General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is committed to social justice and the Jesuit mission, recognized as the only accredited Catholic, Jesuit school of public health in the nation. Graduate-level public health classes are taught by faculty members who are internationally recognized as leaders in public health research and practice. Staff, faculty, and students contribute over 10,000 hours annually partnering with local public health agencies.

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

Several concentrations are designated as STEM OPT-3 eligible programs for international students, allowing for an extended Optional Practical Training period:

• Behavioral Science and Health Equity

• Biostatistics

• Epidemiology

Delivery Modes

The MPH program primarily offers on-campus, traditional classroom-based learning. The Public Health Practice concentration is available in an online format. Program roadmaps assume full-time enrollment.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH program requires 42 credit hours for degree completion. The curriculum includes core public health courses, 18 credit hours of concentration-specific coursework, electives, a 1-credit Practice Experience in Public Health (PUBH 5910), and a 3-credit Capstone in Public Health Practice (PUBH 5960).

Core required courses include:

• PUBH 5010: Mission and Practice of Global Public Health (2 credits)

• PUBH 5020: Ethical Issues in Public Health (3 credits) (or HMP 5390 for HMP/PHP concentrations)

• PUBH 5030: Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health (3 credits)

• PUBH 5040: Generating Evidence from Public Health Data (3 credits)

• PUBH 5050: Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice (3 credits)

• PUBH 5060: Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health (3 credits)

• PUBH 5070: Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice (3 credits)

Students have the option to add one of many certificate programs, enabling customization of the program. MPH students may double-count six credit hours of their MPH electives toward any 12-credit-hour certificate, making it possible to complete an MPH plus a certificate for a total of 48 credit hours.

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required; a degree in a biomedical or social science is preferred, but other majors are considered. Professional experience in a health-related field is highly valued. GRE scores are not required for admission.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until classes are full via the centralized application service SOPHAS . All applicants are considered using a holistic application review process, which includes an in-person, phone, or Zoom interview with the graduate admissions director.

Application requirements include:

• Application form and fee

• Transcript(s)

• Three letters of recommendation

• Résumé/curriculum vitae

• Professional goal statement

International students must also demonstrate English language proficiency and provide academic records with an English translation (course-by-course evaluations accepted). Financial documents are required for I-20 issuance.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Cost & Financial Aid

The total program cost for the Master of Public Health is estimated at $55,000. Additional charges may apply. The College for Public Health and Social Justice offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships and graduate research assistantships. For more information on financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services .

Career & Practical Experience

Students gain experience through applied learning opportunities with community partners. An Applied Practice Experience (APEx) is completed after the first year of study, providing practical experience in the chosen career path. Students have interned in various settings in St. Louis, nationally, or globally. The program boasts a vast alumni network, with many public health professionals in the St. Louis area serving as adjunct faculty and providing internships, part-time jobs, and post-graduate employment. Over the past several years, nearly 90% of CPHSJ graduates passed the national certification exam.