College
College of Population Health
Degree
Master of Public Health
Format
On Campus
Credits
45
Enrollment Options
Part Time, Full Time
Contact Information
Program
Program
Public Health is an interdisciplinary field of study and practice with three primary goals:
- address pressing and emerging threats to health and well-being;
- prevent illness, disease and injury; and
- promote and protect human health.
In achieving these goals, public health emphasizes social justice, supports human rights and respects the dignity of individuals and the integrity of communities.
The Jefferson College of Population Health (JCPH) offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, which is nationally accredited through the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Students develop competencies in several key public health areas: health behavior and social sciences, biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, policy and advocacy, program planning, implementation and evaluation, and others. The interdisciplinary curriculum stresses leadership skills, systems thinking, health communication, global health, and cultural humility and competency. JCPH also offers a Graduate Certificate in Public Health, which provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills for public health practice.
Public health professionals track disease outbreaks, conduct community health assessments, plan health education programs and direct campaigns to reduce risk factors that foster chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. They develop and advocate for policies, both public and private, that reduce harmful environmental exposures and that provide increased access to preventive health services for underserved populations. Many engage in public health research and support multi-cultural global health initiatives here and abroad.
Public health professionals take the lead in local, state and federal health agencies, community health centers and hospitals, non-governmental health organizations (NGOs), schools and universities, professional health agencies, health insurance companies and other related businesses.
Pathways To Completion
The public health program is flexible, tailored and high touch.
Program Audiences
Public health students come from a variety of fields and have included:
- Recent college graduates with majors in natural or social sciences, including pre-med or other pre-professional students seeking an educational experience during their gap or glide year
- Not-so-recent college graduates with relevant work experience wishing to enhance their health-related career or make a career change
- Students currently enrolled in a professional program (medicine, law, pharmacy, social work) who wish to earn an additional degree in public health as part of a dual degree program
- Health or related professionals working in government, community health organizations, non-profits, healthcare settings, health insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions
Public Health Programs Now STEM Eligible
New STEM designation enables up to three years of work authorization in the U.S. for eligible international students.