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).
Admission Requirements
Students for the online MPH program will be selected by the Public Health Admissions Committee. Admission to the online MPH program will be highly selective and will mirror the current admission requirements for the established residential MPH program.
The Online Application and Recommendation System (OARS) will integrate with the SOPHAS admissions portal, directly funneling prospective students into our existing application process.
To apply, students submit the following:
- Application – Applicants will submit their application online through SOPHAS, the centralized application service of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). All application materials, including transcripts, test scores, statement of purpose/personal statement, resume/CV, and letters of recommendations, will be submitted directly through SOPHAS.
- Transcripts – All official academic records including degree and certificate programs, English language programs, and incomplete coursework/degrees from all previously attended colleges and universities must be sent directly to SOPHAS for verification.
- All applicants will be reviewed and considered by the Admissions Committee. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree conferred before the intended program start date and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. In rare instances, an applicant with a GPA below 3.0 might be considered for admissions if other criteria such as having demonstrated public health experience or scholarship, and coursework that might demonstrate fit for graduate studies. In such circumstances, and following MSOM and Graduate School guidelines, a waiver request will be issued supporting the candidate’s admission.
- Applicants may print Official Transcript Request Form(s) through the online application. Official transcripts must be sent from the Registrar directly to SOPHAS. Photocopies of official transcripts or unofficial records will not be accepted.
- U.S. Transcripts sent through FedEx, UPS, DHL, and other express couriers will be mailed to:
SOPHAS c/o Liaison International
311 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
- U.S. Transcripts sent through the United States Postal Service should be mailed to:
SOPHAS
P.O. Box 9111
Watertown, MA 02471
- Accepted applicants will also need to send all official academic records including degree and certificate programs, English language programs, and incomplete coursework/degrees from all previously attended colleges and universities to the University of Miami. Electronic transcripts are accepted and should be sent to publichealthadmissions@miami.edu.
- Transcript(s) can be mailed to:
University of Miami
Department of Public Health Sciences
Office of Admissions
1120 N.W. 14 Street
Room 905, R-669
Miami, FL 33136
- International Transcripts – All non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) using the ICAP Course-by-Course evaluation service.
In addition to submitting transcripts to WES, all international applicants are required to mail an additional complete set of all official transcripts, mark sheets, and a photocopy of the diploma(s), with English translation when applicable, at the time of acceptance to:
University of Miami
Department of Public Health Sciences
Office of Admissions
1120 N.W. 14 Street
Room 905, R-669
Miami, FL 33136
- Chinese transcripts must be submitted with two original verification reports, in addition to original copies of the transcript and diploma with English translation to both WES and directly to the University of Miami.
- English Proficiency Exam – International applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. The minimum score is 80 iBT, 550 PBT or 6.5 IELTS. The Duolingo English Test is not accepted by the University of Miami. The English proficiency exam requirement may be waived if an applicant holds an undergraduate or graduate degree from an academic institution within the United States or from one of the English-speaking countries listed on the following website: International Credentials & Applicants (miami.edu).
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae – All applicants must submit a complete, up-to-date CV/resume that includes all previous and current employment, activities, leadership positions, community service, research, education and academic or professional awards or honors. Applicants should include any experiences related to public health, including field experience, training, education, or other related qualifications with detailed summaries.
- Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement – The Statement of Purpose is a narrative that discusses an applicant’s past education, experiences, and current professional career objectives. The statement of purpose should describe an applicant’s:
- Motivating influences for interest in public health
- Specific area(s) of research/professional experiences related to public health. Although an applicant is not required to have previous public health experience, it will further enhance an application.
- Career goals and objectives, including how the applicant plans to contribute to public health
- Deficiencies in past academic or professional performance, if applicable
- Reasons for interest in attending the University of Miami
- Applicants are encouraged to compose the statement in a text-only word processor, such as Notepad or TextEdit, review the statement for errors, and then cut and paste the final version into the text box of the SOPHAS application. The limit is 1,500 words.
- Letters of Recommendation – All applicants are required to submit a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation and a maximum of five (5) letters of recommendation from professionals who are best able to assess their ability to be successful in a graduate degree program. Ideally, recommenders are recent professors, researcher mentors, professionals, or employers in a related field. The Admissions Office highly recommends that at least one (1) of an applicant’s letters of recommendation is written by a professor with whom they have worked closely or under whom they have studied. Applicants should request that their recommenders write a letter that is personal and specific to public health. All letters of recommendation must be signed and on letterhead. Applications will not be reviewed until this requirement is met.
- Applicants must list the contact information for each recommender on the SOPHAS application. Recommenders will then be sent an online form to complete via email and further instructions from SOPHAS.
