Online MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Master of Public Health (MPH) online program is distinguished as a leading producer of African American public health professionals. It holds the distinction of being the first MPH degree offered online at an Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and was the first accredited public health program in North Florida.

The program is housed within FAMU's Institute of Public Health, part of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, fostering a synergistic approach by connecting public health with other health science disciplines. A key focus is on addressing health disparities that disproportionately affect underserved populations, covering areas like cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, and environmental health impacts.

The FAMU Institute of Public Health, which delivers the MPH program, is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Delivery Modes

The MPH program is delivered entirely online, offering students the flexibility of anytime, anywhere access to learning materials, which include streaming audio and video lectures.

Students can choose between full-time enrollment, completing the program in five semesters, or a part-time option, taking two courses at a time in sequence.

Support is provided through virtual office hours with faculty, and students receive free access to SAS, a leading statistical analysis software. The coursework is designed to be independent and self-directed, catering to the needs of working students.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH curriculum comprises 50 credit hours for full-time students, designed to ensure graduates achieve basic public health competencies.

Key components include a research assignment tailored to students' public health interests, potentially leveraging their current work environment. A practicum is completed in the final semester, with an online practicum coordinator assisting students in identifying suitable public health practicum sites.

The program draws on faculty expertise in core public health disciplines, including biostatistics, behavioral sciences and health education, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, health policy and management, and public health practice.

Admissions Requirements

Prospective candidates for the online MPH program at FAMU should meet the following criteria:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

• Possess a minimum of three years of professional public health or healthcare work experience.

• Demonstrate academic potential through either: (a) a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate study, or (b) a minimum GRE score of 300 (150 verbal and 150 quantitative).

• Applicants who do not already hold a terminal degree must submit GRE scores for admission consideration.

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates of the FAMU MPH program are well-positioned for career advancement due to the Institute of Public Health's strong connections with hiring agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Congress, the Florida Department of Health, and various state and local health departments and community health centers.

Career opportunities span federal, state, and local health departments, as well as positions in the private sector, including hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and consulting firms.

The program aims to develop credentialed, culturally competent public health practitioners, supported by online advisement from national and international public health experts and doctoral students. The final semester practicum provides hands-on experience, with advisors helping to secure placements.