Master of Public Health

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the standard professional degree, recognized throughout the world for public health practice, both in the public sector and in emerging private sector careers related to population health. The MPH program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours. Those credit hours include core courses, specializations requirements, a practicum and a culminating experience. Depending on specialization, most full-time students can finish the program in 5 or 6 quarters (including a summer practicum experience); others take a full 2 academic years and graduate in spring of the second year. Students pursuing the program on a part-time basis typically finish in 3 years. Students pursuing the program on a part-time basis typically finish in 3 years.

Core Courses

The core is intended to give every MPH student a basic grounding in the fundamentals of public health:

  • Principles of Environmental Health
  • Principles of Epidemiology
  • Design and Analysis of Studies in the Health Sciences I
  • Preventing Disease and Promoting Health through Behavioral Science
  • Health Care Organization I

 

Specialization Requirements

Students specialize in one of seven areas: biostatistics; epidemiology; environmental health sciences; health behavior and health promotion; health services management and policy; veterinary public health; or clinical investigation.

The new specialization in clinical investigation is currently available on a pilot basis and is under review by the university for permanent status.

Each field of specialization sets its own course requirements within the overall structure of the MPH degree. Each student completes a practicum and a culminating experience appropriate to the specialization. The remaining credit hours are elective and selected with the adviser to complement the student's goals and interests.

 

Practicum

The practicum (field practice placement) will expand your experience in the field of public health and give you an opportunity for hands-on application of new skills. The College's Office of Academic Programs assists each student in finding an appropriate practicum site. In addition to the opportunities in the Columbus metropolitan area, practicum sites are available all over the U.S. and abroad. Click here for more information on the practicum.

 

Culminating Experience

Each student must undertake a final demonstration of competence. Depending upon the student's specialization and preferences, this may be accomplished through a variety of project options or a master's thesis.