About the Masters of Public Health Program
The Upstate Public Health MPH Degree requires a minimum of 42 credit hours and accommodates both full and part-time students. Students may complete their degree in as little as 12 months but have up to five years to complete the degree.
The interdisciplinary faculty of the Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine have developed a curriculum providing students and faculty with the fundamental principles of public health and preventive medicine, the skills of critical judgment based on evidence and experience, and the ability to use principles and skills wisely in solving problems of disease- or injury-prevention.
MPH Policies and Procedures are maintained on the Norton College of Medicine's Policies and Procedures page.
Coursework
Students in the MPH program will begin their curriculum by completing the required program coursework. Once complete, they will then pursue more focused coursework relevant to their concentrations.
The foundational coursework required for all students includes:
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
- Research methods
- Program planning and evaluation
- Public health policy
- Environmental Health
- Social and behavioral science models
- Applied practice experience
Concentrations & Electives
After their required coursework has been completed, students will then continue with courses that are relevant to their concentrations. Public Health Methods students pursue deeper training in both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Global Health & Translational Science students learn about the global health infrastructure. Population Health for Clinicians students learn to apply public health knowledge and skills to the clinical setting. They also receive instruction in clinical trial design and analysis and in the conduct of systematic reviews.
While there is limited room in the 42-credit MPH for electives, students typically can take one to two 3-credit electives, and we offer electives in chronic and infectious disease epidemiology, ethics, and humanities. Additionally, students may take courses from across concentrations as electives if they wish.
How Long is the MPH Program?
On a full-time basis, students in the MPH Program can complete their degree in as little as 12 months, regardless of which concentration they enter (Public Health Methods, Population Health for Clinicians, or Global Health & Translational Sciences).
Part-time students must complete all degree requirements within 5 years of matriculation. Completion of the degree is also dependent on the availability and timing of courses and upon the student's ability to complete the curriculum (full-time vs. part-time).
When I was considering the program, I met with Dr. Morley, who sat down with me and discussed the things that I could do with an MPH degree and the skills that I would learn through the program. I had always been interested in health services and outcomes research, and the program offered many opportunities to explore this field more
Kyle Plante, MD '20, MPH '16
Where will the MPH Degree Take You?
Graduates of our MPH program have gone on to a variety of career pathways. Some go to work in the public sector, such as at county health departments. Others go to work at non-profit health-related organizations, or into academia in educational or research positions. Some of our graduates who are already working professionally have utilized the MPH to expand their roles or advance in their current organizations. Additionally, many of our graduates have gone on to complete additional training in public health, social science, medicine, or other clinical sciences.
Careers in Public Health
Job titles, position descriptions, and salary ranges of recent public health graduates will vary greatly based on their course of study and interests. Career titles include:
- Public Health Management Analyst
- Director of Programs and Services
- Health Communications Specialist
- Project Coordinator
- Environmental Health Intelligence Analyst
- Research Associate
- Program Administrator
- Prevention Specialist
- Public Health Officer (usually at the federal level)
Still Have Questions?
Not sure which track is right for you? Questions about admissions requirements?
Contact:
Zoreslava Osiv, MBA
Clinical Instructor,
Program Coordinator, Masters of Public Health
College of Medicine Admissions Events
The Office of Admissions conducts information sessions for those who are interested in the Masters of Public Health Programs