Online MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Kansas State University focuses on the prevention of injury and disease to improve quality of life at the population level. Students learn to design and implement strategies and interventions to protect and improve community and population health through evidence-based research and disease prevention. A key component of the program is the completion of a public health practice project.

The program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Delivery Modes

The Master of Public Health program is delivered 100% online, offering flexibility for working professionals and students from various locations.

Curriculum Overview

The program requires a total of 42 credit hours. The curriculum includes core public health courses (21 credits), emphasis-specific required courses (10 credits), and elective courses (11 credits).

Core courses include:

• MPH 701 - Fundamental Methods of Biostatistics (3 credits)

• MPH 720 - Administration of Health Care Organizations (3 credits)

• MPH 754 - Introduction to Epidemiology (3 credits)

• MPH 802 - Environmental Health (3 credits)

• MPH 818 - Social and Behavioral Bases of Public Health (3 credits)

• MPH 840 - Public Health Practice (6 credits - practicum experience)

Students choose from two primary areas of emphasis: Food Safety and Biosecurity, or Public Health Nutrition. An additional emphasis in Infectious Diseases/Zoonoses is available for DVM or doctoral-level professionals and DVM students (contact [email protected] for details).

Prerequisite courses may be required for some emphases depending on undergraduate background. For Food Safety and Biosecurity, this may include biochemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, biology, mathematics, and physics. For Public Health Nutrition, foundational knowledge in human nutrition is necessary.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet general university admission requirements. Key program-specific requirements include:

• A narrative letter (2-3 pages) outlining objectives, strengths, goals, and emphasis preference.

• Copies of all transcripts; a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 undergraduate hours is required. Official transcripts are needed upon acceptance.

• Three letters of reference.

• TOEFL score of 550 if English is not the native language.

• For international applicants: a completed affidavit of financial support.

Application Deadlines (suggested for U.S. applicants, firm for international):

• U.S. Applicants: Fall - July 1; Spring - Nov. 1; Summer - April 1.

• International Applicants: Fall - Jan. 8; Spring - Aug. 1; Summer - Dec. 1.

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition for the online MPH program is $626.14 per credit hour for the 2024-2025 academic year (subject to change). With 42 credit hours required, the estimated total tuition is approximately $26,297.88. For a full breakdown of tuition and fees, please visit K-State's tuition and fees website .

The K-State public health program has a designated scholarship, the Public Health Scholarship Program by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), for eligible students (Kansas residents/workers, U.S. citizens, 3.0 GPA, public health career focus). Additional financial assistance opportunities can be found on the K-State scholarships webpage .

Career & Practical Experience

The MPH program prepares individuals for careers in various public health settings, including health departments, extension offices, government agencies (state and federal), health promotion organizations, and insurance companies. The program includes a 6-credit Public Health Practice (MPH 840) course, providing significant practical experience.

According to Lightcast™ data from October 2023, the nationwide median salary for related occupations is $94,764, with 1,943,397 jobs in 2023 and a projected 5-year job growth of 10.4%.