The MPH degree is designed to prepare students to address the broad mission of public health utilizing education, community service, and research. Public health practitioners are prepared to plan, implement, and evaluate programs designed to meet the health needs of populations. The MPH program includes knowledge basic to public health, including biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and health services administration. In addition to providing students with the educational foundation of public health, the MPH program provides students with field experience and an opportunity to apply their knowledge through the Applied Practice Experience and the Integrative Learning Experience.

Parker University offers two concentrations in the MPH degree program. Upon enrollment, students will choose either Epidemiology or Health Promotion.

Program Description MPH Epidemiology

The MPH in Epidemiology prepares students for specialization in advanced quantitative methods of epidemiology and its applications for health research, policymaking, and program implementation.

Program Description MPH Health Promotion

The MPH in Health Promotion provides students with the knowledge and skills for applied public health practice in the private and public sectors as related to population health.

The MPH core curriculum is designed to meet the Foundational Public Health Knowledge learning objectives, the MPH Foundational Competencies, the Applied Practice Experience, and the Integrative Learning Experience established by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

The MPH program ensures that all students are grounded in the following foundational public health knowledge upon graduation:

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate
4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

 Public Health & Health Care Systems

5. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings
6. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels

 Planning & Management to Promote Health

7. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health
8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs

Policy in Public Health

12. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policymaking process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
14. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

 Leadership

16. Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making
17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

Communication

18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

 Interprofessional Practice

21. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams

 Systems Thinking

22. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue

Length of Program

The MPH program may be completed in eight terms, requiring 45 credit hours.

• 15 credit hours from the six core required courses representing the fundamental domains of public health
• 15 credits hours from the concentration (Epidemiology or Health Promotion)
• 6 credit hours from electives
• 3 credit hours from the Applied Practice Experience
• 6 credit hours from the Integrative Learning Experience

 Mode of Instruction 

The Master of Science degree in Public Health is offered through distance education. Students will be required to choose an in-person site for the Practicum.

The Master of Public Health program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

• Submission of a completed Graduate School Application
• Submission of an unofficial transcript or a foreign evaluation showing successful completion of a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the US.
• Submit two letters of recommendation within the first semester of enrollment
• Submit a resume indicating education and complete work history
• GRE: Not required
• Must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or University
• Must have a minimum of a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The GPA is calculated on the student’s last 60 credits of undergraduate upper-division hours.

At the discretion of the Dean or Provost’s Office, a candidate demonstrating academic potential may be admitted. The student must maintain a “B” or above for the first term of enrollment.

Failure to provide all admissions documentation, test scores, or to achieve the grade point average required by the end of the first semester may lead to suspension or dismissal from the University. All graduate students are required to complete foundational courses for the appropriate program through undergraduate or equivalent course work. Students who have not completed relevant undergraduate courses will be required to take equivalent courses upon acceptance to the program. Pre-requisite courses must be completed with a “C” grade or higher.

Pre-Requisite Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university

The Master of Public Health students must complete a total of 45 graduate semester credit hours of coursework.  Students will be enrolled in fifteen credits from the core required courses representing the fundamental domains of public health: biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration, and environmental health science. Fifteen credits will be chosen based on the specialization of one of two concentrations: epidemiology or health promotion. Students will choose an additional six credits from elective courses. Three credits will be Applied Practice Experience that includes a public health field practicum, and six credits will be awarded from the Integrative Learning Experience.

Students are required to complete the Applied Practice Experience and the Integrative Learning Experience.

Practicum: Applied Practice Experience

The Applied Practice Experience (APE) requires students to complete a three-credit-hour practicum experience, a minimum of 120 hours. The practicum is a supervised work experience for MPH students to work on a project to help integrate and apply the knowledge and competences form the MPH program to a real-world public health concern. Students may choose a public health setting, such as a local health department, community organization, school, or hospital. The practicum will allow the students to apply and enhance their skills necessary to function as a public health professional. The practicum is designed to address the program’s competencies and the student’s career interests while making contributions to the practicum site.

Upon completion of the APE, students will be able to:

• Expand knowledge of public health and health services
• Apply the skills and competencies learned in the academic program in a public health practice setting
• Increase self-confidence as a public health professional
• Acquire practical skills to enhance career opportunities
• Provide a service to the practicum site by participating in projects to serve the community

Students are expected to gain supervised experience in a public health setting that will allow them to demonstrate competency through the APE. Students are required to submit at least two products, or deliverables, from the practicum experience. Each student will demonstrate a total of five competencies: three MPH foundational competencies and two competencies that are defined by the chosen field of study.

Integrative Learning Experience

The Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) includes a self-assessment, a critical reflection of students’ professional growth. The ILE will demonstrate the attainment of the Foundational Competencies and field of study competencies. Students will submit a reflection paper, a presentation, and assigned projects to demonstrate a competency-based integrative learning experience.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for the Master of Public Health, students at Parker University must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete 45 credit hours of graduate study
• Complete the course of study required for the Master of Public Health with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, based on a 4.0 scale
• Complete the degree requirements with no more than two courses with a grade of “C.”
• Complete all of the Master of Public Health degree requirements within five years of beginning coursework; exceptions for extenuating circumstances reviewed by the Dean.