Degree Requirements
The M.P.H. Program
The mission of the field of public health is to protect and improve the health of communities by assuring, through organized community efforts, living conditions in which people can be healthy and address health problems effectively. The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree program contributes to this cause by offering a planned program of study that provides prospective and current public health-workers with: 1) a strong, general background in areas of knowledge which are basic to public health; and 2) the opportunity to apply public health knowledge in independent research and in an internship. Prospective students apply to one of two tracks in the M.P.H. program:
- Community health education
Focus on developing the capacity to plan, administer and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention interventions and programs; or - Generalist
Focus on strengthening a general understanding of different areas of public health rather than developing an area of specialty. Provides optimum flexibility to select courses that fit unique employment and professional needs and interests.
The M.P.H. is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) through the year 2008. The program consists of a minimum of 48 credits of study, including 27 credits of core course work, 6 credits of culminating course work (independent research), 3 or 6 credits of internship, and 9 or 12 credits of elective study specific to the chosen track of study.
The M.P.H. planned program consists of a minimum of 48 credits of study, including 27 credits of core course work, 6 credits of culminating course work (independent research), 3 or 6 credits of internship, and 9 or 12 credits of elective study (see approved electives list & application/approval form). Twelve credits of elective study may be applied toward a specialization in community health education.
Core Course Requirements (27 credits)
- PCH 500 - Foundations of Public Health
- PCH 510 - Ecological Determinants of Health
- PCH 515 - Biostatistics
- PCH 516 - Public Health Research
- PCH 520 - Health Behavior
- PCH 548 - Public Health Administration
- PCH 551 - Epidemiology
- PCH 564 - Health Systems and Policy
- PCH 577 - Program Planning and Evaluation
Culminating Requirements (6 credits)
- PCH 590 - Thesis Seminar I and
- PCH 591 - Thesis Seminar II
or
- PCH 593 - Special Project I and
- PCH 594 - Special Project II
Internship Requirements (3 or 6 credits, depending on experience)
PCH 595 - Public Health Internship
Electives (9 or 12 credits, depending on internship option; 12 elective credits may be applied toward a specialization in community health education)
Specialization in Community Health Education
PCH 504 Introduction to Community Health Education
PCH 586 Health Promotion Methods and Strategies
__ Approved Specialization Elective
__ Approved Specialization Elective
Credit Requirement for Graduation
Minimum 48 credits
Notable
Students must meet University and Department academic standards for graduation and continuation in the program.
All requirements for the M.P.H. degree must be completed in either two (2) years full-time, or three (3) years part-time.
An extension of the time to complete degree requirements may be granted if there are compelling or extenuating circumstances. To obtain an extension, a student must petition the graduate program advisor prior to the expiration of the program.
Applications for graduation must be submitted within the time limits established in the Academic Calendar. Graduation is not automatic upon completion of degree requirements. Students who do not apply for graduation will not graduate.
A Cultural Competency Training Workshop, Writing Assessment and Preparing for Statistics Workshop or waiver examination, as offered by the Department of Public Health, must be completed during the first semester of study.
