Online MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The University of Southern Mississippi offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) program with an emphasis on Health Policy and Administration. This program is designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills in healthcare management, enabling them to play a major role in cultivating healthy lifestyles within communities. It focuses on coordinating the wide variety of activities crucial to the effective and efficient delivery of health services and programs.

The MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), ensuring a high standard of public health education.

Delivery Modes

The MPH in Health Policy and Administration is delivered fully online, offering flexibility for students. The program can be completed in as little as 15 months on a full-time schedule (averaging 4-5 courses per semester, including a summer semester). It can also be completed over 1 to 3 years, depending on the number of hours enrolled per semester, accommodating part-time students.

Curriculum Overview

The program requires a total of 45 credit hours. Core coursework covers essential public health disciplines such as Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Administration, Introduction to Health Systems, Introduction to Health Policy and Administration, Environmental Health, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health, Healthcare Financial Management I & II, Health Law and Ethics, Health Economics, Healthcare Strategic Planning, and Healthcare Organizational Behavior and Human Resources.

A key component of the program is a practicum experience (6 credit hours required, equivalent to 280 fieldwork hours), which students complete during their last semester in an off-campus public health agency. Students must also pass a comprehensive examination to graduate; a thesis is not required. An MPH/MBA dual degree option is also available for interested students.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree. The Graduate School is currently offering standardized test waivers, and there is no GRE requirement for this program. A complete application includes:

• Graduate School application (online) and application fee.

• Statement of purpose.

• Official transcripts.

• Resume.

• Three letters of reference.

A minimum GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework is required. International applicants must submit a TOEFL/IBT score of at least 79. Application deadlines are August 1 for the fall semester and December 15 for the spring semester.

Cost & Financial Aid

The cost per credit hour is $556.12. Notably, there is no out-of-state tuition for this online program. Scholarship opportunities are available for online students, including the Online Student Scholarship which offers $500 towards the first semester for first-time, fully online students. For more information on costs and financial aid, students can visit the university's pricing page and student scholarship page .

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates with an MPH in Health Policy and Administration are prepared for a variety of roles. Potential careers include health administrators in hospitals, mental health clinics, medical group practices, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. Other opportunities exist with insurance and pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Specific job titles may include Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Compliance Managers, Medical and Health Services Managers, and Industrial Safety and Health Engineers.

The program includes a mandatory practicum (6 credit hours / 280 fieldwork hours) where students apply their academic knowledge and skills in a real-world public health agency. This hands-on experience contributes significantly to professional development.