M.P.H. Master of Public Health

Overview

The MPH degree is a professional degree for students who require a broad general academic experience in public health. Students will acquire competency in the fundamental public health disciplines. This includes research design and conduct, data analysis and policy analysis, communications, program planning and administration, public health systems and the organization of health services in the United States and Latin America, recognition and analysis of ethical issues in public health and professional practice, the needs of special populations, and the integration of these core disciplines in public health decision making. The MPH degree is a 45-credit hour program that is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Full-time students can expect to complete the MPH degree requirements within 2 years. An elective credit waiver may be available for students who enter the MPH degree program with an earned advanced degree (e.g., MD, DDS, DVM, JD).

Accelerated MPH 

The Accelerated MPH program follows the same 45-credit curriculum as the MPH program but is completed in one calendar year from summer to summer. Accelerated MPH students start the program in the summer semester, continue in fall semester, take courses during winter break, continue in spring and spring break, and end in the following summer semester. The course load per semester for accelerated students is greater than for traditional students; to ensure completion of the requirements within the shortened time frame, accelerated students must follow the program plan designed under the supervision of their assigned faculty advisor from the start of the program. Students interested in the Accelerated MPH program must apply via SOPHAS selecting this program as there are unique admissions requirements. Visit the Application Process and FAQs on the Admissions page to learn more about the Accelerated MPH application process and admission requirements.

4+1 BSPH and MPH

The University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) and the Department of Public Health Sciences (DPHS) offer a 4+1 program that combines a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) and a Master of Public Health (MPH). SONHS academically qualified juniors are eligible to apply to the MPH. Applicants must be enrolled in the BSPH program with the SONHS and apply separately into the 4+1 BSPH/MPH. Applicants must be in good academic standing as defined by the School of Nursing at the time of submission. Acceptance into the BSPH program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance to the MPH degree program. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) admissions requirement is waived for the BSPH students. If accepted, students complete the combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in 5 years. Accepted students take 12 credits of graduate level public health courses during their undergraduate senior year, then 3 to 6 graduate level credits the summer after completing the bachelors and the rest of graduate courses in the subsequent fall and spring semesters to complete the 45 credit MPH degree.

BSPH students must apply through SOPHAS during the undergraduate junior year by February 15 to start the program in the fall. Admission decisions regarding the entry of BSPH students into the MPH program are made solely by the Admissions Committee of the Department of Public Health Sciences.   

BSPH students interested in pursuing the 4+1 program must meet with their undergraduate advisor to develop an academic plan. The advisor will also explain the policies and procedures of the program and link the student with the graduate program advisor.

Admission Requirements

• All applicants for the Master of Public Health program must submit the following items on SOPHAS:
  • Application fee
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose/Personal statement
  • Official transcripts from every post-secondary school attended
• This graduate degree program also requires submission of certain supplemental materials, including:
  • TOEFL/IELTS score, as applicable
  • Foreign evaluation on international transcripts, as applicable

For more detailed information, please visit our Public Health Sciences Graduate Studies Admission Website.

For further information, please contact:

Ginelle Solis, EdD, MPA
Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Department of Public Health Sciences
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Tel: 305-243-7246
Email: publichealthadmissions@miami.edu

Curriculum Requirements

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 The Capstone Field Experience and the Capstone Project are both vital components of the MPH program, and together form the Capstone Program. The Capstone Field Experience is designed to provide students with real world work experience in the field of public health. This experience places students in health-related settings (local, national, and international) to work on projects of mutual interest to both the field organization and the student. International students on an F-1 status in the U.S. are required to secure Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization prior to beginning a field experience in the U.S.  The Capstone Project is intended to build upon this fieldwork and is geared toward providing the student with an opportunity to apply public health academic theory and acquired skills to community health problems.

Students are encouraged to build their Capstone Program in such a way that supports their academic and professional interests as they advance in their careers as public health professionals. The faculty advisor assigned to the student is the instructor who oversees the satisfactory completion of the Capstone Program academic requirements. All instructions and guidelines for capstone completion are compiled in the MPH Capstone Program Handbook.

Sample MPH program = 2 years

This is a sample Plan of Study to complete the MPH degree in 2 years. Your actual course sequence may vary depending on your previous academic experience as well as current course offerings.

Students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to determine the appropriate course selection for subsequent semesters.

Sample ACCELERATED MPH  = 1 year

Students applying to the MPH Accelerated program must start in the summer prior to their fall semester, and complete it in Summer A after the spring semester. This is a sample Plan of Study for the MPH Accelerated program. Your actual course sequence may vary depending on your previous academic experience as well as current course offerings.

Students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to determine the appropriate course selection.

¹

Select one of these courses. These are 1-week compressed courses offered during "Winter Break" the week prior to the start of the spring semester. 

²

Select one of these courses. These are 1-week compressed courses offered during "Spring Break" within the spring semester.

Mission

The mission of the Graduate Programs in Public Health is to develop leaders who can generate and translate knowledge into policy and practice to promote health and prevent disease in human populations.

Goals

Upon completion of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, all graduates will be able to:

• 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 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 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.

Generalist Concentration 

• Produce graphical displays of data that effectively summarize descriptive and analytical findings.
• Utilize statistical software tools for reproducible research techniques and concepts in data management and analysis.
• Apply mixed methodological approaches that combine qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Generate a research/evaluation question and the appropriate analysis plan.
• Design health communication messaging and employ effective multi-media strategies for health communications.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop and demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills in the presentation of public health information.
• Students will develop and demonstrate the ability to make scholarly contributions to the field.
• Students will develop the skills and professional knowledge necessary to gain employment in public health practice.