Masters of Public Health, MPH

Contact

Lutchmie Narine, Graduate Director and Department Chair

444B White Hall

315-443-9630

lnarine@syr.edu

Description

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a 42 credit hour graduate program designed to provide students with core knowledge and skills necessary for the development, implementation, and advancement of evidence-based public health initiatives. The MPH includes a single concentration in “Global Health”.

Admissions

The admissions requirements for this program include undergraduate degree with a minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA, TOEFL scores (for international applications), undergraduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a resume and personal statement.

Incoming students must demonstrate public health foundational knowledge by either (a) earning an UG BSPH from a CEPH accredited program or (b) demonstration of Public Health “Foundational Knowledge” as outlined in CEPH accreditation documents.

Part-Time Study

Part-time study is acceptable; however, time to degree completion depends on available course offerings and number of courses enrolled. Time limit to degree completion is 7 years.

Financial Support

Limited department financial aid is available in the form of graduate assistantships and scholarship credits for students enrolled in masters and doctoral programs. Financial aid is determined based on merit.

Additional information regarding graduate financial aid can be found at https://graduateadmissions.syr.edu/funding/

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to 9 credits. Substituted/transferred course work should cover material equivalent to that which is covered in the relevant required course. Substitution/transfer requests will need to be approved by the graduate committee for public health programs. All students are expected to file a tentative program of study in their second semester. Students transferring courses from another institution must file a program of study prior to completing 12 credits at Syracuse University.

Satisfactory Progress

Certification for an advanced degree at Syracuse University requires a minimum average of 3.0 for work comprising the program for the degree and a 2.8 average for all credits earned.

Facilities

Courses are taught in classrooms across Syracuse University. In addition, research laboratories currently housed in White Hall will provide students opportunities to engage in scholarship with faculty mentors.

Degree

MPH, 42 credits

Student Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes for MPH Core:

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
Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
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 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

Additional Learning Outcomes for Global Health Concentration:

1. Analyze the roles, relationships, and resources of the entities influencing global health.

2. Strategize methods for diverse local and global sociocultural and political landscapes.

3.Use methods that inform our understanding of sustainable development and local accountability.

4.Develop strategies to address health equity and social justice challenges in local and global health settings.

5. Evaluate global prevention and control strategies for infectious disease.

Required Courses

The 42-credit MPH program includes MPH core courses and Global Health concentration courses. The credit distribution and requirements are outlined below:

MPH Core (25 credits)
PHP 621 - Research Methods in Public Health 3 credit(s)
PHP 627 - Health Leadership and Management 3 credit(s)
PHP 664 - Health Equity & Social Determinants of Health 3 credit(s)
PHP 665 - Public Health Policy 3 credit(s)
PHP 630 - Analysis of Public Health Data 3 credit(s)
PHP 667 - Graduate Practicum in Public Health 4 credit(s)
PHP 668 - Applied Epidemiology 3 credit(s)
and either
PHP 661 - Development and Evaluation of Public Health Programs 3 credit(s)
or
PHP 624 - Introduction to Prevention Science 3 credit(s)

Concentration (15 credits): Global Health

PHP 669 - Disability and Global Health 3 credit(s)
PHP 704 - Infectious Disease: Epidemiology and Control 3 credit(s)
PHP 705 - Global Health Governance 3 credit(s)
PHP 706 - Environmental Determinants of Global Health 3 credit(s)
And 1 elective from the following list:
FST 603 - The Human Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition 3 credit(s)
FST 703 - Transnational Food, Health and the Environment 3 credit(s)
PHP 642 - Substance Use and Mental Health: Global Contexts 3 credit(s)
PHP 662 - Culture and Reproductive Health and Medicine 3 credit(s)

Capstone (2 credits)

PHP 707 - Integrative Learning Experience 2 credit(s)