
The School offers two master of health administration (MHA) options: a Master of Health Administration (MHA) and an Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA). The MHA is designed for early career professionals and is a two-year, in-person, full-time program. Most students do not work while in the program.
The Executive MHA program is designed for mid-level carer professionals with an average of 10 years of experience. Courses are delivered in-person over eight quarters on a flexible schedule. Students in this program typically work full-time while in the program.
Masters of Science Degrees
UW School of Public Health offers numerous master of science degrees. Included are degrees in biostatistics, environmental and occupational health sciences, epidemiology, health services, and nutritional sciences.
Doctoral Degrees
The University of Washington offers a PhD degree in the following areas: biostatistics, biostatistics – statistical genetics pathway, environmental and occupational hygiene, environmental toxicology, epidemiology, global health metrics and implementation science, health services, nutritional sciences, path-biology, and public health genetics.
The UW School of Public Health has Numerous Research Centers
UW School of Public Health has an amazing list of research centers and institutes. Just a few of the long list of research topics covered includes AIDS Research, cardiovascular health, clean air, clinical trials, disability policies, genetic analysis, and many more.
The UW School of Public Health is CEPH Accredited
UW School of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The School recently finalized its 2020 self-study report for its seven-year accreditation review. The previous re-accreditation for the School was finalized in 2013.
“We use the report to assess our effectiveness in relation to our mission and goals, and identify strengths, weaknesses and plans for improvement,” said Professor Emeritus Shirley A.A. Beresford, chair of the self-study oversight committee. “We are so grateful for everyone’s help in this endeavor.”
University of Washington, School of Public Health. (n.d.). Accrediation. https://sph.washington.edu/about/ceph-accreditation.
The School’s self study report can be found here.
To learn more about the benefits of attending a CEPH-accredited school, click here.
Eastern Washington University
The Eastern Washington University (EWU), College of Health Science and Public Health offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) and Bachelors of Science in Public Health (BSPH). The College is located in Spokane, Washington.
The MPH program is designed for entry-level and early public health career professionals. However, according to College’s website, the degree “may also appeal to more established health practitioners seeking public health credentialing and/or those seeking particular training in public health to enhance their careers.” The program is offered fully online.
The EWU College of Health Science and Public Health also offers a BSPH degree. “Students will learn theories of health behavior, prepare policy briefs, design and evaluate health promotion programs, conduct environmental audits in the field, develop social marketing campaigns, and learn to assess public health issues through a systems lens.”
The EWU Masters in Public Health Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is located in Bellingham, Washington. The University has a public health program (previously known as the Community Health program) that “offers a curriculum for students interested in careers in health education and health promotion in a variety of settings, including community, school, worksite, college/university and medical/clinical.”
The program is housed within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Human Development department.
“The Public Health degree is a Bachelor of Science degree with a total of 101-102 credits. To help prepare our student colleagues to be effective Public Health professionals, we require them to take classes in a variety of areas: the biological and social sciences, content in health topics, research methods in health, epidemiology and health education theory and practice. The Public Health curriculum includes both content and process-oriented courses and emphasizes service-learning and field experiences. The last quarter is a full-time internship (40 hours/week) at a health-based community setting.”
Western Washington University. (n.d.). About Public Health. https://chss.wwu.edu/hhd/about-public-health.
The program is accredited by CEPH as a stand-alone baccalaureate program.
University of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound is the newcomer to this list of public health schools and programs. It has announced that it will launch a Master of Public Health (MPH) program in the Fall of 2021. The new degree program is aimed at addressing shortages in Washington state’s labor market.
“The demand for public health professionals is growing, and the addition of a master’s program is a natural extension of our mission as a liberal arts university,” said University of Puget Sound President Isiaah Crawford. “The M.P.H. program is a key part of the university’s Leadership for a Changing World strategic plan, which calls us to be innovative and forward-looking in meeting the needs of today’s students and the world in which we live. It will provide students with the strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills that employers most desire and add to our already strong complement of programs in the health sciences.”
The University of Puget Sound. (May 17, 2020). University of Puget Sound Announces New Master of Public Health Degree. https://www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/campus-news/details/1674/.
According to the announcement, the university has worked to develop a 16-unit public health program lasting two years. The program includes collaborations with academic and professional public health partners in the Pacific Northwest.
The program’s mission “is to prepare culturally responsive graduates who promote health equity and community wellness, and work to prevent injury and illness.” Although the program is too new to be CEPH accredited, the program will include key areas of learning outcomes/competencies consistent with CEPH accreditation requirements.