Master of Public Health
The University of Kansas Master of Public Health program (KU-MPH) is a fully accredited, 42 credit hour graduate program with Epidemiology, Generalist and Public Health Practice concentrations. The program has been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) since 1998 and is offered through the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita in Wichita. KU-MPH is also the only fully accredited MPH program in the state to become member of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH).
Our program vision is: Healthy Communities
Our program mission is: To improve public health for all in Kansas, the Heartland, and the nation through excellence in education, discovery, and community engagement.
KU-MPH graduates are employed in a wide variety of settings, including governmental public health, non-profit organizations, academic research, and healthcare organizations.
The application process is an online process. Detailed instructions on how to apply and the application deadlines are posted on the Master of Public Health website. Admission to the M.P.H. program is competitive. Students indicate their campus choice (Kansas City or Wichita) or online program choice, as well as the choice for concentration, on the application itself.
Admission requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution documented by submission of official transcript indicating the degree has been conferred before entering the program. Official transcripts from institutions attended post-baccalaureate are also required.
Students with degrees from outside the U.S. may be subject to transcript evaluation indicating the degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree and meets the minimum cumulative GPA requirements. - A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the bachelor’s degree.
- Evaluation of non-U.S. transcripts from WES including degree equivalency and grade point average (for international applicants or applicants who completed their undergraduate at a non-U.S. institution).
- Applicants who are not native speakers of English, whether domestic or international, must demonstrate they meet the Minimum English Proficiency Requirement.
- A background check is required during the admission process; it may affect the student's eligibility to enter the program.
- Three letters of recommendation from employers, instructors, or other persons who can assess the applicant’s academic and professional potential. Letters are submitted per instructions provided for the online application process.
- A résumé or curriculum vitae. Demonstration of one or more years of responsible work experience in the health field or a degree in a recognized health profession or other evidence of training or experience that indicates adequate preparation for the M.P.H. curriculum is preferred.
- A personal written statement that describes the applicant's career goals and motivation for seeking post-graduate training in public health.
- One semester of college algebra is required to enter the Public Health Practice or Online Generalist concentration.
- Completion of one semester of calculus is required to enter the Epidemiology concentration.
After an applicant has been admitted, the program may defer an applicant's admission for one semester after which time the applicant must submit a new application.
Admission requirements are subject to change. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program. Other years’ catalogs».
The Master of Public Health program consists of at least 42 credit hours. Students complete credit hours in specified core courses in epidemiology, community health assessment and advocacy, environmental health, public health administration, leadership, management of public health data, and health communication. Additional degree requirements vary by the choice of concentration. The two concentrations are epidemiology or public health practice. All students complete a public health internship and capstone project as described below.
Degree Requirements:
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Degree requirements are normally completed within 2 years of admission to the program although a maximum of 7 years is allowed. Part-time students normally complete requirements within 4 years of admission to the program.
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Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 for all KU graduate coursework.
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Enrollment in a minimum of one (1) credit hour the semester the student will graduate.
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Completion of a minimum of 42 hours.
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Successful completion of the following core courses (21 credit hours) regardless of concentration:
Course List Code Title Hours PRVM 800 Principles of Epidemiology 3 PRVM 804 Community Health Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy 3 PRVM 827 Public Health Administration 3 PRVM 830 Environmental Health 3 PRVM 861 Leadership in Public Health 3 PRVM 875 Management of Public Health Data 3 PRVM 877 Health Communication 3 Total Hours 21
- Successful completion of a minimum of fifteen (15) credits of concentration courses.
- Successful completion of three (3) credit hours of internship in a public health agency or similar organization.
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Course List Code Title Hours PRVM 891 Public Health Practicum 3 - Successful completion of three (3) credit hours of capstone including preparation and defense of a written project report developed from the capstone experience.
Course List Code Title Hours PRVM 893 Public Health Capstone 3 - Successful completion of a concentration (minimum 15 credit hours). Choose from epidemiology, public health practice, or online generalist concentration.
- Epidemiology concentration - complete the following courses:
Course List Code Title Hours BIOS 714 Fundamentals of Biostatistics I 3 BIOS 715 Introduction to Data Management using RedCap and SAS 3 PRVM 841 Advanced Epidemiology I: Methods in Cross-Sectional and Case-Control Studies 3 PRVM 842 Advanced Epidemiology II: Methods in Longitudinal Studies 3 PRVM 815 Infectious Disease Epidemiology 3 Total Hours 15
- Public Health Practice concentration - complete the following courses:
Course List Code Title Hours PRVM 828 Designing Public Health Interventions 3 PRVM 835 Evaluation Methods in Public Health 3 PRVM 845 Health, Society, and Culture 3 PRVM 851 Public Health Policy and Law 3 PRVM 879 Budgeting and Human Resource Management 3
- Epidemiology concentration - complete the following courses:
Online Generalist concentration - complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PRVM 845 | Health, Society, and Culture | 3 |
| EVRN 721 | Environmental Regulation and Policy | 3 |
| PFS 801 | Interpersonal and Persuasive Communication Skills for Managers | 3 |
| PUAD 836 | Data Informed Decision-Making | 3 |
| PUAD 863 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
Degree requirements and course descriptions are subject to change. Any courses taken as an equivalent must be approved by the Graduate Director and the Office of Graduate Studies. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program. Other years’ catalogs».
