Public Health (Master)

Master of Public Health Curriculum

This is the perfect time to enter the public health field or gain additional education and experience. Due to current health challenges and an increasingly diverse population, there is a persistent, high demand for public health professionals with graduate-level training. Whether you want to focus on describing the factors that affect health and illness; promoting healthy lifestyles, environments, or policies; preventing chronic or infectious diseases; or studying other areas of interest, our multidisciplinary, competency-based approach will get you there.

Apply Now for 2024 The Arnold School is currently accepting applications for our Fall 2024 MPH programs. Application deadlines are as early as January 15, 2024! See below for concentration-specific information or contact our Office of Graduate Student Services with questions. Our MPH programs include a 16-credit hour multidisciplinary, integrated core curriculum based on CEPH’s 12 foundational knowledge learning objectives and 22 foundational competencies [pdf] . The core curriculum is comprised of the courses below. Students who entered the MPH program prior to Fall 2022 should refer to the Academic Bulletin as course requirements below may be different. PUBH 724 is the first of two courses that will provide students with an introduction to epidemiology, biostatistics, and environmental health concepts and their application to public health issues and practice. The course covers basic epidemiologic, biostatistical, and data management techniques used to analyze and interpret data in the field of public health. This course is the second quantitative methods course and will provide students with an integrated review of quantitative methods to use in public health practice. Students will complete assessments and analyze, interpret, and present public and environmental health data. PUBH 726 is an introductory qualitative methods course focusing on understanding the characteristics of qualitative methods, including data collection, organization, and analysis. Students will also learn about the role of theory and paradigms in qualitative inquiry and how to identify, work with, and communicate qualitative analysis results with different types of community stakeholders. PUBH 730 is designed to prepare future public health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to solve public health problems using systems thinking tools, best practices in public health management, and policy development, application, and evaluation. It emphasizes identifying and enhancing the knowledge and skills needed to effectively lead public health initiatives. PUBH 735 provides the opportunity for students to gain an in-depth understanding of the program planning process in public health. Students will work in teams to develop programs addressing a public health issue affecting a target population and setting, based on available epidemiological and social assessment data, and multi-level interventional strategies informed by theory and existing evidence-based interventions. In addition to the foundational competencies, each MPH program is built around concentration-specific competencies (listed in the program descriptions below). Toward the end of their programs, students will complete an Applied Practice Experience (i.e., practicum, internship, or residency) to demonstrate competency attainment in a practice setting and an Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) to demonstrate their ability to synthesize foundational and concentration competencies. Each concentration described below includes links to concentration-specific application information. In addition to the CEPH competencies, students completing the MPH in Environmental Health Sciences (ENHS) will be able to: Define environmental stressors and hazards, and identify sources, pathways of exposure, and ecosystem components and human populations most susceptible to exposure, as well as reasons for community vulnerabilities and disparities in environmental hazard exposure. Apply principles of toxicology to identify and quantify acute and chronic hazards associated with individual compounds and contaminant mixtures in terms of ecotoxicology and human health. Discuss the basic principles of the environmental fate of contaminants and how they are introduced into the air, water, soil, sediments and food and then transported through the environment and how these processes define exposure. Apply toxicological hazard and exposure assessment and statistical techniques in assessing the risks associated with environmental stressor in the home, workplace and community environments and natural settings. Express knowledge of important local, state and federal laws that regulate and protect environmental quality and health, and explain the responsibilities of agencies, organizations, communities and individuals for protecting, maintain and enhancing the environment. Identify approaches for preventing, mitigating and remediating environmental hazards, protecting populations from environmental hazards, and working with communities to address issues of environmental hazards via pollution source identification and management, health promotion, education, ecological forecasting and behavior modification. Review, critique, evaluate and synthesize the scientific merit of environmental health research articles, presentations and evaluate the scientific merit and feasibility of environmental health study designs. Apply findings, methods and approaches from case studies to contemporary environmental issues Develop assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of environmental or risk management approaches used to prevent or minimize exposure or to reduce the environmental hazard. Students in the ENHS MPH program will complete the public health core, described above, and take an additional 27 credit hours as follows (total 43 credit hours): Environmental Health Sciences Core (13 hours) ENHS 660 (3) Concepts of Environmental Health Science ENHS 761 (3) Ecotoxicology of Aquatic Systems ENHS 770 (3) Microbial Processes and Pollution ENHS 775 (3) Resource Management and Environmental Impact Assessment ENHS 771 (1) Seminar in Environmental Health Sciences Departmental Major and Cognate Courses (6 hours) Courses specific to the student’s area/s of interest with approval of the student’s academic advisor. Electives may be chosen from ENHS or from courses in the University that support the overall educational goals of the student. Applied Practice Experience and Capstone Course (8 hours) ENHS 750 (2) MPH Capstone Course ENHS 798 (6) Public Health Practice Visit other web pages for the Department of Environmental Health Sciences information on our degree programs and how to apply . In addition to the CEPH competencies, students completing the MPH in Epidemiology (EPID) will be able to: Evaluate a public health surveillance system, identify salient gaps, and methods