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45 semester hours
Purpose of Degree
The purpose of the degree is to prepare students in the core public health competencies (Epidemiology, Health Administration, Environmental Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences and Biostatistics), and 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 exam. This indicates that they have the requisite skills in developing, planning, implementing and evaluating public health education programs to gain this credential.
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: research to prevent HIV/AIDS, research on effective health care delivery and dental care delivery, a community breastfeeding initiative, community violence and substance abuse prevention initiatives, internet health applications, school-based health. center implementation and evaluation and various other projects. 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
The Master of Public Health degree in Community Health Education is a 45-credit program that includes a nine-credit internship requirement, a requirement to pass an oral exam and a requirement to write a publishable quality paper. Because the program combines traditional public health course work with professional training in community health education, graduates are prepared to work in very diverse settings. Graduates work in program management, health education and behavioral sciences or health administration to prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, to protect citizens against environmental hazards, to prevent injuries, to promote and encourage healthy behavior in communities, to respond to disasters and recovery efforts and to assure the quality and accessibility of health services.
Students who enter the program are typically involved in the following professional areas: social behavioral sciences (such as psychology, anthropology or sociology), nursing, medicine, biology, teaching and various other fields.
Illustrative plan of study:
Required courses: HLTH 509, 537, 538, 553, 555, 557, 560, 561, 562, 563, 570, 571, 581, 586
Final graduation requirement
All M.P.H. graduate candidates will be required to complete an oral comprehensive exam at the end of their coursework.
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