1. Home
  2. Top lists
  3. USA
  4. Public Health Diploma

Diploma in Public Health Programs in the USA: Top 10

These ten entries are the short public health qualifications the American system actually issues: community college associate degrees in public health, and undergraduate or advanced certificates at universities. They are the cheapest way into the field and the most misunderstood, because what they lead to depends far more on which of the two you pick than on which institution awards it.

How this list is ordered: Ordered by each university's QS World University Rankings position where it has one, then by research citations recorded by OpenAlex; one programme per university, and universities with neither measure are left out.

Full time or part time
Full time10 71%Full or part time4 29%

Same 14 records.

When these programmes start
Fall9 47%Spring9 47%January1 5%

Counted from the intake stated on 10 of 14 records. A programme listing more than one intake is counted under each.

1 Diploma Public Health

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations4,302,690

A two-year public health associate degree at a community college in lower Manhattan. It gives a grounding in the main parts of public health and how they apply to community health problems.

Entry is in autumn and spring. The credential is built as the first half of a bachelor's degree, at community college cost rather than university cost.

From the programme record

  • Environmental Health Specialist
  • Program Coordinator in Healthcare Organizations

Full programme details →

2 Diploma Public Health

CUNY Bronx Community College

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations4,302,690

Public health at CUNY Bronx Community College, covering epidemiology, health policy, environmental health and community health strategy.

It runs two years, with autumn and spring entry. Environmental health specialist is the job listed for graduates. That role is often licensed by state agencies, which set their own education rules.

From the programme record

  • Environmental Health Specialist

Full programme details →

3 Diploma Public Health

CUNY Queensborough Community College

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations4,302,690

Public health at Queensborough Community College, in Queens. The course covers the principles of public health and how they are used to deal with community health problems.

It runs two years, with autumn and spring entry. Graduates work as health programme coordinators, environmental health specialists and research assistants in public health.

From the programme record

  • Health Program Coordinator
  • Environmental Health Specialist
  • Research Assistant in Public Health

Full programme details →

4 LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing, Undergraduate Certificate

University of Alabama at Birmingham

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations16,536,534

An undergraduate certificate in LGBTQ health and wellbeing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It looks at the health needs of LGBTQ people, the barriers they face and what is being done about them.

This is a focused add-on rather than a full qualification. Entry needs a high school diploma or equivalent and an interest in the subject; earlier health science study helps.

Entry requirements, as the university states them

  • A high school diploma or equivalent
  • Demonstrated interest in LGBTQ health issues
  • Prior coursework in health sciences or related fields may be beneficial

Full programme details →

5 Advanced Certificate in Public Health

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations2,004,020

An advanced certificate in public health at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. It covers public health principles and practice, including epidemiology, policy and environmental health.

The word advanced usually means the course is pitched above beginner level and may expect earlier study. It is listed at two years, with autumn and spring entry.

Full programme details →

6 Ai and Analytics in Public Health and Health Systems Undergraduate Certificate

University of West Florida

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • DurationEstimated program length: 9 months
  • StartsJanuary
  • Research citations309,845

An online certificate in artificial intelligence and analytics for public health and health systems, at the University of West Florida. You study health data analysis, health information systems and the new technology used in health decisions.

The estimated length is nine months, starting in January. You join as a non-degree student, speak to the department about course availability, and complete a declaration form online.

Entry requirements, as the university states them

  • Once accepted as a non-degree seeking student, students should contact the Department of Public Health and speak to an advisor about course availability and scheduling.
  • Then, complete the online Undergraduate Certificate Declaration Form on MyUWF.

Full programme details →

7 Diploma Public Health

North Central Michigan College

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 semesters
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations4,763

Public health at North Central Michigan College, covering epidemiology, health promotion and environmental health, with a focus on health problems in different communities.

It is listed at two semesters, which is a year of full-time study. Environmental health specialist is the job listed for graduates.

From the programme record

  • Environmental Health Specialist

Full programme details →

8 Diploma Public Health

Rockland Community College

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations4,238

Public health at Rockland Community College, in New York. The course covers epidemiology, health policy, environmental health and health promotion, with theory and practical work together.

It runs two years, with autumn and spring entry. Graduates work as community outreach coordinators, environmental health specialists, research assistants and non-profit health programme managers.

From the programme record

  • Community Outreach Coordinator
  • Environmental Health Specialist
  • Research Assistant in Public Health
  • Non-profit Health Program Manager

Full programme details →

9 Diploma Public Health Science

Mt. San Jacinto Community College District

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations1,180

Public health science at Mt. San Jacinto College, in California. The course is built around community health and personal wellbeing, and on thinking through health problems clearly.

It runs two years, with autumn and spring entry. California has the country's most developed system for carrying college credit into a state university degree.

Full programme details →

10 Diploma Public Health

Harford Community College

  • DeliveryOn campus
  • Study modeFull time
  • Duration2 years
  • StartsFall, Spring
  • Research citations905

Public health at Harford Community College, in Maryland. The course covers epidemiology, health promotion and disease prevention.

It runs two years, with autumn and spring entry. Graduates work as health promotion specialists, government health officials and research assistants in public health.

From the programme record

  • Health Promotion Specialist
  • Government Health Official
  • Research Assistant in Public Health

Full programme details →

Short public health qualifications: common questions

Can I get a public health job with a certificate alone?

Sometimes, for assistant and coordinator roles, and the records here list exactly those kinds of positions. But a certificate is designed as a supplement rather than a foundation — its value rises sharply when it sits alongside another qualification or existing work experience in a health organisation.

Will these credits count towards a bachelor's degree?

An associate degree is designed to, through a transfer agreement between specific institutions. A certificate usually is not. Confirm with the receiving university's transfer office whether the credit applies to the public health major or only to general requirements, and check specifically whether the statistics course transfers.

Are any of these available online?

At least one is: the analytics and information systems certificate describes itself as an online certificate, although the delivery field records it as on campus. Because that field is clearly unreliable here, ask each institution directly — online delivery is common at this level, and the useful question is whether the entire credential can be completed remotely or only some courses.

How long do they take?

The associate degrees are recorded at two years, one programme at two semesters, and the online analytics certificate at an estimated nine months. A certificate is generally much shorter than an associate degree. The more reliable planning figure is the credit hour count, which is not recorded here and is worth asking for.

Is this enough to work as an epidemiologist?

No. Epidemiology in the United States is a graduate-level profession, and these qualifications are a long way below it. The realistic sequence is this credential, then a bachelor's degree, then a master's — and the thing that makes that sequence efficient is choosing a programme whose credit transfers cleanly.

Public Health lists elsewhere

Other subjects in USA

Browse every Public Health programme in USA →