Impact Lives

Master of Public Health Coursework

The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) consists of 14 courses and total 43 credits. The degree can be completed in just two years with or without a graduate certificate.

By graduation, you will be able to:

  • Analyze and solve public health problems with statistical methods
  • Prevent and control public health problems by analyzing patterns of disease and injury
  • Improve population health problems through research
  • Implement a culturally competent and ethical approach to public health practice, research, policy development and health disparities
  • Develop, analyze and evaluate public health interventions and policies to improve population health

Throughout the program, you complete 9 core courses, 3 electives, and 2 capstone courses. The electives you choose determine if you earn a graduate certificate in Health Management and Policy, Health Education and Promotion, or Epidemiology, or if you are customizing your M.P.H. with a combination of electives across these areas.

Build Experience With Your Internship

In completing your internship, you'll gain 240 hours of direct field experience under the supervision of faculty to gain additional real-world insights into public health that can build your résumé. If you're already working in your desired field, it's possible you can complete your internship with your current employer.

Core (Foundation) Courses (27 credits)

PBHL 5502 Data Analytics for Public Health (4 Credits)

Applies statistical reasoning and methods in addressing, analyzing, and solving problems in public health, healthcare, and biomedical, clinical, and population-based research.

Prerequisite: Algebra or Equivalent


PBHL 6200 Health Behavior Theory (4 Credits)

Addresses behavioral and social factors and theories related to individual and population health.


PBHL 5501 Introduction to Public Health (4 Credits)

Explores the history, basic structures and operations of public health and health care delivery systems based on Essential Public Health Services.


PBHL 5504 Introduction to Epidemiology & Research Methods (4 Credits)

Studies the patterns of disease and injury in human populations and applies findings to the control of health problems using Excel and PASW (formerly SPSS) statistical software.


PBHL 6501 Environmental Health (4 Credits)

Studies environmental factors including biological, physical, and chemical factors that affect the health of the community.


PBHL 6500 Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Public Health (4 Credits)

Explores research design, collection and reporting of data, interpretation of findings, inferential procedures and current public health research.

Prerequisite: MPH 5011 and MPH 6004; Department Consent Required


PBHL 5505 Health Systems, Law and Policy (4 Credits)

Addresses the development and advocacy processes for public health policies; provides tools for policy analysis; and application to important public health issues.


PBHL 6411 Biological Aspects of Public Health (4 Credits)

Explores the biological and molecular context of public health and its incorporation into public health practice and articulates how biological, chemical and physical agents affect human health.


PBHL 5506 Leadership and Management (4 Credits)

Explores basic management principles and practical tools for health management professionals in a variety of public health and health care organizations.


Health Education & Promotion Certificate (12 credits)

Complete one foundation course and three electives

PBHL 6009 Cultural Context of Health (4 Credits)

(ELECTIVE) Addresses cultural factors related to individual and population health and health disparities over the life course.


PBHL 5503 Public Health Program Planning & Evaluation (4 Credits)

(ELECTIVE) Presents evidence-based methods of health education and promotion addressing major risk factors for death, injury, and disability.


PBHL 6203 Public Health Programs & Skills (4 Credits)

(ELECTIVE) Focuses on health education and the skills required for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examinations.


PBHL 6502 Public Health Grant Writing (4 Credits)

(ELECTIVE) Provides an overview of the grant writing process and funding sources for research, practice, and administration/planning grants; and requires development of a full grant proposal.


Health Management & Policy Certificate (12 credits)

Complete three foundation courses and one elective

PBHL 6201 Health Communication and Marketing (4 Credits)

Explores concepts of marketing theory, planning, strategy, research and implementation of marketing plans including social media plans. Cross-listed with NRHL 664.


PBHL 6302 Organizational Resource Management (4 Credits)

Explores current topics in the business of delivering health services. including insurance, privacy of information, accountable care organizations, and financing structures and implications of the U.S. Affordable Care Act of 2010.


PBHL 6502 Public Health Grant Writing (4 Credits)

(ELECTIVE) Provides an overview of the grant writing process and funding sources for research, practice, and administration/planning grants; and requires development of a full grant proposal.


Epidemiology Certificate (12 credits)

Complete three foundation courses and one elective

PBHL 5502 Data Analytics for Public Health (4 Credits)

Applies statistical reasoning and methods in addressing, analyzing, and solving problems in public health, healthcare, and biomedical, clinical, and population-based research.

Prerequisite: Algebra or Equivalent


PBHL 6409 Applied Epidemiology (4 Credits)

(ELECTIVE) This course combines the fundamental skills and competencies acquired in biostatistics, epidemiology, and methods of research and provides an interactive, hands-on experience in actual study design, development of survey instruments, and collection, analysis and reporting of real data.


MPH 6797 Advanced Research Methods (4 Credits)

Focuses on the process and implementation of research in the field through a variety of possible mechanisms: secondary data analysis, original data collection, or meta-analysis, using statistical methods and software.

Prerequisite: MPH 6006 Research Methods in Public Health


 

Capstone Courses (7 credits)

PBHL 6899 MPH Internship/Capstone (6 Credits)

During the internship, students will demonstrate skills and competencies learned in the MPH program in a practical, supervised experience in a health-related agency. The purpose of the internship is to provide experiential learning and the opportunity to explore professional goals.


PBHL 6898 Community Health Analysis (4 Credits)

Demonstrates the collection of data on and setting priorities for improving the health of a defined population. It involves field work and utilization of research skills. This culminating experience requires the synthesis and integration of knowledge from previous coursework.

Prerequisite: MPH 5011, MPH 6004, and MPH 6006. Department Consent Required


Find out more about the curriculum of our online MPH program: Request more information or call us at (866) 295-3104 to speak to one of our Program Managers right away.


*Included in Master’s program foundation courses