Master of Public Health (MPH)
Program Description
Driving Change. Creating Impact. Across Communities.
The UofM School of Public Health is one of the nation’s premier metropolitan programs that creates innovators who stand with entire neighborhoods, engage with large groups of people and listen to public voices to solve the toughest problems effecting community well-being. The Master of Public Health (MPH) program offers two options for students:
- a traditional four-semester program offered in-person or online
- an accelerated program available for completion within 12 months
As our School is a CEPH accredited institution, students are eligible to take the CPH exam upon completion of their MPH core courses.
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree is required for admission with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- US applicants: 400-500 words
- International applicants: 750-1000 words
- CV/Resume
- International students:
- Transcripts from degrees obtained outside of the United States must be evaluated by WES or by any members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
- Test of English proficiency scores are required if language of instruction for prior degrees was not English (minimum scores)
Deadlines
- Fall Semester - July 15*
- Spring Semester - December 15*
- *International applicants should plan to have their applications in by May 15 for Fall Semester and October 15 for Spring Semester to ensure sufficient time to receive your Form I-20 and visa.
Curriculum
42 credit hours required with a 3.0 GPA
- 18 hours of core courses
- 18 hours of concentration/elective courses
- 3 hours of practicum/field experience
- 3 hours of thesis or master's project
Core Courses
- HADM 7105 Health Policy and Organization of Health Services
- PUBH 7160 Social and Behavioral Sciences Principles
- PUBH 7120 Environmental Health I
- PUBH 7150 Biostatistical Methods I
- PUBH 7170 Epidemiology in Public Health I
- PUBH 7180 Foundations of Public Health
Concentration Courses
Urban Health
- PUBH 7335 Structural and Environmental Issues in Urban Communities
- PUBH 7132 Health Program Evaluation
- PUBH 7002 Community Health Assessment & Program Planning
- PUBH 7004 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Population Health Challenges
- One of the following
- ANTH 6571 Race and Health Disparities
- PUBH 6131 Social Justice & Public Health
- PUBH 7130 Social Determinants of Health
Biostatistics
- PUBH 7152 Biostatistical Methods II
- PUBH 7311 Applied Categorical Analysis
- PUBH 7309 Applied Survival Analysis in Public Health
- PUBH 7310 Mixed Model Regression Analysis
Epidemiology
- PUBH 7172 Epidemiology in Public Health II
- PUBH 7152 Biostatistical Methods II
- PUBH 7141 Epidemiologic Survey Method
- One of the following:
- PUBH 7140 Epidemiology of Chronic Disease
- PUBH 7442 Cancer Epidemiology
- PUBH 7443 Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- PUBH 7174 Epidemiology III
Generalist
- HADM 7110 Leadership and Organizational Change in Health Care
- PUBH 7004 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Population Health Challenges
- PUBH 7141 Epidemiologic Survey Methods
Social and Behavioral Sciences
- PUBH 7132 Health Program Evaluation
- PUBH 7130 Social Determinants of Health
- PUBH 7340 Behavioral Intervention Development
- One of the following:
- PUBH 7014 Public Health Communication
- PUBH 7345 Health Literacy
- PUBH 7050 Mass Communication
Other Requirements
- Elective (3, 6, or 9 credits)
- PUBH 7985 Practicum/Field Experience
- One of the following:
- PUBH 7992 Master’s Project Seminar
- PUBH 7996 Master’s Thesis
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 the 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
Biostatistics
- Analyze public health data using linear and logistic regression models
- Develop multivariable models by statistically assessing confounding and effect modification
- Evaluate preferred methodological alternatives to commonly used statistical methods when assumptions are not met
- Distinguish among the different measurement scales and select the appropriate statistical methods to be used based on these distinctions
- Analyze time-to-event data using univariate and multi-variable statistical modeling
Epidemiology
- Analyze public health data using appropriate epidemiologic and statistical methods to draw valid inferences
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of various study designs in public health and etiologic research
- Systematically examine a public health problem in terms of magnitude, person, time and place to develop potential responses or interventions
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic reports
- Apply and describe survey research methodology including assessing survey questions, designing surveys in professional software, and methods for testing reliability and validity
Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Assess the role of social and community factors in both the onset and solution of public health problems.
- Apply evidence-based approaches in the development, implementation, and evaluation of social and behavioral science interventions in organizational and community settings.
- Utilize behavior change theory in addressing public health problems and designing social and behavioral science interventions.
- Plan and write a health program evaluation appropriate for implementation in a community setting
- Apply communication strategies to enhance adoption of behavioral skills for a student-designed public health intervention
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
Generalist
- Discuss demographic challenges and policy issues associated with cost, access, and quality of care
- Critically evaluate various leadership theories and apply strategic thinking tools to identify a personal leadership style
- Recommend strategies for risk communication with underserved communities in situations of public health crisis requiring emergency response, such as disasters or outbreaks
- Describe the principles of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and analyze the benefits and limitations of this approach in promoting public health
- Assess the direct and indirect human, ecological, and health effects of major environmental and occupational agents
Recommended Course Sequence
Click here to view the recommended course sequence >
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.
Contact Us
For frequently asked questions about the MPH program, please visit our MPH FAQ.
Briana McNeil
Coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions
sphadmissions@memphis.edu
(901) 678-3740
Shirl Sharpe, MS
Academic Services Coordinator II
ssharpe@memphis.edu
(901) 678.1710