General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Slippery Rock University is practitioner-based, designed to meet the increasing demand in the Public Health workforce. It prepares students for 21st-century careers, addressing contemporary challenges such as obesity, infectious diseases, illicit drug abuse, environmental pollution-associated diseases, climate change, and occupational health and safety. The program also familiarizes students with the roles of governmental and non-governmental organizations in shaping public health policies.

The MPH program is in the process of applying for accreditation through the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Graduates are eligible to sit for the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) examination and the National Board of Public Health Examiners’ Certified Public Health (CPH) examination.

Delivery Modes

The Master of Public Health program offers courses 100% online.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH program requires 42 credits for completion. This includes 30 core credits covering foundational public health areas and 12 concentration-specific credits. Prospective students may transfer up to 12 credits into the MPH program, based on previously completed coursework and at the discretion of the Admissions committee.

Core coursework includes:

• HLTH 604 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health and Wellness

• HLTH 605 Health Services Administration

• HLTH 606 Principles of Epidemiology

• HLTH 607 Designing and Conducting Health Surveys

• HLTH 608 Planning and Implementation of Public Health Strategies

• HLTH 610 Occupational and Environmental Health Science

• HLTH 628 Biostatistics for Public Health

• HLTH 631 Foundations of Public Health

All students are required to complete a Practicum in Public Health (HLTH 609) and a Public Health Culminating Experience (HLTH 627).

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students can transfer up to 12 credits from previously completed coursework into the MPH program. This transfer is subject to the discretion of the Admissions committee. Further details on other admission requirements such as specific undergraduate degrees or GPA are not provided in the available context.

Career & Practical Experience

The program is designed to prepare students for careers in the growing public health sector. According to EMSI data, MPH-related occupations are projected to add approximately 118,449 jobs to the U.S. economy between 2020 and 2030. Within a 150-mile region around Slippery Rock University, these occupations are projected to grow by 10% during the same period. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also indicates that healthcare occupations are among the fastest-growing fields.

Practical experience is integrated into the curriculum through the required 'HLTH 609 Practicum in Public Health' course, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities.