Purpose of Degree
The purpose of the degree is to prepare students in the five core public health competencies:

• Epidemiology
• Health Administration
• Environmental Health
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Biostatistics

Students are also prepared to meet the graduate health education "competency framework" developed by the health education profession.

With the concentration in Community Health Education, graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.  This indicates that they have the requisite skills in developing, planning, implementing and evaluating public health education programs to gain this credential.

Graduates are also eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam.  This indicates that students will have the requisite skills in the five core public health competencies as well as cross-cutting areas relevant to contemporary public health.

National accreditation(s) of the program:
The MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). CEPH is the independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and certain public health programs. CEPH accreditation attests to the quality of an educational program that prepares for entry into the public health profession. Accreditation provides assurance to students that the school or program has been evaluated and has met accepted standards established by and with the profession. Accreditation provides potential employers, with assurance that the curriculum covers essential skills and knowledge needed for today’s jobs.

Mission statement of the program:
The mission for the MPH program is to develop a future in which there is a demand for public health excellence in eastern Pennsylvania, and in which the ESU public health program becomes the recognized regional center for public health excellence by preparing public health workforce professionals who partner with communities and use applied research and public health practice to empower communities and foster organizational collaboration.

As an accredited MPH program, the faculty are heavily involved in scholarly service to the field of public health as well as conducting research to facilitate solving public health problems.

Faculty members conduct this work at the national, state and local level. Examples of faculty research include:

• Cancer health literacy
• International health
• Reproductive health
• Smoking cessation
• Social marketing
• Substance abuse prevention

Faculty members engaged in conducting and publishing research collaborate with graduate assistants and other students. A number of these students, some supported by research assistantships, are integrally involved in these projects.

Program of Study

Graduates work in program management, health education, behavioral sciences or health administration to prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, protect citizens against environmental hazards, prevent injuries, promote and encourage healthy behavior in communities, respond to disasters and recovery efforts, and assure the quality and accessibility of health services.

Students who enter the program are typically involved in the following professional areas:

• Biology
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Social Behavioral Sciences (such as psychology, anthropology or sociology)
• Teaching
• Variety of other fields

Illustrative plan of study:

Final graduation requirement
All M.P.H. graduate candidates will be required to complete an oral comprehensive exam at the end of their coursework.