MPH with Nutrition & Dietetics Emphasis/Concentration

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Zilber College of Public Health (ZCPH) is a professional master's degree program designed to provide students with a broad understanding of public health practice. The program emphasizes analyzing information and developing solutions to public health problems through a social justice lens at community, institutional, and societal levels. Key public health skills covered include systems thinking, ethics, analytical methods, communications/informatics, diversity/culture, leadership, and professionalism. The college also offers a coordinated MPH/MSW degree in collaboration with the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare. Graduates are prepared for positions in various public/population health and healthcare settings or for doctoral-level study.

The MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics track within the program integrates a competency-based curriculum of didactic coursework with supervised experiential learning in public health nutrition, food systems management, and clinical nutrition, preparing graduates to practice as registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). This specific track has been granted candidate status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The overall UWM MPH program's curriculum aligns with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) MPH Foundational Competencies.

Delivery Modes

The MPH program offers a fully online option for the Public Health Policy and Management track. Other delivery modes for the general program or specific tracks like Nutrition and Dietetics are not explicitly detailed in the provided context, though traditional MPH programs often involve on-campus components.

Curriculum Overview

All MPH students complete a common core curriculum of at least 24-25 credit hours. This core includes courses such as Introduction to Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Principles and Methods of Epidemiology, Principles of Public Health Policy and Administration, Perspectives on Community & Behavioral Health, and Health Systems and Population Health. Total program credits vary by specialization track: Biostatistics (46 credits), Community and Behavioral Health Promotion (48-49 credits), Environmental Health Sciences (45 credits), Epidemiology (49 credits), Public Health Policy and Management (48 credits), and Nutrition and Dietetics (64 credits).

A Field Experience (3 credits, 240 contact hours) is required, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in a community context. This is complemented by a 1-credit Leadership in Public Health course. The program culminates in a 2-credit Capstone seminar, where students integrate their knowledge and skills into a project reflecting their interests and career goals. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet Graduate School requirements and specific track requirements. The admissions process is holistic. Required materials include:

• Three letters of recommendation.

• CV or Resume.

• Responses to two short essay questions (max 500 words total).

• Application submitted via SOPHAS, selecting the desired track.

• International applicants must meet additional UWM Center for International Education standards.

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates of the MPH program are prepared for careers in a range of public/population health and healthcare settings. Those in the Nutrition and Dietetics track are specifically prepared to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). The required Field Experience provides practical application of skills, with placements possible in local or state health departments, non-profit agencies, hospital systems, or research institutes. Nutrition and Dietetics students are provided with specific placements by the program.