General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

Sacramento State's Master of Public Health (MPH) degree offers a concentration in Health Promotion, Policy, and Leadership. The program is designed for working professionals and aims to prepare public health leaders to develop effective strategies for preventing illness and disease within diverse communities. It focuses on health policy analysis and development and is guided by competencies from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The program includes a residency component with three intensive sessions at program start, middle, and end, focusing on leadership development and creating strong personal connections among students and faculty.

Delivery Modes

The MPH program is delivered in a hybrid format, catering to working professionals. Students progress through the program as a cohort, typically completing the degree in two years (five consecutive semesters). Three mandatory multi-day intensive residency sessions are a required part of the program, designed to immerse students in leadership development, foster community connections, and facilitate cohesion.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH degree requires a total of 42 units. Core coursework (21 units) includes Ecological Determinants of Human Health, Public Health Management and Leadership, Healthcare Systems, Structures, and Policies, Health Research Methods and Analysis (A & B), Program Planning and Evaluation, and a Public Health Practicum. The concentration in Health Promotion, Policy, and Leadership (18 units) covers Behavioral and Social Sciences in Public Health, Health Policy Analysis (a Graduate Writing Intensive course), Strategies for Community Engagement, Methods of Health Promotion, Leadership in Public Health Practice, and a Topics in Public Health Seminar. The program culminates in a 3-unit Public Health Capstone Project.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must possess a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 from the last undergraduate or graduate degree completed. Two years of full-time, professional work experience in public health or a related field is preferred.

Required application documents include:

• Completed CalStateApply application

• MPH Supplemental Application Form

• Official transcripts from all higher education institutions

• A professional resume or CV

• Personal statement (essay)

Domestic applicants with foreign documents and international students must consult the Office of Graduate Studies and International Programs & Global Engagement for specific application instructions and TOEFL score requirements.

Career & Practical Experience

The program's mission is to prepare public health leaders and practitioners to promote, protect, and advocate for the health and well-being of diverse communities at local, state, and global levels. It emphasizes a practice-oriented approach with community-based training. Students complete a Public Health Practicum (PUBH 295) and a culminating Public Health Capstone Project (PUBH 500), where they analyze a public health problem using applied research and propose a feasible solution, demonstrating mastery and application of public health concepts and skills.