Typical Plans of Study
These are examples of plans of study for the Kansas City and Wichita campuses, as well as the online program. They are subject to change. The degree program may also be taken on a part-time basis. Check with the program director for more information.
Typical Plan of Study (Kansas City campus)
MPH in Epidemiology
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 800 | 3 | PRVM 841 | 3 |
| BIOS 714 | 3 | PRVM 875 | 3 |
| BIOS 715 | 3 | PRVM 877 | 3 |
| PRVM 804 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 830 | 3 | PRVM 815 | 3 |
| PRVM 827 | 3 | PRVM 861 | 3 |
| PRVM 842 | 3 | PRVM 893 | 3 |
| PRVM 891 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | ||
| Total Hours 42 | |||
MPH in Public Health Practice
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 800 | 3 | PRVM 835 | 3 |
| PRVM 804 | 3 | PRVM 845 | 3 |
| PRVM 827 | 3 | PRVM 851 | 3 |
| PRVM 828 | 3 | PRVM 877 | 3 |
| 12 | 12 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 830 | 3 | PRVM 861 | 3 |
| PRVM 879 | 3 | PRVM 875 | 3 |
| PRVM 891 | 3 | PRVM 893 | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Total Hours 42 | |||
MD/MPH
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hours | Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 800 | 3 | PRVM 804 | 3 | PRVM 827 | 3 |
| PRVM 830 | 3 | PRVM 835 | 3 | ||
| PRVM 828 | 3 | PRVM 845 | 3 | ||
| PRVM 875 | 3 | PRVM 851 | 3 | ||
| PRVM 879 | 3 | PRVM 861 | 3 | ||
| PRVM 891 | 3 | PRVM 877 | 3 | ||
| PRVM 893 | 3 | ||||
| 3 | 18 | 21 | |||
| Total Hours 42 | |||||
Typical Plan of Study (Wichita campus)
MPH in Epidemiology
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 800 | 3 | PRVM 815 | 3 |
| PRVM 830 | 3 | PRVM 827 | 3 |
| BIOS 714 | 3 | PRVM 875 | 3 |
| BIOS 715 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 804 | 3 | PRVM 842 | 3 |
| PRVM 841 | 3 | PRVM 861 | 3 |
| PRVM 891 | 3 | PRVM 877 | 3 |
| PRVM 893 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 42 | |||
MPH in Public Health Practice
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 800 | 3 | PRVM 827 | 3 |
| PRVM 804 | 3 | PRVM 875 | 3 |
| PRVM 830 | 3 | PRVM 877 | 3 |
| PRVM 845 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 828 | 3 | PRVM 835 | 3 |
| PRVM 879 | 3 | PRVM 851 | 3 |
| PRVM 891 | 3 | PRVM 861 | 3 |
| PRVM 893 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 42 | |||
MD/MPH
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 800 | 3 | PRVM 827 | 3 |
| PRVM 804 | 3 | PRVM 835 | 3 |
| PRVM 828 | 3 | PRVM 851 | 3 |
| PRVM 830 | 3 | PRVM 861 | 3 |
| PRVM 845 | 3 | PRVM 875 | 3 |
| PRVM 879 | 3 | PRVM 877 | 3 |
| PRVM 891 | 3 | PRVM 893 | 3 |
| 21 | 21 | ||
| Total Hours 42 | |||
Typical Plan of Study (Online Generalist)
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PRVM 804 | 3 | PRVM 800 | 3 |
| PRVM 827 | 3 | PRVM 830 | 3 |
| PRVM 845 | 3 | PRVM 861 | 3 |
| PRVM 875 | 3 | PRVM 877 | 3 |
| 12 | 12 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EVRN 721 | 3 | PUAD 836 | 3 |
| PFS 810 | 3 | PUAD 863 | 3 |
| PRVM 891 | 3 | PRVM 893 | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Total Hours 42 | |||
Dual M.D.-M.P.H. Program
This is a five year program in which the medical student completes the requirements for the M.P.H. degree in one year. This can be accomplished either between the second and third, or between the third and fourth years of medical school. Students must complete all degree requirements for both the M.D. and the M.P.H. programs. They complete the M.P.H. concentration in Public Health Practice in three semesters, beginning in the summer (June), and proceeding through fall (August) and spring (January), and finishing by the end of May. Please contact the respective academic units offering the degree for more information. The M.D. degree is offered by the School of Medicine.
Dual Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology-M.P.H. Program
The Department of Applied Behavioral Science on the Lawrence campus offers a 72-credit-hour doctoral program in behavioral psychology. Students learn about an array of content areas and theoretical perspectives and achieve proficiency in behavioral analysis, developmental studies, or behavioral intervention. Both the departments of Applied Behavioral Science and Population Health promote community/public health and development through collaborative research, teaching, and service.
