The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online health education and promotion program has been ranked among the best in the country. 

Online Schools Report, a higher education resource and evaluation website, highlighted UA Little Rock as eighth among its list of the 15 Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Health. 

UA Little Rock’s Bachelor of Science in health education and promotion online degree program is designed to prepare students as health professionals in community health agencies, health maintenance organizations, as well as business and industry wellness programs. It is also designed to assist entry-level health educators in taking the National Health Education Credentialing examination. 

“The degree is versatile with other programs and can meet a wide range of employment opportunities depending on what minor program they choose,” said Dr. Bennie Prince, assistant professor and undergraduate Health and Human Performance Program coordinator. “For example, a BS in health education and promotion and minor in sport management opens doors for our students to manage Boys & Girls Clubs and fitness facilities.” 

The online program has about 200 majors. Graduates often go to work in the education wings of hospitals, health cooperatives, state departments of health, community health agencies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more. Approximately 65 percent of the courses have certification through Quality Matters, a global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. 

“Our faculty are personable and experts in the field,” Prince said. “We all care about the quality of our online major and minor courses.” 

Rankings are based on six key factors, including student satisfaction, admission rate, the number of online programs offered at the university, department size, popularity of program, and average student debt for graduates of the degree.

“Public health has never been more important,” said Noah McGraw, editor of Online Schools Report. “A bachelor’s in public health degree prepares students for working in healthcare with a community focus. Public health majors are usually more focused on disease prevention, education, and policy-making than specialized doctors or nurses. Individuals with public health degrees frequently make policy decisions for other health care providers or enact widespread change and humanitarian efforts to prevent entire populations from suffering from disease or poor health.”