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 2026-2027
Our Master of Science in Population Health program participates in the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), http://www.sophas.org/.
The following admission standards have been set for the Master of Science in Population Health program:
- Baccalaureate or advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.75
Application Process
The WVU School of Public Health uses a two-part application process for the Population Health M.S. program.
1. All applications must be submitted through the national SOPHAS service application, and if offered admission,
2. Applicants must also submit a WVU Online Graduate 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 Online Graduate application.
- Please do not complete the WVU Online Graduate application until you are requested to do so.
Please Note: There are both SOPHAS and WVU application fees.
Major Code: 8420
Master of Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required. | ||
| BIOS 501 | Applied Biostatistics 1 | 3 |
| BIOS 502 | Applied Biostatistics Lab | 1 |
| EPID 501 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| HPML 523 | Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| 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 604 | Health Care Cultural Competence | 3 |
| PUBH 684 | Population Health Capstone | 1 to 2 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Public Health Prevention and Intervention | ||
| Public Mental Health | ||
| U.S. Healthcare Organization and Delivery | ||
| Introduction to Data Analytics for Health Administrators | ||
| Managerial Epidemiology & Strategy | ||
| Health Insurance & Revenue Cycle | ||
| Managing Quality Improvement in Healthcare | ||
| Professional Issues in Health Administration: Law and Ethics | ||
| Total Hours | 30-31 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOS 501 | 3 | HPML 523 | 3 | PUBH 684 | 1 to 2 |
| BIOS 502 | 1 | PUBH 520 | 2 | ||
| EPID 501 | 3 | PUBH 540 | 3 | ||
| PUBH 541 | 2 | PUBH 604 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 14 | 1-2 | |||
| Total credit hours: 30-31 | |||||
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 on 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.