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
All applicants must apply via the Schools of Public Health Application Service ((SOPHAS) portal at http://www.sophas.org/. Upon acceptance from SOPHAS, applicants must submit a WVU Graduate Application.
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
- TOEFL scores (minimum 550 paper-based) (minimum 213 computer-based) (minimum of 80 internet-based)
- Resume or CV
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- WVU applicants in good academic standing - as defined by their respective programs - who completed (or currently enrolled in) a research or professional doctoral degree will be exempt from the above admissions requirements.
Master of Science
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required. | ||
| PUBH 604 | Impact of Cultural Competence in Healthcare | 3 |
| PUBH 611 | Epidemiology for Public Health Practice | 2 |
| PUBH 612 | Research Translation and Evaluation in Public Health Practice | 4 |
| PUBH 620 | Building and Sustaining Public Health Capacity | 2 |
| PUBH 640 | Health Systems Leadership | 3 |
| PUBH 641 | Systems Thinking in Public Health Practice | 2 |
| PUBH 659 | Public Health Foundations | 3 |
| PUBH 684 | Population Health Capstone/Thesis | 2 |
| Track/Emphasis Electives | 9 | |
General | ||
| Public Health Prevention and Intervention | ||
| Data Management and Reporting | ||
| Community Engagement and Advocacy in Public Health | ||
| Independent Study | ||
Policy and Advocacy | ||
| Foundations of Health Policy | ||
| Advanced Issue Analysis for Health Policy | ||
| Tools for Health Policy and Management Communication | ||
| Community Engagement and Advocacy in Public Health | ||
| Independent Study | ||
Population Health Management | ||
| Health Administration and Operations Management | ||
| Health Services Project Management | ||
| Managerial Epidemiology & Strategy | ||
Population Health Analysis | ||
| Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology | ||
| Applied Biostatistics 2 | ||
| Introduction to Meta-Analysis | ||
Evaluation, Community Engagement and Advocacy | ||
| Public Health Prevention and Intervention | ||
| Community Assessment | ||
| Community Engagement and Advocacy in Public Health | ||
| Public Health Program Evaluation | ||
| Independent Study | ||
Population Health Research | ||
| Applied Biostatistics 2 | ||
| Introduction to Meta-Analysis | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
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.