Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health (MPH) prepares students for a wide range of careers in public health, ensuring that they develop a broad base of knowledge and skills that can be applied to a variety of settings. The curriculum requires 42 credits and includes intermediate- and advanced-level coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, program planning and evaluation, health policy, and a 6-credit field experience. The program emphasizes social justice, with the goal of training leaders who will work to achieve health equity and offers a unique interdisciplinary experience. Students will take courses with students in other Egan-level graduate programs and will learn from faculty with diverse professional backgrounds.
The following are the MPH program goals:
- Provide education, mentorship, and practice opportunities to promote students’ attainment of core competencies of public health practice.
- Contribute to public health knowledge through interdisciplinary research and practice.
- Impact public health practice through responsive and sustainable community engagement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH 5101 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| PUBH 5303 | Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| PUBH 6951 | Public Health Fieldwork Experience and Leadership/Professional Development Seminar | 6 |
| PUBH 6961 | Public Health Capstone I | 3 |
| PUBH 6962 | Public Health Capstone II | 3 |
| PUBH 7602 | Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 |
| HCAD 6100 | Introduction to the United States Healthcare System | 3 |
| NURS 7601 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 |
| NURS 7605 | Advanced Health Policy | 3 |
| NURS 7608 | Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 7611 | Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health | 3 |
| Master's Elective (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering) | 3 | |
| Master's Elective (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering) | 3 | |
Please note that the below plans of study are a sample of the Online Fall semester cohort start. There are also plan of study grids available from the Program Director for the online program with a spring or summer semester start as well.
(Full Time)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HCAD 6100 | Introduction to the United States Healthcare System | 3 |
| NURS 7601 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 |
| NURS 7611 | Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health | 3 |
| PUBH 5101 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 7608 | Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| PUBH 5303 | Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| PUBH 7602 | Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 7605 | Advanced Health Policy | 3 |
| PUBH 6951 | Public Health Fieldwork Experience and Leadership/Professional Development Seminar | 6 |
| PUBH 6961 | Public Health Capstone I | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PUBH 6962 | Public Health Capstone II | 3 |
| Master's Elective (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering) | 3 | |
| Master's Elective (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering) | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
(Part Time)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| NURS 7611 | Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health | 3 |
| PUBH 5101 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCAD 6100 | Introduction to the United States Healthcare System | 3 |
| PUBH 5303 | Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 7605 | Advanced Health Policy | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 7601 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 |
| NURS 7608 | Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| PUBH 7602 | Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 |
| Master's Elective (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering) | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| PUBH 6951 | Public Health Fieldwork Experience and Leadership/Professional Development Seminar | 6 |
| PUBH 6961 | Public Health Capstone I | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PUBH 6962 | Public Health Capstone II | 3 |
| Master's Elective (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering) | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
PUBH 5101 Foundations of Public Health 3 Credits
This course is designed to introduce graduate students without a baccalaureate degree in Public Health to the profession and sciences of Public Health. This course will provide an overview of the history and philosophy of Public Health, its core functions and essential services, and its role in understanding and promoting human health.
PUBH 5201 Environmental Health 3 Credits
This course introduces students to both fundamental and technical concepts in the field of environmental health. Environmental health supports clean water, sewage, food, and waste disposal. The course will help students understand the impact of environmental factors on health outcomes, the measures taken to minimize negative effects, and where to access additional information to make a difference at the individual and community levels. The course will also delve into interdisciplinary public health issues such as physical and chemical exposures; environmental justice; environmental policy, regulations, and ethics; risk assessment and management, and climate change.
PUBH 5303 Program Planning and Evaluation 3 Credits
Prerequisite: NURS 7611.
This course prepares students to develop, implement, and evaluate Public Health programs and interventions. Students will learn to conduct a community health needs assessment; prioritize health needs; select appropriate intervention strategies; and develop program goals, objectives, and evaluation plans.
PUBH 6951 Public Health Fieldwork Experience and Leadership/Professional Development Seminar 6 Credits
The fieldwork experience provides each student the opportunity to demonstrate attainment of key program competencies by completing training and practice with a partner agency in their local area. Students will participate in a semester-long public health leadership and professional development seminar while completing their fieldwork experience. This course will fulfill the applied practice experience requirement of the MPH program.
PUBH 6961 Public Health Capstone I 3 Credits
Prerequisites: NURS 7601, PUBH 7602, PUBH 5303.
The capstone provides an opportunity for students to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills they’ve gained throughout the program by developing an independent scholarly or applied project. With guidance from a faculty member, students will create and evaluate a public health intervention or design and carry out an original research project. In Public Health Capstone I, students develop a detailed plan and written proposal for their project. This course will fulfill the integrative learning experience requirement of the MPH program.
PUBH 6962 Public Health Capstone II 3 Credits
Prerequisite: PUBH 6961.
This course is a continuation of Public Health Capstone I. In this course, students complete their capstone projects, by implementing and evaluating the program they created or by collecting and analyzing data to answer an original research question. Students will produce a final paper and presentation for their project. This course will fulfill the integrative learning experience requirement of the MPH program.
PUBH 7602 Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics 3 Credits
Prerequisite: NURS 7601.
This course provides an introduction to statistical reasoning and procedures used in Public Health research. Probability theory, descriptive and inferential statistics, and regression and correlation methods will be covered, with applications using statistical software.
PUBH 7990 Independent Study in Public Health 3 Credits
Through individually designed projects or activities, students work with a faculty member to study a specific area in depth. Enrollment by permission only.