- Letters from family, friends or acquaintances will not be considered.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| EPH 600 | Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health | 3 |
| EPH 601 | Medical Biostatistics I | 4 |
| EPH 617 | Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | 3 |
| or EPH 620 | Health Education and Behavior | |
| EPH 621 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPH 631 | Public Health Administration | 3 |
| or EPH 632 | U.S. Health Systems | |
| EPH 641 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 12 | |
| Generalist Concentration Courses | ||
| EPH 607 | Interdisciplinary Health Communication | 3 |
| BST 625 | Survey of Statistical Computing | 3 |
| EPH 644 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 3 |
| Capstone Courses | ||
| EPH 680 | Practical Field Experience | 3 |
| EPH 682 | Generalist Capstone Project | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
Sample Plan of Study: Full-Time
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| EPH 600 | Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health | 3 |
| EPH 601 | Medical Biostatistics I | 4 |
| EPH 621 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EPH 617 or 620 | Disease Prevention and Health Promotion or Health Education and Behavior | 3 |
| EPH 631 or 632 | Public Health Administration or U.S. Health Systems | 3 |
| EPH 641 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPH 607 | Interdisciplinary Health Communication | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BST 625 | Survey of Statistical Computing | 3 |
| EPH 644 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 3 |
| EPH 680 | Practical Field Experience | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| EPH 682 | Generalist Capstone Project | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
Sample Plan of Study: Part-Time
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| EPH 600 | Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health | 3 |
| EPH 601 | Medical Biostatistics I | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EPH 621 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPH 641 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EPH 617 or 620 | Disease Prevention and Health Promotion or Health Education and Behavior | 3 |
| EPH 631 or 632 | Public Health Administration or U.S. Health Systems | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EPH 607 | Interdisciplinary Health Communication | 3 |
| BST 625 | Survey of Statistical Computing | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EPH 644 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 3 |
| EPH 680 | Practical Field Experience | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| EPH 682 | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
Monitoring Student Progress (Academic Advising)
Each online MPH student will be paired with a student success advisor prior entry who will offer support and guidance throughout the student academic journey. Before the program commences, advisors conduct an initial coaching conversation with students to learn more about them individually, to explore their career goals, and to discuss any factors that pertain to their success - including motivations, passions, responsibilities, and schedules. These advisors continue to work one-on-one with students to identify strengths and potential obstacles to achievement, help them set goals, and develop action plans. Additionally, these advisors provide students with timely information about books, registration, and other critical activities as part of new student on-boarding; and throughout their program plan and conduct proactive outreach to provide guidance and assistance; and escalate specific academic issues to faculty academic advisors (see details below). Lastly, the Online Program Manager offers 24/7 on-demand tutoring support for most students. Online students can also utilize an essay review service for detailed support and feedback on their academic or career writing assignments, including essays, research papers, resumes, and cover letters. All these integrated processes are standard in online programming to ensure academic success.
The online program will rely on a cadre of faculty academic advisors that will also be responsible for leading the applied practice experience (EPH680) and the culminating project to fulfill the integrative learning experience (EPH682). The applied field experience (EPH680) and the culminating capstone project (EPH 680) are instrumental in the application and integration of knowledge and learning for the MPH degree. These two courses will be supported by a team of faculty advisors that will provide students with guidance on the selection of field placement in alignment with student career goals and will ascertain that students achieve the competencies required to fulfill their integrative learning experience. As noted, if specific academic issues arise prior to the student’s engagement in these two courses, the student success advisor will escalate matters to one of the faculty members of the academic advising team, the team of faculty advisors and instructors of EPH 680 and EPH 682. If students are underperforming risking probation or enter probation as defined by the student handbook (cumulative GPA below 3.0), the student success advisor will notify the MPH online program director, who will meet with the student to provide academic guidance and support. This process will possibly entail providing guidance on additional resources or advise on type of courses and load for the following semester. This latter step mirrors the process in place for academic monitoring in the residential program.
Mission
The mission of the Graduate Programs in the Department of Public Health Sciences is to develop leaders who can generate and translate knowledge into policy and practice to promote health and prevent disease in human populations.
Goals
Goals of the online MPH Program include:
Instruction
- To provide engaging educational opportunities preparing leaders to maximize the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and populations.
- To mobilize a diverse student body to address complex public health issues, including issues affecting vulnerable and underserved populations.
- To nurture an inclusive environment in which students are supported as they attain the knowledge, competencies, and values of public health.
- To promote instructional innovation and faculty advancement in teaching.
Program goals 1-4 are explicitly designed to measure/track and promote student success. They measure student’s ability to acquire knowledge and skills from the core curriculum and diverse course offerings by providing engaging educational opportunities, community partnerships and student forums; ensuring a diverse student body; providing a nurturing and supportive student environment; and promoting instructional innovation. The instructional goals seek to advance the field of public health by ensuring that Graduate Programs are preparing the next generation of public health leaders. Skilled instructors will train students in foundational public health skills that are transferable to all public health careers. Direct measures monitoring the quality and effectiveness of the Graduate Programs includes graduation rates, post-graduate outcomes, and alumni surveys (perceptions of competence and curricular effectiveness).
Scholarship
5. To foster an environment in which students and faculty engage and collaborate on scientific practices and service that address public health issues, with an emphasis on vulnerable and underserved populations.
The scholarship/research program goal includes metrics designated as both promoting student success and advancing the field of public health. Increasing the number of faculty-student published manuscripts and presentations by students at scientific meetings are tracked measures of promoting student success. Increasing the number of grants and grant funding by the faculty and the number of research projects in vulnerable and underserved populations advances the field of public health by ensuring faculty research is widely shared and impacting the community.
Service
6. To engage with communities, professionals, leaders, and others as partners in improving the health of populations, including the most vulnerable and underserved.
The service program goal promotes student success through organized service to the local, national, and international community, including the most vulnerable and underserved. The service goal seeks to advance the field of public health through faculty community service, faculty engagement with the vulnerable and underserved communities they research, and the workforce training provided.
Innovation
7. To develop and maintain infrastructure, resources and technologies that are adequate to support faculty, staff, and students as they work to accomplish the mission of the public health program.
The innovation program goal promotes success for students, faculty, and staff. The investment and training in new technologies enhances the student learning experience and the management of the Graduate Programs. The use of new technologies in instruction and scholarship, and the investment in program infrastructure, helps ensure our program is current with the field, and effective in our education delivery and training to accomplish the mission of our public health program.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, all graduates will be able to:
- 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 how 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
