MPH Concentrations
Explore the diverse options for concentrations of study in our Master of Public Health program.
The Biostatistics concentration provides the biostatistical and quantitative skills and knowledge to prepare students for public health practice and research careers. This area of study is designed to meet the needs of those individuals who work in public health and who desire to broaden their training by learning the statistical/quantitative evaluation of public health research and programs. Students learn the tools needed to conceptualize and define a public health problem in multidimensional terms, develop an appropriate study design, plan, implement proper statistical analyses, and interpret and report the results of a study. The course work and applications focus on methodology typically used to analyze different types of public health data and provide the opportunity to apply these methods to real-world problems.
The Emergency Preparedness concentration is designed to prepare professionals in a world where emergency preparedness and response skills are increasingly essential to the public health infrastructure. Events explored include naturally occurring disasters, intentional acts of terrorism, and new emerging infectious disease threats, such as Ebola and the COVID-19 pandemic. The course curriculum reflects current and nationally endorsed competencies in emergency preparedness leadership, crisis communication, information management, practice improvement and planning, and responder health and safety.
The Environmental and Occupational Health concentration provides (1) basic knowledge in ecological, environmental, agricultural, and occupational health, as well as toxicology; (2) a broad understanding of relevant problems in the various areas of ecological health, environmental health, occupational health, and safety or toxicology, with particular emphasis on agriculture; and (3) the ability to apply this information to fundamental problems in these areas. This area of study is designed to meet the needs of individuals who work in public health and who desire to broaden their training in environmental health, occupational health, toxicology, and related fields.
The Epidemiology concentration provides the basic epidemiological skills and knowledge to prepare students for public health careers. This area of study is designed to meet the needs of those who currently work in public health as well as those who wish to embark on a career in public health. The concentration provides the tools needed to conceptualize a public health problem, design an epidemiological study, collect and analyze data, and interpret and report the results of a study. The course work and applications focus on the determinants, distribution, dynamics, and etiology of disease in populations.
The Health Promotion concentration prepares students to use evidence-based approaches to protect and promote the health of communities. This area of study is designed to ensure students have the skills to determine population health needs; plan, implement, and evaluate effective interventions, programs, and policies to improve health outcomes; coordinate and facilitate community partnerships; and promote healthy lifestyles — all while working toward reducing health disparities.
The Maternal and Child Health concentration takes a life course approach to study MCH throughout the lifespan, from preconception through pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and senescence. Such an approach addresses the health status at each stage of the lifespan and the influence that health in one stage has in subsequent stages. A life course approach also considers the determinants of health — biological, behavioral, socio-cultural, and environmental — as well as the influence of policies and politics on the health status of mothers, children, adolescents, and families. The MCH concentration focuses on equity, social justice and human rights. Students are prepared as MCH professionals in practice (program planning and management, advocacy, policy making) and research that has an impact locally, regionally, nationally and globally.
The Public Health Administration and Policy concentration prepares students for an administrative, managerial or supervisory role, emphasizing planning, budgeting, program evaluation and policy development. Students in this concentration will better understand the theories and behaviors that influence health service organization and administration.