We understand the can-do types. The ones who want to bring about real change.

As a graduate of the 48-credit on-campus BU MPH, you will understand the complex interplay of the biological, social, economic, cultural, political, behavioral, and environmental factors that affect the health of populations. The on-campus BU MPH degree program offers unparalleled insight into the complex world of public health, allowing you to study this field in action and to step straight into your career after graduation.

Duration

Full-time: complete as quickly as 16 months
Part-time: complete in 2 to 3 years

Availability

On-campus
Hybrid (up to 4 core courses can be completed online)

Flexible Format

Switch between part-time and full-time options

Curriculum

As an on-campus Master of Public Health (MPH) student, you will develop essential skills needed in the field of public health, starting with a broad foundation and building advanced, more specialized skills.

Integrated Core Curriculum

The integrated core curriculum of the on-campus MPH program establishes a firm foundation of public health knowledge on which students can build their careers. After completing the core curriculum, students can confidently engage in the many issues facing the field of public health today.

Our integrated core curriculum

Certificates

Each on-campus MPH student also pursues specialized training by choosing certificates that best match their professional goals within a field of study within public health. Students are required to choose one functional certificate though up to two are possible, and have the option to add a context certificate.

Certificate options

Transformative Courses

The on-campus MPH curriculum provides the breadth, depth, and practical experience needed to excel in a public health career. Our 300+ courses include infectious disease epidemiology, climate and health, social justice, racism and other systems of oppression in America, communications strategies, health law, policymaking, and design and conduct of clinical trials.

Explore the course bulletin

By the end of the program, you will master all Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competencies, including:

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

Director of MPH Programs

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Faculty Spotlight: Megan Healey

Specializations

Functional Certificates

Context Certificates

Outcomes

Professional Development & Career Preparation

Career pathways in public health vary greatly and depend on the unique interests of each student. Graduates have the potential to work for international aid organizations monitoring disease spread and prevention across the globe, as program coordinators at community health organizations, and as advocates and policy advisors on public health related issues across the nation and the world. Public health is a vast field concerned with promoting and improving the conditions and wellbeing of individuals and societies. The MPH from Boston University opens the door to a diverse array of career paths within this dynamic field.

The on-campus MPH program at the School of Public Health emphasizes career development and promotion. The practicum experience, a requirement of the MPH program, hones your public health skills through 240 hours of relevant field experience completed at one of the many public health organizations in Boston or in any location around the globe. This experience helps build your resume for future positions in the public health sector.

The Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) integrates your certificate training with an experiential project intended to hone your practical skills as required for your future career path.

Further career development is facilitated through the Career P.R.E.P. program, which empowers you with the confidence and techniques to market yourself in the field of public health. Learn more about all of the professional development opportunities available to on-campus MPH students.

Mobilize your career

With the largest office of Career and Practicum amongst all schools of public health, mobilize your career and your ability to drive change in the world by pairing your passion, experience, and education with the on-campus BU MPH.

MPH'16

Faiz Kidwai

“SPH is a special place. It provides us with the tools we need to champion the causes we feel strongly about.”

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Admissions

All students accepted to the standalone on-campus MPH program are guaranteed scholarship aid.

Students seeking admission to the on-campus Master of Public Health program at BU’s School of Public Health must have already earned or be in the process of earning a bachelor’s degree. There are no specific undergraduate pre-requisites, though experience working, volunteering, or researching topics related to public health are valued in the review process.

No GRE score required or considered as part of your application. To learn more about our admission requirements and find out this year’s application deadlines, please visit our admissions requirements page.

Join us at Boston's School of Public Health

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Master of Public Health (MPH).