General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

Oakwood University's Master of Public Health (MPH) program specializes in Nutrition and Wellness. It is designed for students who have completed undergraduate health-related degrees and aims to advance their studies. The program emphasizes advocating plant-based diets, teaching students to assess diverse community health needs and create personalized health plans, programs, and policies. It is noted for its excellent and qualified staff.

The mission of the School of Health Professions, Education and Social Sciences, which houses the MPH program, is to educate health professionals with a Christ-centered, service-oriented curriculum that promotes excellence in character development, achievement of professional goals, and adherence to professional standards.

The MPH in Nutrition and Wellness provides graduate-level knowledge, cultural competence, and application through collaborative service. Program goals are:

1. Knowledge: Prepare graduate health professionals who are able to provide innovative evidence-based nutrition education to diverse communities.

2. Cultural Competence: Prepare students to develop, implement, and assess programs to promote the health of individuals, groups, and communities.

3. Application: Facilitate sustainable collaborations between faculty, students, and faith-based and non-profit organizations in service to communities.

Specific accreditation details for the MPH program (e.g., CEPH) are not mentioned in the provided context.

Delivery Modes

The Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Wellness program is delivered 100% online.

Students can graduate in as few as 22 to 24 months.

Curriculum Overview

The program requires a total of 47 credit hours. Key courses include:

• ND 501 – Introduction to Public Health (2 hours)

• ND 502 – Principles of Epidemiology (3 hours)

• ND 503 – Introduction to Biostatics (3 hours)

• ND 504 – Principles of Environmental Health (3 hours)

• ND 505 – Principles of Health Behavior (3 hours)

• ND 506 – Principles of Health Administration (3 hours)

• ND 507 – Fitness and Health Promotion (3 hours)

• ND 508 – Grant Writing (3 hours)

• ND 509 – Vegetarian Nutrition and Wellness (3 hours)

• ND 510 – Ethnic Food Practices (3 hours)

• ND 511 – Program Planning and Evaluation in the Community and Lab (4 hours)

• ND 512 – Assessment of Nutritional Status (3 hours)

• ND 517 – Health Research Methods (3 hours)

• ND 518 – Health Disparities and Minority Health (3 hours)

• ND 601 – Research Seminar (1 hour)

• ND 602 – Capstone Research Project (4 hours)

• ND 603 – Practicum (3 hours)

Student Learning Outcomes include the ability to:

1. Articulate cultural approaches to food, nutrition, and health with an emphasis on plant-based diets.

2. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health.

3. Provide leadership in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public health nutrition and wellness programs and policies.

4. Communicate audience-appropriate public health nutrition and wellness content.

5. Collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data.

6. Read, interpret, and apply public health nutrition and wellness peer-reviewed research.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent earned from a regionally accredited institution recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Regular Admission:

• An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale).

Provisional Admission:

• Applicants with an overall GPA between 2.5 and 2.9 may be admitted provisionally.

• These applicants must complete the GRE prior to acceptance, with minimum scores of 150-Verbal, 150-Quantitative, and 3.5-Analytical.

• Provisionally admitted students are required to earn a GPA of 3.0 or better during the first term of matriculation to obtain regular standing and continue in the program.

Prerequisite Courses: Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better before registering for courses in the program. The prerequisite courses for the MPH are:

• One year of Biology with a lab, or Physiology with a lab, or Anatomy and Physiology with a lab.

• Two nutrition courses: one introductory course (equivalent to ND 131 - Nutrition) and one intermediate-level course (equivalent to ND 321 - Life Span Nutrition).

• One course in Research or Statistics.

Transfer Information:

• Students wishing to transfer into the Oakwood University MPH program must follow the same application procedure as other new students and submit official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.

• A maximum of nine (9) graduate credit hours relevant to the MPH degree may be transferred from an accredited institution. The graduate faculty will evaluate all requests for transfer credit.

Cost & Financial Aid

For detailed information on tuition and fees, please refer to the Graduate Costs document .

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates of the Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Wellness program are prepared to serve as nutrition specialists in a variety of settings. Potential career paths include creating community health programs, educating children, youth, and adult groups on nutrition and wellness, and designing meal plans for schools and hospitals.

The program is designed to prepare graduates to meet the new standards passed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration for entry-level registered dietitians.

Practical experience is integrated into the curriculum through a required Practicum (ND 603 – 3 hours).