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School of Public Health

Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Urban Health

Division of SBS: Child and therapist

 

About the Program

The MPH in Urban Health prepares students to address public health challenges within the unique socioeconomic, demographic, environmental, healthcare and infrastructure characteristics of urban settings, and develop, implement and evaluate interventions and policies to promote health. The program may be completed full-time (in four semesters) or part-time (completion varies) either on-campus or online. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the CPH exam. 

Students in the Urban Health program assess community health needs and develop effective health programs to improve the health outcomes and well-being or urban communities considering the built and natural environmental ecosystems and their interplay with social determinants of health. Students can enhance their skills through graduate certificates in one of the following areas, or create their own plan in consultation with the academic advisor: 

  • Health analytics
  • Population health informatics
  • Health systems leadership
  • Population health 

Program Flyer - PDFRequest Information

 

Connect with our Admissions Team

Students with background in urban planning, sociology, or related fields can apply their skills to understand and improve the health and well-being of urban populations, public health professionals looking to address the impact of urbanization on health outcomes, healthcare workers who want to understand the unique health issues faced by urban communities, and community health workers and urban planners who want to develop and evaluate health promotion programs in urban settings. 

Briana McNeil, MEd
Coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions
sphadmissions@memphis.edu
(901) 678-3740

 

Admission Information

  • Completed SOPHAS application
  • An undergraduate degree from an accredited university with GPA of at least 3.0 preferred.
  • Personal statement on career interests in healthcare administration. (< 500 words)  
  • CV/Resume
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • International applicants
    • The University of Memphis accepts evaluated coursework from agencies certified by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or Association of International Credential Evaluators. SpanTran and IEE are our recommended international transcript evaluation services. They have created a custom application for the University of Memphis that will help you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application – University of Memphis or IEE – University of Memphis Application 
    • Evidence of English language proficiency according to the University of Memphis Graduate School requirements
      • Citizen, have earned, or are in the process of earning, a four year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in one of these countries
      • Baccalaureate or Master’s Degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or in one of the approved English-speaking countries.
      • Successful completion of an Intensive English Language course of study through our IEI program.  For information, please visit here.
      • English Proficiency Exams 
      • Duolingo English Test-110 or higher on the overall score - Select “University of Memphis” to have your test scores made available to us electronically.
      • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 550 or higher on the paper version, 80 or higher on the internet-based test: Visit and request your scores be sent to UofM Graduate School using code #1459.  
      • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 or higher - submit your test taker report with TRF number for electronic verification or have a report sent to us https://www.ielts.org/en-us/usa/results
      • PTE (Pearson Test of English) score of 59 or higher – choose “The University of Memphis” and have your scores sent electronically. 

Deadlines 

International applicants should plan to have their applications by May 15 for Fall Semester and October 15 for Spring Semester to ensure sufficient time to receive your Form I-20 and visa. 

  • Fall Semester – August 15(a)
  • Spring Semester – January 15(a) 

 

Curriculum

The program requires a total of forty-two (42) credit hours as follows:(a) 

  • 18 credit hours of core courses
  • 12 credit hours of concentration courses
  • 6 credit hours of elective courses
  • 3 credit hours of applied practical experiences
  • 3 credit hours of culminating experience 

Core Courses (18 credit hours) 

  • HADM 7105 Health Policy and Organization of Health Services
  • PUBH 7120 Environmental Health I
  • PUBH 7150 Biostatistical Methods I
  • PUBH 7160 Social and Behavioral Sciences Principles
  • PUBH 7170 Epidemiology in Public Health I
  • PUBH 7180 Foundations of Public Health  

Urban Health courses (12 credit hours_ 

  • PUBH 7002 Comm Health Assessment & Program Plan
  • PUBH 7004 Interdisciplinary Approach to Population Health Challenges
  • PUBH 7132 Health Program Evaluation
  • PUBH 7335 Structural and Environmental Issues in Urban Communities
  • Any one of the following
    • ANTH 6571 Race and Health Disparities
    • PUBH 6131 Social Justice & Public Health
    • PUBH 7130 Social Determinants of Health  

Electives (6 credit hours) 

  • Two (2) 3 credit hours graduate level courses in consultation with faculty advisor  

Applied Practical Experience (3 credit hours) 

  • PUBH 7985 Practicum/Field Experience 

Culminating Experience(b) (3 credit hours) 

  • PUBH 7992 Master’s Project Seminar OR
  • PUBH 7996 Master’s Thesis 
     
    (a) Graduate students must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA ("B"). Grades of "D" and "F" will not apply toward any graduate degree but will be computed in the GPA. No more than 7 hours of "C-," "C" or "C+" will be applied towards meeting degree requirements.  
    (b) PUBH 7985 is the pre-requisite for PUBH 7992 or PUBH 7996 

 

Competencies

Foundational

  • Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of 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.
  • Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
  • Discuss means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.
  • Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
  • Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation 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.
  • Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
  • Propose strategies to identify stakeholders 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.
  • Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision making.
  • Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
  • Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
  • Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
  • Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
  • Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.
  • Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.

Urban Health

  • Analyze the role of the built environment, socioeconomic status, and environmental exposures in determining the health status of urban populations.
  • Integrate the knowledge and experience of multiple disciplines to develop solutions to health problems in urban communities.
  • Apply the public health approach – problem identification, identify risk and protective factors, intervention, and implementation – to a specific urban health problem.
  • Create and apply a logic model for an urban health program serving vulnerable populations.
  • Apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate an urban health program.