Curriculum
The MPH program can be completed in as few as 4 full-time quarters plus a summer practicum experience. The program uses a competency-based curriculum. All students will choose to focus their studies in one of four concentrations: Epidemiology & Global Health, Health Policy, Data Science or Community Health Promotion. The curriculum encompasses four components.
Core Courses
Seven core courses are required of all students.
- Foundations of Public Health
- Introduction to Biostatistics
- Epidemiology & Population Health
- Introduction to U.S. Health Policy & Politics
- Social Inequalities in Health: Race/Ethnicity & Class
- Public Health Programs: Planning, Implementation, & Evaluation
- Health Communication & Health Behavior
Practicum
Students will complete a practicum experience over the summer quarter to gain applied practical experience in public health. The practicum may be completed with internal partners at the University or Medical Center, or with external partners in a range of public health settings. Program staff and faculty will work with students to identify host sites. The practicum is expected to include an average of 80-100 hours of hands-on public health or research experience.
Concentration-Specific Courses
Each concentration requires four courses.
Epidemiology & Global Health
Epidemiology Methods
Global Health Metrics
Regression Analysis for Health and Social Research
Elective
Health Policy
Introduction to Health Economics
Health Services Research Methods
Regression Analysis for Health and Social Research
Elective
Data Science
Computer Programming for Public Health
Machine Learning for Public Health
Regression Analysis for Health and Social Research
Elective
Community Health Promotion
Mixed Methods Research in Community Settings
Community Health Promotion
Elective
Elective
*Concentration courses may be replaced with an elective with consent of the Concentration Director.
Capstone
A capstone project is required of all students. Students will work with a faculty mentor who will provide guidance and feedback throughout the capstone experience. The capstone class will provide instruction on project design and management, literature reviews, research and referencing, and writing and presentation. The culminating project may be research-based or applied, depending on the student’s interests and career objectives, and provides students with the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and skills they learned during the program. A final paper and presentation complete the capstone project.
Timeline
A full-time course load is 3 courses per quarter (autumn, winter, spring). Students attending full-time can complete the curriculum in as few as four full-time quarters, plus the practicum experience in the summer. (For example, students matriculating in fall 2024 could graduate as early as December 2025). Part-time options are also available.