Students are introduced to the program's learning platforms, tools, and resources to support their success in an online learning environment. Students learn the foundations of public health, including public health history, its core functions and disciplines and biological and social factors that affect health.

In this module, students learn about public health approaches for health and health equity, including social determinants of health. Students learn fundamental quantitative skills to analyze, synthesize, and apply data to inform decisions, and improve population health outcomes. Students are also introduced to different data collection methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis, population health needs assessments, techniques for budget and resource management, and strategies for effective leadership including managing conflict.

In this module, students learn about policymaking, and culturally and context appropriate communication and strategies to improve health in diverse populations. Students learn to design theory and evidence-based policies, programs, and interventions. The module also covers ethics, local and global politics in policymaking, and how to assess health care and regulatory systems.

Note: Module 2 includes graded, synchronous group-work component.

In this module, students develop both quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis skills to identify and address sources of health inequities. Students develop skills in epidemiological methods, exposure assessment, and health impact assessment to apply to current challenges in climate and environmental health. The module includes techniques for data management, data visualization and translation, coding and thematic analyses.

In this module, students learn strategies to address public health challenges affecting their communities. Students learn to translate knowledge into practice by using effective communication and education strategies to integrate different perspectives, audiences, and sectors. Students develop skills in stakeholder engagement, public health advocacy, resource-mapping, coalition building, community health organizing, and policy evaluation.

In this practice-based module, students learn to apply research public health skills in real-world settings to improve health outcomes of individuals, communities, and populations. Students gain real-world experiences in areas such as: community health needs assessments, intervention design, implementation, and cost estimation, and monitoring and evaluation of programs for impact and implementation fidelity. The required practicum component is included directly within this module.

Note: Module 5’s practicum includes synchronous group-work and students will be expected to meet live with their team.

In this final capstone module, students demonstrate the skills and knowledge they gained throughout the program in the form of a high-quality written product. Students address the ways that structural bias and social inequities undermine health, and they design strategies to communicate evidence-based findings to diverse audiences.

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

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

Public Health & Healthcare Systems

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

Planning & Management to Promote Health

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

Policy in Public Health

• Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

• Apply leadership and/or management principles to address relevant issues.
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
• Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e. non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional and/or Intersectoral Practice

• Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.

Systems Thinking

• Apply systems thinking tools to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative.

No, but we recommend at least two years of work experience as the master's degree in public health is designed for working professionals.

Online master’s degree in public health students are employed by many different industries and fields. Recent students have included employees from federal and local governments, NGOs, community health organizations, healthcare providers, nurses, physicians, hospital administrations, and pharmaceutical companies. Our students are united by their commitment to improving health for all while advancing in their professional careers.

Yes, and we bring the practicum to you. As a CEPH-accredited program, the project-based practicum is a requirement, but it is included within Module 5—which means you will not need to identify your own practicum.

The master’s degree in public health online is an accessibly priced degree program. Online MPH students are not eligible for institutional scholarships; however, domestic students may qualify for Federal Unsubsidized Loans. Visit our Office of Student Financial Services to learn more.

• A module is the equivalent of two graduate-level courses at the same time within one semester. 
• Each module requires commitment and planning to meet weekly assigned deliverables.
• You can expect to spend about 20 hours per week on readings, assessments, practice problems, watching videos, and/or group projects.

Since this is a part-time program designed for the working professional, students may only take 1 module per semester.

• No. Content is released weekly, and you are expected to meet weekly deadlines. We cannot release material ahead of a predetermined schedule.
• While the live sessions are optional, the deliverables and assignments are not.
• Please be prepared to work through your content on a week-to-week basis during the semester.

Module 0 is a preparatory module that prepares students for the online master’s degree in public health. The content includes a history of public health, learning strategies and a quantitative primer. Module 0 must be completed before the start of your first semester.

The online MPH degree requires at least 20 hours of work per week. New content is released every week, and there are weekly assessment deadlines. These assessments can take the form of quizzes, papers, or group work. There are also weekly Faculty Live sessions and Learning Facilitator office hours. Attendance at live sessions and office hours is optional but highly recommended. Session recordings are available and students who cannot attend are expected to watch the recordings.

While attendance at weekly Faculty Live sessions are optional, Module 2 and Module 5 include synchronous group-work meetings that are linked to graded assignments/practicum and therefore live participation may be required for certain deliverables.

Every module is assigned a Learning Facilitator, and every student has access to a Student Success Specialist to assist you during your academic journey. Learning Facilitators and Student Success Specialists are full-time BUSPH staff members.

Our OL MPH Student Success team holds virtual opportunities to build community with our students across the country and globe. Online public health master's students are also invited to attend selected, school-wide virtual opportunities. Learn more about program resources and community engagement opportunities here.

Yes. The coursework and weekly live sessions are developed and delivered by recognizable BUSPH faculty members. The Student Success team and Learning Facilitators are also full-time BUSPH staff members.