Public Health - Master's
Earn Your Master of Public Health Degree
The Master of Public Health Program provides students with academic skills, practical experience and multidisciplinary study that will enable them to to meet 21st century public health challenges. Public Health is a science protecting and improving the health of communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, and detecting, preventing and responding to both chronic and infectious diseases. Public health practitioners promote healthcare equity, quality and accessibility while working to decrease health disparities. The Master of Public Health degree is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). CEPH is the national accrediting body for programs in Public Health.
Initial CEPH accreditation was awarded in 1993 and the MPH program has kept its accreditation since that time. The last reaccreditation was awarded by CEPH in December 2022 for a period of seven years. The Master of Public Health Program is accredited through 2029.
Master of Public Health Emphasis Areas
The epidemiology and biostatistics emphasis area provides knowledge and skills crucial for many careers in public health research, including disease control and prevention and data management.
The Health Promotion and Health Behavior emphasis focuses on preventing disease and promoting health for individuals, groups and communities. Health Promotion and Health Behavior students can take the national certification exam to become CHES certified.
The health policy and administration emphasis provides a thorough understanding of the factors influencing health policy and prepares graduates to work in management and supervisory roles within healthcare organizations.
Master of Public Health Mission
The public health program is committed to advancing the field of public health by delivering high quality instruction, engaging in community-based and multidisciplinary research, and actively participating in service to public health organizations at the local and state level.
MPH Requirements
The application requirements for the MPH Program (Epidemiology/Biostatistics, Health Promotion/Health Behavior, and Health Policy/Administration) consists of minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA, three recommendation letters and a Statement of Purpose.
All MPH Candidates must complete their culminating practicum experience during their last semester in the program. This fieldwork experience requires students to use their knowledge and skills gained academically in an off-campus public health agency. MPH candidates make meaningful contributions to these agencies and the experience gained from their hands-on work contributes to the student’s professional development.
The School of Health Professions offers a number of scholarships and awards made available by donations from friends of the program. The availability of awards varies by emphasis area.
- Fred Barten Memorial Scholarship in Health Administration
- Lynn Cook Hartwig - Hattiesburg Clinic Scholarship Endowment
- Outstanding Master of Public Health Research Award
- Alton B. Cobb Outstanding Master of Public Health Award
The School of Health Professions offers assistantships for graduate students at USM where students work 20 hours per week with our faculty in exchange for a stipend and tuition waiver. These positions are competitive and limited in availability. Use this form https://usmforms.formstack.com/forms/shp_ga_application to learn more about these opportunities.
Since 2015 we have been ranked in the top 50 for most affordable degrees in healthcare administration:
- 50 Most Affordable Master in Public Health Degree Programs 2021/Health Administration Degree Programs by healthcare-administration-degree.net
Availability
| Degree Plan | Availability |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics MPH | Hattiesburg |
| Public Health (Health Promotion and Health Behavior) MPH | Online 100% |
| Public Health (Health Policy and Administration) MPH | Online 100% |
- Biostatistician
- Health Educator
- Health Administrator
- Epidemiologist
- Public Health Officer
- Non-Profit Coordinator/Director
- Samantha Wells, Alum '17,
Program Manager, Mississippi Health Advocacy Program