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WVU Morgantown

Population Health, M.S.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Masters
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Master of Science

Nature of the Program

The Master of Science in Population Health program is a 30-credit, fully online program that prepares students for a variety of population-oriented leadership, clinical, and research-oriented positions in both healthcare and public health organizations. Specifically, the program is built around a core of public health and health services courses that provide foundational knowledge in public health and health systems, epidemiology and biostatistical principles, health systems leadership, systems thinking, and capacity building for intervention and change. The program emphasizes prevention, collaboration, and innovation to fit the educational opportunities of a variety of professionals, including:

  • Healthcare leaders working to enhance the impact and efficiency of their organizations through more patient-centered, value-based and socially informed care approaches
  • Clinical providers seeking to improve health outcomes among those they serve
  • Public health leaders looking for new tools to identify and address health issues in their states and communities
  • Public health and health services researchers and scientists interested in outcomes-focused, practice-based applications to improve health and well-being

The Master of Science in Population Health program prepares students for a variety of population-oriented leadership, clinical, and research-oriented positions in both healthcare and public health organizations. Additionally, this program prepares graduates for employment and advancement opportunities in the following sectors:

  • Hospital and Health care systems
  • Non-profit community health organizations
  • Federal, state, and local government agencies
  • Assisted care facilities (e.g., nursing homes)  

Admissions for 2025-2026

The following admission standards have been set for the proposed MS in Population Health program:

  • Baccalaureate or advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.75
  • International students must meet WVU's minimum score requirements for English language proficiency.
  • Resume or CV
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • WVU applicants in good academic standing - as defined by their respective programs - who completed (or are currently enrolled in) a research or professional doctoral degree will be exempt from the above admissions requirements.

Major Code: 8420

Master of Science

Course List
Code Title Hours
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.
BIOS 501Applied Biostatistics 13
BIOS 502Applied Biostatistics Lab1
EPID 501Epidemiology for Public Health3
HPML 523Healthcare Finance3
PUBH 520Building and Sustaining Public Health Capacity2
PUBH 540Leading and Managing Health Organizations3
PUBH 541Systems Thinking in Public Health Practice2
PUBH 604Health Care Cultural Competence3
PUBH 684Population Health Capstone 2
Electives9
PUBH 521
Public Health Prevention and Intervention
PUBH 658
Public Mental Health
HPML 502
U.S. Healthcare Organization and Delivery
HPML 522
Introduction to Data Analytics for Health Administrators
HPML 556
Managerial Epidemiology & Strategy
HPML 575
Health Insurance & Revenue Cycle
HPML 582
Managing Quality Improvement in Healthcare
HPML 652
Professional Issues in Health Administration: Law and Ethics
Total Hours31

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
BIOS 5013HPML 5233PUBH 6842
BIOS 5021PUBH 5202 
EPID 5013PUBH 5403 
PUBH 5412PUBH 6043 
Elective3Elective3 
Elective3  
 15 14 2
Total credit hours: 31

Major Learning Outcomes

Population Health

The Master of Science in Population Health program at West Virginia University will prepare students for a variety of population-oriented leadership, clinical, and research-oriented positions in both healthcare and public health organizations. The design of the curriculum will reflect the program’s belief that both healthcare and public health must take more broader and more intentional perspective of how to identify and address pressing health issues while working for the health of the public. This includes concepts and skills that cover social determinants of health, the nature and process of public health, population health analytics, and population health management, as well as an emphasis management and leadership skills. Students will learn under a comprehensive, competency-driven curriculum constructed to address contemporary and emerging trends.

Educational Goals and Objectives: 

•Identify determinants of population health that impact health outcomes in a community.

•Describe methods for assessing the health needs of a population. 

•Demonstrate how to collect, analyze and use data to inform decisions and improve health outcomes of targeted populations.

•Communicate effectively about population health issues to constituencies both within and outside of the health system.

•Apply population health principles and concepts to develop and implement healthcare and/or public health strategies.

•Integrate clinical care and public health practice around an identified community need.

 
  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Administration
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Population Health
  • Public Health
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

WVU Morgantown

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P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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