The dual Ph.D./M.P.H. is ideal for students interested in prevention through community and public health. Students must apply for admission to the M.P.H. and Ph.D. programs separately. Applications are reviewed by the admissions committees of both programs. Students admitted to the joint program complete the 42-hour M.P.H. requirements as listed in the chart below in addition to the Ph.D. requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy in Behavioral Psychology section of this catalog for the Ph.D. degree requirements. Completion of ABSC 710, ABSC 875, and ABSC 876 also qualifies a student for a Graduate Certificate in Community Health and Development offered by the Department of Applied Behavioral Science. Additional details about the certificate program may be found on their website.
M.P.H. Course Requirements for the Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology-M.P.H. Program
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| PRVM 800 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| PRVM 804 | Community Health Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy | 3 |
| PRVM 827 | Public Health Administration | 3 |
| PRVM 830 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| PRVM 861 | Leadership in Public Health | 3 |
| PRVM 875 | Management of Public Health Data | 3 |
| PRVM 877 | Health Communication | 3 |
| Shared Ph.D. Courses satisfies requirements for the MPH Concentration in Social and Behavioral Health | ||
| ABSC 710 | Community Health and Development | 3 |
| ABSC 735 | Within Subjects Research Methodology and Direct Observation | 3 |
| ABSC 746 | Introduction to Behavioral Science | 3 |
| ABSC 861 | Principles of Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| MPH Elective | ||
| PRVM 8xx | 3 | |
| Public Health Internship and Capstone | ||
| PRVM 891 | Public Health Internship | 3 |
| PRVM 893 | Public Health Capstone | 3 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
The Master of Public Health online Generalist concentration consists of at least 42 credit hours. Students complete credit hours in specified core courses in epidemiology, community health assessment and advocacy, environmental health, public health administration, leadership, management of public health data, and health communication. Additional degree requirements vary by the choice of concentration with only the Generalist concentration being available completely online. All students complete a public health internship and capstone project as described below.
Degree Requirements:
-
Degree requirements are normally completed within 2 years of admission to the program although a maximum of 7 years is allowed. Part-time students normally complete requirements within 4 years of admission to the program.
-
Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 for all KU graduate coursework.
-
Enrollment in a minimum of one (1) credit hour the semester the student will graduate.
-
Completion of a minimum of 42 hours.
-
Successful completion of the following core courses (21 credit hours) regardless of concentration:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses - 21 credit hours | ||
| PRVM 800 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| PRVM 804 | Community Health Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy | 3 |
| PRVM 827 | Public Health Administration | 3 |
| PRVM 830 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| PRVM 861 | Leadership in Public Health | 3 |
| PRVM 875 | Management of Public Health Data | 3 |
| PRVM 877 | Health Communication | 3 |
| Concentration Courses - 15 credit hours | ||
| PRVM 845 | Health, Society, and Culture | 3 |
| EVRN 721 | Environmental Regulation and Policy | 3 |
| PFS 801 | Interpersonal and Persuasive Communication Skills for Managers | 3 |
| PUAD 836 | Data Informed Decision-Making | 3 |
| PUAD 863 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| Program Requirement - 6 credit hours | ||
| PRVM 891 | Public Health Practicum | 1-3 |
| PRVM 893 | Public Health Capstone | 1-3 |
The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the Master of Public Health program:
OBSERVATION:
A student must be able to observe and analyze class demonstrations and field experiences relevant to the disciplines of public health.These disciplines include but are not limited to epidemiology, biometry, environmental health, health program management, and behavior science.Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing.
COMMUNICATION:
A student must be able to communicate effectively in oral and written forms with other students, faculty, and preceptors.Use of computers and other technology is imperative to this communication.Effective communication includes the ability to understand assigned readings and lectures, the ability to analyze information, and the ability to present results of such analyses verbally and in writing.
MOTOR:
A student must have sufficient motor function to attend classes, prepare assignments, give public presentations, and participate in field experiences.Some field experiences in environmental health, for example, include activities at sites (e.g. waste treatment plants, water treatment facilities).
INTELLECTUAL-CONCEPTUAL, INTEGRATIVE, AND ANALYTIC ABILITIES:
Applicants must be able to read and understand documents written in English.A student must possess the ability to understand and work with measurements, carry out calculations, and engage in reasoning, analysis, and synthesis.Problem solving, the critical skill of public health, demands all of these intellectual abilities.In addition, a student should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships of structures.
BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES:
A student must possess the emotional maturity and stability required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of sound judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant upon responsible activity in the broad field of public health.Integrity, motivation, reliability, self-direction, and the ability to work in diverse groups are personal qualities, which are required for effective practice in the field.As a component of public health education, a student must demonstrate ethical behavior.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply to the program. Candidates who indicate that they cannot meet one or more of the expectations will be reviewed further with applicant and faculty input to determine what reasonable accommodations might be possible to facilitate successful completion of the MPH curriculum.