Public Health MPH

Major: Public Health
Degree Awarded: Master of Public Health (MPH)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 56.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2201
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9111

About the Program

The Master of Public Health program provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to make a difference in today's public health world.

The MPH curriculum incorporates several key elements:

• Rigorous, state-of-the-art training in skills that students need to be effective public health leaders
• Flexible degree plans for full-time students and part-time options for online students
• Extensive opportunities for community, practice, and research engagement
• Graduate in less than 2 years, allowing for a head start in the job market

Foundational Competencies

• Apply epidemiological methods to 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 systemic levels
• Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique 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 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 leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
• Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health
• Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative
   

Program Highlights

Majors

MPH students select a major at the time of application.

Full-Time Majors:

• Community Health and Prevention
• Environmental and Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Global Health
• Health Management and Policy
• Urban Health

Part-Time Majors:

• Epidemiology
• Executive MPH
• Global Health
• Urban Health

Minors

Minors are open to all Drexel graduate students in all schools and colleges in quarter programs. The minors are designed to complement students' training by providing training in topics outside their primary discipline.

• Arts in Public Health
• Biostatistics
• Environmental and Occupational Health
• Global Health
• Health Economics
• Human Health Risk Assessment
• Infectious Disease and Population Health
• Latino/Immigrant Health
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation
• Public Health Emergency Preparedness
• Substance Use and Misuse
• Urban Health

Curriculum

Core Courses

All students gain foundational public health competencies by completing the core curriculum: PBHL 510 and PBHL 511 Public Health Foundations and Systems I & II, as well as EPI 570 Introduction to Epidemiology,  BST 571 Introduction to Biostatistics, and HMP 505 Qualitative Data and Mixed Methods Analysis. These courses are designed to be taken at the beginning of the program. This format ensures that students will be exposed to the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills that all MPH graduates will need regardless of their chosen discipline.

Concentration Courses

Students will choose a discipline that provides in-depth training in a major field of study.

Applied Practical Experience

The applied practical experience (APE) is a supervised, hands-on opportunity to apply competencies in a public health practice setting. APE can begin after successful completion of PBHL 510 and PBHL 511.

Integrative Learning Experience

The integrative learning experience (ILE) is the culminating requirement for the MPH program. Although the specific ILE requirements vary by concentration, every student produces a high-quality written product at the end of the program that demonstrates synthesis and mastery of core public health and concentration competencies.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please contact:

DSPH Academic Advising Team
Office of Education
​dsphadvising@drexel.edu

Additional information for face-to-face programs can be found on the Dornsife School of Public Health website, including admissions criteria and how to apply.

Additional information for online programs can be found on the Drexel University Online website, including admissions criteria and how to apply.