to address them. Determine the appropriate study designs for a given public health problem and context. Compare and contrast the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic study designs (randomized trials and observational studies), including biases and methods to minimize bias. Formulate a research question and manage and analyze data from public health administrative or surveillance data, or electronic health data repositories. Develop appropriate data collection protocols for a given public health issue and context. Critically evaluate epidemiologic scientific literature. Students in the EPID MPH program will complete the public health core, described above, and take an additional 27 credit hours as follows (total 43 credit hours): Department Core Requirements (12 hours) BIOS 709 (1) Introduction to SAS BIOS 719 (1) Advanced SAS Methods in Public Health BIOS 757 (3) Intermediate Biometrics EPID 741 (3) Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods EPID 721 (2) Clinical and Population Research Protocol Development and Implementation EPID 722 (2) Scientific Writing and Appraisal of Epidemiologic Studies Major Requirements (6 hours) EPID 730 (3) Public Health Surveillance Systems EPID 788 (3) Practical Methods for Secondary Data Analysis Electives (3 hours) Electives may be chosen from epidemiology courses or courses in the University that support the overall educational goals of the student. The Faculty Advisor must approve all elective courses. Applied Practice Experience (3 hours) EPID 798 (3) Epidemiology Applied Practicum Integrated Learning Experience (3 hours) EPID 796 (3) Synthesis of Foundational and Epidemiology Competencies Visit other pages for the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics for information on our degree programs and how to apply . In addition to the CEPH competencies, students completing the MPH in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB) will be able to: Apply health promotion planning frameworks and evidence-based strategies in the development and implementation of public health programs Articulate how multi-sectoral, collaborative engagement advances health equity, and improves health outcomes. Demonstrate the ability to apply social and behavioral theories and models to the development, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs. Demonstrate the ability to utilize multi-level approaches in understanding the importance of context in addressing public health issues. Develop sound and feasible methods to evaluate public health programs, interpret results, and communicate those results effectively. Demonstrate their understanding of research methods and their application in health promotion. Students in the HPEB MPH program will complete the public health core, described above, and an additional 29 credit hours as follows (total 45 credit hours): Department Core Course Requirements (12 hours) HPEB 701 (3) Theoretical Foundations of Health Promotion HPEB 707 (3) Health Promotion Research Methods HPEB 710 (3) Evaluation of Heath Promotion Programs HPEB 748 (3) Community Health Development Electives (12 hours) Courses specific to the student’s area/s of interest with approval of the student’s academic advisor. Electives may be chosen from HPEB or from courses in the University that support the overall educational goals of the student. Applied Practice Experience (5 hours) HPEB 797 (5) Applied Practice Experience Visit other web pages for the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior for information on our degree programs and how to apply . In addition to the CEPH competencies, students completing the MPH in Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM) will be able to: Apply operations management concepts to address organizational performance issues in health service organizations. Describe legal perspectives on health policy and management issues, including assessment of legal and regulatory environments in the context of public health. Apply economic principles for allocating and mobilizing resources for public health interventions and programs Apply the principles and tools of budgeting, resource management, and financial analysis to improve efficiency of public health and health care delivery organizations Develop policy options for the achievement of an agency’s or program’s objectives Students in the HSPM MPH program will complete the public health core, described above, and take an additional 29 credit hours as follows (total 45 credit hours): Public Health Management (18 hours) HSPM 712 (3) Health Economics HSPM 726 (3) Applied Public Health Law for Administrators HSPM 730 (3) Financing of Health Care HSPM 768 (3) Health Services Administration Management Electives (6 Hours): Two courses selected in consultation with advisor; possible courses include HSPM 706, HSPM 709, HSPM 713, HSPM 714, HSPM 716, HSPM 764, HSPM 769, HSPM 774, HSPM 776, HSPM 772, HSPM 777 Public Health and Healthcare Policy (6 hours) HSPM 727 (3) Advancing Public Health Policy Policy Elective (3) HSPM 711, HPEB 820, POLI774, POLI 780, POLI 721 or another course selected in consultation with advisor Applied Practice Experience and Capstone Course (5 hours) HSPM 788 (3) Public Health Practice Experience HSPM 796 (2) HSPM MPH Capstone Course Visit other web pages for the Department of Health Services Policy and Management for information on our degree programs and how to apply . In addition to the CEPH competencies, students completing the MPH in Physical Activity and Public Health (PAPH) will be able to: Explain the physiological responses to an acute bout of exercise and the physiological adaptations to chronic aerobic and resistance exercise. Explain the health effects of physical activity and the scientific basis for current public health physical activity guidelines for persons in varying demographic groups. Apply evidence-based strategies to develop a physical activity intervention. Evaluate an evidence-based physical activity intervention. Differentiate among and appropriately use measurement and surveillance techniques to assess physical activity at the population level. Students in the PAPH MPH program will complete the public health core, described above, and take an additional 29 credit hours as follows (total 45 credit hours): Physical Activity and Public Health Core (18 hours) EXSC 780 (3) Physiology of Exercise EXSC 700 (3) Physical Activity & Health: Epidemiology, Research, & Practice EXSC 710 (3) Behavioral Aspects of Physical Activity EXSC 754 (3) Community-based Physical Activity Interventions HPEB 710 (3) Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs EXSC 732 (3) Measurement of Body Composition & Associated Health Behaviors Elective (3 hours) Applied Practice Experience and Capstone Course (8 hours) EXSC 796 MPH Capstone Course (2 hours) EXSC 797 Public Health Practice (6 hours) Visit other web pages for the Department of Exercise Science for information on our degree programs and how to apply .