Public Health (M.P.H.)

The MPH curriculum meets the 22 CEPH accreditation competency requirements. This program can be completed in five semesters, and up to three years. During the final semester of the MPH Program, students complete a 100-hour professional field study experience applying public health principles and standards to professional projects within a public health organization. The final course in the curriculum is the integrating seminar in which students work in teams, bringing both their individual and joint perspectives, as well as their expertise together to address a specific public health problem for a public health institution.

To enter the MPH Program, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Applications are accepted for fall and spring semesters. Upon completion of the certificate program, students may apply to the MPH program. If admitted into the MPH program, the certificate credits will be applied to the MPH degree program.

Please visit the Graduate School website for detailed instructions about applying to the graduate certificate program.

Degree Requirements

The program requires 14 courses, (42 credits).

Grading Policy: For the purposes of determining academic standing, grades below the “B­-” level in graded courses are considered failing grades. The MPH program director will recommend dismissal of a student  to the Graduate School when a failing grade occurs in six or more credits, either in two courses or in one course taken twice.  Repeating a course does not remove the original failing grade from the record. Students must have a cumulative grade­ point average of 3.0 (B), or higher, in order to graduate. Students admitted on a conditional or provisional basis must meet the conditions or provisions as stated in the letter of admission in order to remain in the Graduate School. 

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

CEPH Foundational Competencies:

Evidenced-based Approaches to Public Health

• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.

Public Health and Health Care Systems

• Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.

Planning and Management to Promote Health

• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
• Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

• Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include: creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision-making.
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
• Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional and/or Intersectorial Practice

• Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.

Systems Thinking

• Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative.

UNH Master of Public Health Program Competencies

• Use innovative problem-solving to impact complex public health issues.
• Strengthen leadership skills through reflection and observation to identify areas for personal and professional growth.
• Analyze the impact of determinants of health on public health issues using a social ecological framework.
• Apply basic principles of ethical analysis to improve health equity and policy relevance.
• Incorporate relevant theories to inform and create public health interventions.