Degrees Offered
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
Nature of the Program
The WVU Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is a multidisciplinary professional degree focused on the application of science, research and theoretical knowledge toward the prevention of disease and improving health and well-being. MPH graduates possess a broad array of skills needed to address challenges affecting communities, including engaging and working with diverse people across sectors, educating the public about best practices in health, and advocating for policy- and systems-level changes that impacts entire populations. The MPH program teaches students to develop and implement evidence-based solutions to complex health issues. Graduates leave our program prepared to work in a variety of public health settings such as health departments, clinics, and federal agencies.
Areas of Emphasis
Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics
The MPH degree with an emphasis in Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics is designed for those who wish to acquire knowledge and skills necessary for epidemiologic and biostatistical practice and research. The purpose of the degree program is to:
- Introduce core principles and concepts of epidemiology and biostatistics,
- Develop proficiency in standard data management and biostatistical analysis
- Apply epidemiologic and biostatistical concepts to address practical public health concerns
This degree is focused on workforce development and training the next generation of public health professionals. The WVU MPH program is most appropriate for students interested in applied epidemiology and biostatistics. After graduating students will be able to assist in developing epidemiologic studies and apply biostatistical analyses to a range of health scenarios. A diverse faculty create opportunities for students to gain knowledge and experience applying coursework to study injury, substance misuse, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and more. The culmination of these abilities make our WVU MPH graduates competitive for fellowships, PhD programs, or employment within industry, hospitals, academic institutions, or global, federal, state, or local agencies. Examples of jobs include hospital infection control, public health department epidemiologist, CDC Fellowships, and data analyst at pharmaceutical or insurance agencies.
Where applicable, the program builds on the existing Applied Biostatistics Certificate and community partnership, like CDC NIOSH or the WV Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute which are located on campus. These experiences provide additional opportunities for students enhance their comprehensive core skillsets with more advanced applications in epidemiology and biostatistics.
Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics Area of Emphasis Competencies
In addition to the standard MPH Foundational Competencies required of all MPH students, our area of emphasis in Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics also prepares students to meet five competencies specific to the emphasis. These include:
- Manage data structures efficiently using standard statistical software.
- Analyze public health problems through epidemiological and biostatistical lenses.
- Apply basic multivariable statistical techniques commonly used in clinical and public health settings.
- Derive appropriate inferences from epidemiological and biostatistical data.
- Develop written and oral presentations based on sound statistical analyses and epidemiological principles for both substantive investigators and members of the community.
Public Health Sciences
The MPH degree with an emphasis in Public Health Sciences (PHS) provides further training in the core disciplines of public health, including biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. This interdisciplinary approach prepares students to understand and address the complex factors influencing health across diverse communities and settings. Through integrated coursework in this area of emphasis, students develop skills necessary to evaluate public health challenges, create visualizations of public health data, engage with communities, and propose policy and programmatic solutions.
Graduates of the MPH program with an emphasis in PHS will be qualified to work in leadership and collaborative roles in a variety of settings, including governmental agencies, healthcare systems, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector.
Public Health Sciences Area of Emphasis Competencies
In addition to the standard MPH Foundational Competencies required of all MPH students, our area of emphasis in Public Health Sciences also prepares students to meet five competencies specific to the emphasis. These include:
- Create visual and tabular summaries of health datasets using standard statistical software.
- Critically evaluate and interpret experimental research.
- Communicate evidence-based policy recommendations for a specific public health issue.
- Propose a public health program or project with supporting scientific evidence.
- Identify best practices for facilitating community engagement.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
The MPH degree with an emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBHS) addresses the behavioral, social, and environmental factors related to individual and population health and health disparities over the life span. Research and practice in this track contributes to the development, administration, and evaluation of programs and policies in public health to promote and sustain healthy environments and lives for individuals and populations.
A student who graduates with an MPH degree with an emphasis in SBHS will be qualified to work and provide leadership in public health and research settings at national, state or local levels, or work in the public or private sector on health promotion program implementation and evaluation efforts.
Social and Behavioral Sciences Area of Emphasis Competencies
In addition to the standard MPH Foundational Competencies required of all MPH students, our area of emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences also prepares students to meet six competencies specific to the emphasis. These include:
- Demonstrate community engagement principles when addressing public health problems.
- Appraise qualitative data used for evaluating factors associated with improving public health.
