Master of Public Health
Executive Program in Public Health Practice

From the University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Program Description
• The Profession
• Accreditation
• Degree Completion Timeframe
• Program Faculty
• Delivery Format
• Program Curriculum
• Admission Information
• Tuition

Program Description

The Executive Program in Public Health Practice (EPHP) offers a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree for working professionals who wish to expand their knowledge of public health and apply the knowledge to their current practice. The program focuses on acquiring and developing public health knowledge and skills to better understand, assess, and manage population health in public health, health care, and human service settings. The EPHP offers a flexible curriculum that students may tailor to their career and practice.

The EPHP serves working health and human service professionals with completed post-baccalaureate advanced degrees. The program encourages physicians, nurses, veterinarians, pharmacists, and health care and human service professionals without prior training in public health to pursue advanced study in public health. Public health is an interdisciplinary field that complements many health and human services fields with its unique emphasis on population science, research, and applications.

Interested individuals should apply to the EPHP Program if they seek the ability to address the needs of populations through initiatives that protect, promote, and improve health in a multidisciplinary environment. Applicants' interests typically involve collaboration with clinicians, policy makers, researchers and professionals from communities, public agencies, and private organizations.

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The Profession

Graduates of the EPHP use their public health knowledge and skills to enhance effectiveness and opportunities in their current work or career path. Population science is an increasing valued area of expertise in many health and human service organizations. Health disparities, child poverty, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, preventive health, an aging population, access to care, and other factors will create many job opportunities in public health.

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Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

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Degree Completion Timeframe

Students can complete the 42-credit minimum program of study in as little as 15 months. The program is planned so that students complete the core MPH classes during the summer, fall, and spring either in person or online and attend two 2-3 week long institutes in May/June of each year. This allows individuals to continue in their current practice.

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Program Faculty

Public Health Practice faculty focus their research, teaching, and community service expertise on the application of population science. Interdisciplinary faculties cut across the partnering schools, such as Public Health, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine. Faculty offer expertise in epidemiology, environmental health services research and policy, biostatistics, and clinical practice specialties. Faculty research and community service activities afford opportunities for student training.

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Delivery Format

Approximately 14 credits of the program can be taken online. Technology-enhanced and distributed learning opportunities are an integral part of this program. Curriculum design assumes students will have minimal time for on-campus attendance. A wide variety of courses are offered during a concentrated three-week public health institute offered every spring. Attendance at two public health institutes and participation in the online classes allows students to continue practice while earning the credits necessary for an MPH degree.

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Program Curriculum

42-Credit Minimum
Students may complete the Executive Program in Public Health Practice in as little as 15 months of full-time study, depending upon the term of admission.

Basic Curriculum (23.5 credits minimum)
The basic curriculum incorporates the core areas of public health instruction: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health services administration, ethics, and social/behavioral science. It focuses on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in each of these areas of fundamental competency needed to understand, assess, evaluate, and manage population health in the community. Credits are listed in ( ) below.

• PUBH 6020 Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science* (3)
• PUBH 6102 Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health* (2)
• PUBH 6299 Public Health Practice Seminar* (1.5)
• PUBH 6320 Fundamentals of Epidemiology* (3)
• PUBH 6414 Biostatistical Methods I* (3)
• PUBH 6741 Ethics in Public Health: Professional Practice and Policy* (1)
• PUBH 6751 Principles of Management in Health Services Organizations*(2)
• PUBH 7294 Master’s Project (3-4)
• PUBH 7296 Field Experience: Public Health Practice (3-4)

* Offered online

Note: Substitution with courses that meet MPH requirements in public health core areas may be considered only with prior approval of an advisor.

Focus Area Curriculum (18.5 credit minimum)
Students select an established focus area or design their own using an approved public health practice template. The focus area should be detailed in the applicant’s letter of intent. For more details, please refer to http://www.sph.umn.edu/education/exec/curriculum/home.html.

The focus area curriculum provides opportunities to investigate specific public health applications. Examples of possible focus areas include:

• Food safety and biosecurity
• Public health leadership
• Occupational health and safety
• Preparedness, response, and recovery
• Risk assessment
• Cultural competency
• Self-designed area of study

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Admission Information

Applicants must have significant work experience in the area of health or human service and an advanced degree, such as an MS, MD, DDS, DVM, PharmD, or PhD.

Preferred academic performance levels are:

• GPA of 3.0
• TOEFL score of at least 600/250 (international applicants)
  • For current English proficiency requirements, see http://www.sph.umn.edu/pro/app/english.html

Application
The online application for admission to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health is available at www.sophas.org (Schools of Public Health Application Service).

Supporting Documentation for Admission
Full detailed admission information is available at http://www.sph.umn.edu/students/application/home.html. Supporting documentation should be provided directly to SOPHAS.

1. Personal essay (Letter of intent)
2. Resume or CV
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. Official transcripts from all institutions attended
5. English language proficiency

Note: Applicants whose native language is not English or whose education was completed at an institution(s) whose language of instruction is not in English must prove English proficiency via TOEFL test scores; academic study completion in US/Canada; or USMLE or ECFMG certificate.

If you have a degree or coursework from an international institution, consult with an advisor.

International students admitted into the program will need to complete a Financial Certification Statement.

Application Deadline
The application deadline is March 1 for summer admission.

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Tuition

All students are charged in-state resident tuition.

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