General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Spring Hill College online public health program prepares students to pursue careers founded on altruism focused on improving the health of others at both local and global levels. Students of this program graduate equipped with the skills and expertise needed to address today’s critical public health issues.

Employing public health principles is essential in protecting and promoting health on the individual, community, and societal levels. The online MPH program at Spring Hill College prepares students to positively impact their communities and society by providing essential public health education, preparing students to address real-world health issues, and strengthening the U.S. public health infrastructure. No specific accreditation information for the MPH program (e.g., CEPH) is mentioned in the provided context.

Delivery Modes

The Master of Public Health program at Spring Hill College is delivered fully online, offering flexibility for students regardless of their schedule. The program can typically be completed in 2 to 4 years.

Curriculum Overview

The program requires the completion of 41 credit hours. The curriculum covers core public health disciplines, including ethics, statistical methods, health behaviors, health policy, research methods, and health communication. Students will also study leadership, foundations of health care management, epidemiology, biostatistics, and social determinants of health.

Core courses include Introduction to Public Health (MPH500), Foundations in Social and Behavioral Health (MPH504), Health Communications (MPH510), Foundations of Epidemiology (MPH525), Ethics in Public Health (MPH530), and Foundations in Biostatistics (MPH563). The program offers a range of elective courses allowing students to explore areas such as Gender Communications, Business of Healthcare, Emerging Pathogens, Environmental Health, Women’s Health, Global Health, and Medical Sociology.

A key component is the Public Health Internship/Practicum (MPH690), a 3-credit course requiring 70 hours of hands-on experience in a community setting, typically undertaken in the final year of the program.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the MPH program are expected to meet the following criteria:

• A bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Official transcripts from every college-level institution attended.

• Official GMAT/GRE scores: Standardized test scores are not required for admission, but if cumulative GPA is below the 3.0 minimum, scores from a GRE taken in the last five years may be submitted for possible conditional admission.

• Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.

• A current resume or curriculum vitae.

• A statement of purpose and objectives.

International applicants must also provide an official copy of a course-by-course evaluation of credentials earned outside the U.S. (e.g., via World Education Service) and an official copy of an English proficiency test score report indicating an acceptable score.

Up to nine credit hours from similar graduate-level courses with grades of B- or better may be transferred, subject to approval by the program director.

Cost & Financial Aid

The tuition for the online MPH program is $420 per credit hour. With a total of 41 credits, the estimated total program cost is $17,220 (excluding fees or other expenses). Spring Hill College provides information on financial aid options, including the FAFSA process and work-study programs. Students can learn more on the university's Financial Aid page .

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates of the MPH program are prepared to be responsible, knowledgeable leaders in public health. The program aims to develop practical skills in educating communities, effectively communicating complex health information, and structuring health messaging to meet the needs of specific populations.

Key skills acquired include Health Care Management, Health Communications, and Critical Thinking. The program addresses the growing demand for public health professionals in a broad range of areas. For example, the field of epidemiology is expected to grow, and there is a consistent demand for health education specialists and community health workers.

Practical experience is a core component, with students completing a 70-hour Public Health Internship/Practicum (MPH690) in their community during their final year, working in a hands-on environment.