- Appraise quantitative data used for evaluating factors associated with improving public health.
- Implement social behavioral theories & frameworks designed to describe public health problems and improve public health interventions.
- Recommend interventions likely to improve public health.
- Organize interventions, including the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health interventions.
Admissions for 2027-2028
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a preferred overall GPA of 3.0.
International graduate students must meet WVU's minimum score requirement for English language proficiency.
Application Process
The WVU School of Public Health uses a two-part application process for the Master of Public Health program.
- All applications must be submitted through the national SOPHAS service application, and if offered admission,
- Applicants must also submit a WVU Graduate Application or WVU Online Gradate Application.
You can find more details about the application process on the WVU School of Public Health Graduate Apply Now page.
Step 1:
For the SOPHAS application, applicants must submit:
- A statement of purpose and objectives
- Two letters of reference
- A current resume/curriculum vitae All university transcripts (SOPHAS requires original transcripts from ALL U.S. institutions attended, including study abroad)
- All foreign transcripts MUST be evaluated by World Education Services (WES)
- English proficiency scores are required for international students. Learn more about minimum score requirements HERE.
Submit your SOPHAS application as soon as possible. Do not wait for SOPHAS to receive transcripts, recommendations or test scores.
Allow up to four weeks for SOPHAS to verify and process your application.
Step 2:
If an offer of admission is made based off of the SOPHAS application, applicants will receive an email from the WVU School of Public Health regarding acceptance with instructions to complete the WVU Graduate application or WVU Online Graduate application.
- Please do not complete the WVU Graduate Application or WVU Online Graduate Application until you are requested to do so.
Please Note: There are both SOPHAS and WVU application fees.
Major Code: 8402
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. | ||
| Students must earn a minimum grade of "C" in all MPH major requirements and area of emphasis coursework. | ||
| BIOS 501 | Applied Biostatistics 1 | 3 |
| BIOS 502 | Applied Biostatistics Lab | 1 |
| EPID 501 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| PUBH 510 | Contemporary Foundations of Public Health Practice | 2 |
| PUBH 520 | Building and Sustaining Public Health Capacity | 2 |
| PUBH 521 | Public Health Prevention and Intervention | 3 |
| PUBH 540 | Leading and Managing Health Organizations | 3 |
| PUBH 541 | Systems Thinking in Public Health Practice | 2 |
| PUBH 596 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| PUBH 613 | Public Health Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PUBH 629 | MPH Capstone | 1 |
| PUBH 630 | MPH Field Practicum | 1 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
Approved Elective Courses available from MPH Director | ||
| Required Area of Emphasis | 14-15 | |
Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics (15 Hours) | ||
Public Health Sciences (14 Hours) | ||
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 Hours) | ||
| Total Hours | 42-43 | |
-
Students are required to create a portfolio that demonstrates their ability to meet the competencies associated with their MPH Field Practicum.
-
The MPH degree will be awarded based on successful completion of all academic requirements and demonstrated achievement of competencies in the MPH Field Practicum and demonstrated integration and synthesis of competencies selected for the MPH Capstone.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOS 501 | 3 | PUBH 520 | 2 | PUBH 630 | 1 |
| BIOS 502 | 1 | PUBH 540 | 3 | ||
| PUBH 510 | 2 | PUBH 596 | 1 | ||
| PUBH 521 or EPID 501 | 3 | AOE Course(s) or General Elective | 3 | ||
| PUBH 541 | 2 | ||||
| 11 | 9 | 1 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| AOE Courses | 6 | PUBH 613 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | PUBH 629 | 1 | ||
| EPID 501 or PUBH 521 | 3 | AOE Courses or Electives | 6 | ||
| 12 | 10 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 43 | |||||
Areas of Emphasis
Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOS 503 | Applied Biostatistics 2 | 3 |
| BIOS 611 | Data Management & Statistical Programming | 3 |
| EPID 512 | Applied Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| EPID 611 | Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
Approved elective courses available from MPH Director and/or MPH Advisor | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
Those seeking this emphasis must take BIOS 601 as a substitute for PUBH 612.
Public Health Sciences Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOS 615 | Health Data Management and Visualization | 2 |
| EPID 625 | Principles of Clinical Trials | 3 |
| HPML 601 | Health Policy, Law, and Ethics | 3 |
| SBHS 521 | Grant Writing for Public Health Practice | 1 |
| SBHS 617 | Community Engagement and Advocacy in Public Health | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Applied Biostatistics 2 | ||
| Healthcare Finance | ||
| Health Services Project Management | ||
| Health Care Cultural Competence | ||
| Public Mental Health | ||
| Social and Behavioral Theory | ||
| Total Hours | 14 | |
Social and Behavioral Science Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SBHS 521 | Grant Writing for Public Health Practice | 1 |
| SBHS 611 | Community Assessment | 3 |
| SBHS 617 | Community Engagement and Advocacy in Public Health | 2 |
| SBHS 619 | Intervention Planning & Design | 3 |
| SBHS 620 | Implementing and Managing Public Health Programs | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
Approved elective courses available from MPH Director and/or MPH Advisor | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Accelerated Programs
- B.S. Immunology and Medical Microbiology and M.P.H. Public Health
- B.S. Public Health Sciences and M.P.H. Public Health
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all degree requirements for the B.S in Immunology and Medical Microbiology, and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in IMMB in order to be eligible to continue in the accelerated IMMB-MPH program. They must continue to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA beginning with the semester in which they enroll in MPH courses, continuing through the end of the ABM program, and must successfully complete 120 undergraduate credit hours by the end of year 4. Students are expected to remain in compliance with all Immunology and Medical Microbiology policies and procedures during the undergraduate portion, and with all Public Health policies and procedures during the graduate portion.
ABM Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in all coursework. | ||
| Undergraduate IMMB Curriculum Requirements | 106 | |
| Shared Bachelor's/Master's Curriculum Requirements | 14 | |
| Graduate Public Health Curriculum Requirements | 25 | |
| Total Hours | 145 | |
Shared Bachelor's/Master's Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EPID 501 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| BIOS 501 | Applied Biostatistics 1 * | 3 |
| BIOS 502 | Applied Biostatistics Lab | 1 |
| PUBH 200 | Introduction to Public Health Careers and Information ** | 1 |
| PUBH 510 | Contemporary Foundations of Public Health Practice | 2 |
| PUBH 520 | Building and Sustaining Public Health Capacity | 2 |
| PUBH 540 | Leading and Managing Health Organizations | 3 |
| PUBH 541 | Systems Thinking in Public Health Practice | 2 |
| PUBH 596 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 14 | |
- *
ABM students take BIOS 501 instead of STAT 211 in the undergraduate curriculum.
- **
ABM students replace one credit of general elective with PUBH 200.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| BIOL 115 & 115L (GEF 2)) | 4 | BIOL 117 & 117L (GEF 8) | 4 | ||
| CHEM 115 & 115L (GEF 8) | 4 | CHEM 116 & 116L (GEF 8) | 4 | ||
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||
| IMMB 150 | 2 | IMMB 175 | 2 | ||
| IMMB 191 | 1 | PUBH 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| BIOL 219 & 219L | 4 | IMMB 275 | 2 | ||
| CHEM 233 & 233L | 4 | IMMB 276 | 3 | ||
| IMMB 201 & 201L | 4 | PHYS 101 & 101L | 4 | ||
| MATH 150 (GEF 3) | 3 | PUBH 200 | 1 | ||
| PUBH 201 (GEF 7) | 3 | ||||
| GEF 5, 6 | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| BIOS 501 & BIOS 502 | 4 | IMMB 310 & 310L | 4 | ||
| BMM 339 | 4 | IMMB 350 | 1 | ||
| IMMB 305 | 3 | IMMB 375 | 2 | ||
| IMMB 320 | 3 | PHYS 102 & 102L | 4 | ||
| PUBH 510 | 2 | PUBH 540 | 3 | ||
| GEF 5, 6 | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 17 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPID 501 | 3 | IMMB 460 | 3 | PUBH 630 | 3 |
| IMMB 405 | 2 | IMMB 470 | 3 | ||
| IMMB 420 & 420L | 5 | IMMB 484 | 3 | ||
| IMMB 450 | 1 | IMMB 494 | 1 | ||
| PUBH 541 | 2 | PUBH 520 | 2 | ||
| PUBH 596 | 1 | ||||
| 13 | 13 | 3 | |||
| Fifth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| PUBH 521 | 3 | PUBH 613 | 3 | ||
| Area of Emphasis Courses | 6 | PUBH 629 | 1 | ||
| Area of Emphasis Elective | 3 | Area of Emphasis Courses | 6 | ||
| 12 | 10 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 145 | |||||
- 1
Note: Students in the ABM program are not required to take PUBH 511 or PUBH 512.
