Because public health draws upon expertise from multiple disciplines, the Graduate School of Public Health offers a wide variety of degree and certificate programs to help students achieve their career goals. In this section, you will find a description of our academic programs. More extensive information can be found on departmental websites.
Degree Programs in GSPH
Department/Program | Degrees Offered |
| Behavioral & Community Health Sciences | MPH, DrPH |
MS, MPH, PhD, DrPH | |
MS, MPH, PhD, DrPH | |
MS, MPH, PhD, DrPH | |
MHA, MPH, PhD | |
MS, MPH, PhD | |
MS, MS Genetic Counseling/MPH Public Health Genetics (Dual Degree) | |
MPH, MS Genetic Counseling/MPH Public Health Genetics (Dual Degree) | |
MS, PhD | |
MPH | |
| Community & Behavioral Intervention of Infectious Diseases (IDM) | MPH |
MMPH |
What is the difference between degrees?
GSPH offers several distinct degree programs that prepare students for different career paths. Below you will see a general description of those degrees:
Master degrees
Master in Public Health (MPH)
The MPH degree is considered the entry professional degree within public health. The focus of this degree is on preparation of students who will become leaders in public health practice, whether in local, state or federal public health agencies, voluntary health agencies, community-based organizations or non-governmental organizations around the world. Graduates with a MPH should be competent in multiple broad domains (see the PDF). The school wide core curriculum for MPH students includes an overview of public health, core courses in the five disciplines of public health, a capstone course, and a course in public health biology. An essential part of the MPH degree experience is the completion of a practicum in which the student has the opportunity to practice and enhance their skills in a community setting. MPH graduates of GSPH will be eligible to sit for the credentialing examination of the National Board of Public Health Examiners beginning in 2008.
Master of Science (MS)
The MS degree is an academic degree that aims to provide students with a foundation in research skills as preparation for either further graduate work or employment in a research setting. Students in MS programs at GSPH take a modified version of our school wide core that exposes them to key public health areas including epidemiology, biostatistics and an essentials of public health course that integrates social and behavioral sciences, environmental health and health policy issues.
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
The MHA degree is a professional degree that focuses specifically on management of health care organizations. MHA students engage in a rigorous curriculum that includes school wide core courses and a comprehensive set of courses and experiences focused on administration and management of various types of health care agencies including managed care organizations, hospitals, or consulting firms.
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
The DrPH is an advanced professional degree that is offered by several GSPH departments. Typically, DrPH programs prepare students to apply theory and research methods in settings in which they may play management roles or conduct applied research. DrPH graduates often become senior staff in agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health departments, international organizations, and other settings. Some DrPH graduates become faculty members in schools of public health. Students seeking a DrPH degree take the same school wide core curriculum as MPH students unless they enter with a MPH degree.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The PhD degree is oriented toward students wishing to seek a career in academics and research rather than public health practice. Their academic program has a heavy focus on research methods and experience in the conduct of research studies. PhD graduates gravitate toward academic positions in colleges and universities, research firms, and governmental agencies like the National Institutes of Health.
Dual and Joint Degree Programs
Department/Program | Degree Options | School | |||
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences | |||||
Public Health & Anthropology | MPH/PhD | Arts & Sciences (Anthropology) | |||
Public Health & International Affairs | MPH/MID | Public & International Affairs | |||
Public Health & Public Administration | MPH/MPA | Public & International Affairs | |||
Public Health Social Work | MPH/PhD | Social Work | |||
Public Health Social Work | MPH/MSW | Social Work | |||
Epidemiology | |||||
Epidemiology & Medicine | MD/PhD | School of Medicine | |||
Health Policy and Management | |||||
Health Policy & Law | MPH/JD | School of Law | |||
Human Genetics | |||||
Human Genetics & Medicine | MD/PhD | School of Medicine |
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