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Requirements
In order to be admitted to this ABM program, applicants must:
- be enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program.
- have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- complete a minimum of 60 credit-hours, but not more than 75 credit-hours, as prescribed in the BSPH Plan of Study.
- Transfer students must have completed 24 credit hours as degree-seeking students at WVU before applying.
- earn a minimum grade of "A" in PUBH 205: Writing for Public Health Audiences.
- not be enrolled in a dual degree or certificate program.
- not have any documented infractions with the WVU Office of Student Conduct or any external law enforcement agencies.
Students will apply using a Qualtrics application form that requires a resume, personal statement, and two recommendations. The Qualtrics application will open from October 1-March 1 each academic year. Applications are due March 1, with program admission decisions communicated by the end of the spring semester.
ABM Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BS Public Health Program Requirements | 106 | |
| Shared Bachelor's/Master's Curriculum Coursework | 14 | |
| MPH Public Health Program Requirements | 25 | |
| Total Hours | 145 | |
Shared Bachelor's/Master's Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SBHS 521 | Grant Writing for Public Health Practice * | 1 |
| BIOS 501 & BIOS 502 | Applied Biostatistics 1 and Applied Biostatistics Lab ** | |
| PUBH 520 | Building and Sustaining Public Health Capacity | 2 |
| PUBH 521 | Public Health Prevention and Intervention | 3 |
| PUBH 540 | Leading and Managing Health Organizations | 3 |
| PUBH 541 | Systems Thinking in Public Health Practice | 2 |
| PUBH 596 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| 500-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 14 | |
- *
SBHS 521 is an undergraduate curriculum requirement. It will also fulfill an AOE requirement if chosen.
- **
BIOS 501 and BIOS 502 are taken in place of General Elective credits in the undergraduate curriculum.
MPH Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. | ||
| EPID 501 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| PUBH 613 | Public Health Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PUBH 629 | MPH Capstone | 1 |
| PUBH 630 | MPH Field Practicum | 3 |
| Required Area of Emphasis | 15 | |
Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics | ||
Public Health Sciences | ||
Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Total Hours | 25 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| PUBH 191 | 1 | PUBH 200 | 1 | ||
| PUBH 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | PUBH 201 (GEF 7) | 3 | ||
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | PUBH 243 | 3 | ||
| BIOL 101 & 101L (GEF 2) | 4 | GEF 3 | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| PUBH 202 (GEF 8) | 3 | PUBH 205 | 3 | ||
| PUBH 211 | 3 | PUBH 322 | 3 | ||
| PUBH 233 | 3 | PUBH 331 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 | ||
| GEF 5 | 3 | General Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| PUBH 352 | 3 | PUBH 454 | 3 | ||
| PUBH 338 | 3 | PUBH 489 | 2 | ||
| PUBH 400 | 1 | General Elective | 10 | ||
| GEF 8 | 3 | ||||
| Upper-Division PUBH or Approved Electives* | 6 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| PUBH 521 | 3 | SBHS 521 | 1 | PUBH 630 | 3 |
| PUBH 541 | 2 | PUBH 520 | 2 | ||
| BIOS 501 & BIOS 502 | 4 | PUBH 596 | 1 | ||
| General Elective | 6 | PUBH 540 | 3 | ||
| 500-Level Elective | 3 | ||||
| General Elective | 4 | ||||
| 15 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Fifth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| AOE Course | 3 | PUBH 613 | 3 | ||
| AOE Course | 3 | PUBH 629 | 1 | ||
| AOE Course | 3 | AOE Course | 3 | ||
| EPID 501 | 3 | AOE Course | 3 | ||
| 12 | 10 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 145 | |||||
Degree Progress
Graduate study requires students to be self-directed and independent learners. In consultation with the MPH Academic Advisor, students will use the Plan of Study in the Graduate Catalog to outline their path through the MPH Program. Traditionally, the MPH degree is completed in two academic years. Degree pathways may vary based upon enrollment status (full-time versus part-time) and program area of emphasis. The benchmarks below apply to a student completing the degree at full-time status.
Benchmarks
- Year 1:
- Orientation: All MPH students attend New Student Orientation and receive information about their plan of study, course registration, and program competencies and requirements.
- Applied Practice Experience: All MPH student are required to complete a minimum of 180 contact hours in an Applied Practice Experience with a public health-related agency or organization. Each experience is supervised by an approved preceptor who serves as a professional role model and mentor. Students should begin thinking about the details of their Applied Practice Experience in the first semester of study. Prior to the beginning the experience, each student must submit an Applied Practice Experience proposal, in consultation with their preceptor, detailing the competencies they will achieve and work products they will produce during the experience. The proposal must be approved, and the School of Public Health must have an affiliation agreement with the site before the student may begin their experience. Most students complete their Applied Practice Experience in the summer term following the first academic year of the program.
- Year 2:
- Integrative Learning Experience: All MPH students are required to complete an integrative learning experience where they integrate and synthesize a selection of program competencies through a capstone project. In consultation with the capstone course instructor, students should begin thinking about ideas for the capstone project in the second year of study. After enrolling in the MPH Capstone course, students submit a capstone proposal detailing the project they will complete, along with the competencies they will integrate and synthesize, which must be approved by the course instructor before beginning work on the capstone project. The capstone project is completed in the final semester of study and involves a written deliverable and an oral presentation communicating the work accomplished through the project.
- Graduation Application: In the final semester of study, MPH students must submit a formal application for graduation by the university deadline.
Satisfactory Progress
All graduate students in the School of Public Health must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA each semester to be in good academic standing. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 may be subject to probation, academic suspension, and/or expulsion. Students must earn a minimum grade of "C" in all MPH major requirements and area of emphasis coursework. Any course where a student earns a grade of "D," "F," or "W" must be repeated. For instances where a student receives an Incomplete (I) grade, the student must work with the course instructor to develop a written plan of action to complete all outstanding coursework within one semester.
Major Learning Outcomes
Public Health
Foundational Public Health Knowledge and MPH Foundational Competencies (Learning Outcomes) are determined by the School’s accrediting body, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Competencies for Areas of Emphasis (which CEPH refers to as concentrations) are set by the program faculty and leadership.
MPH Foundational Public Health Knowledge
There are 12 elements of Foundational Public Health Knowledge in the MPH program:
- Explain public health history, philosophy and values
- Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services
- Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health
- List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. or other community relevant to the school or program, with attention to disparities among populations, e.g., socioeconomic, ethnic, gender, racial, etc.
- Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.
- Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge
- Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health
- Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health
- Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health
- Explain the cultural, social, political, and economic determinants of health and how the determinants relate to population health and health inequities
- Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease
- Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health)
MPH Foundational Competencies (Learning Outcomes)
The 22 MPH Foundational Competencies are organized into eight (8) domains:
Evidence-Based Approached to Public Health
- Apply epidemiological methods to 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 & 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 systemic levels
Planning & Management to Promote Health
- Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health
- Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique 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 the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
- Propose strategies to identify relevant communities and individuals 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 leadership and/or and management principles to address a relevant issue
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
Communication
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
- Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation to a non-academic, non-peer audience with attention to factors such as literacy and health literacy
- Describe the importance of cultural humility in communicating public health content
Interprofessional Practice
- Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health
Systems Thinking
- Apply systems thinking tools to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative
Area of Emphasis Competencies (Learning Outcomes):
Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics Area of Emphasis
- Manage data structures efficiently using standard statistical software.
- Analyze public health problems through epidemiological and biostatistical lenses.
- Apply basic multivariable statistical techniques commonly used in clinical and public health settings.
- Derive appropriate inferences from epidemiological and biostatistical data.
- Develop written and oral presentations based on sound statistical analyses and epidemiological principles for both substantive investigators and members of the community.
Public Health Sciences Area of Emphasis
- Create visual and tabular summaries of health datasets using standard statistical software.
- Critically evaluate and interpret experimental research.
- Communicate evidence-based policy recommendations for a specific public health issue.
- Propose a public health program or project with supporting scientific evidence.
- Identify best practices for facilitating community engagement.
Social & Behavioral Sciences Area of Emphasis
- Demonstrate community engagement principles when addressing public health problems.
- Appraise qualitative data used for evaluating factors associated with improving public health.
- Appraise quantitative data used for evaluating factors associated with improving public health.
- Implement social behavioral theories & frameworks designed to describe public health problems and improve public health interventions.
- Recommend interventions likely to improve public health.
- Organize interventions, including the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health interventions.