Master of Public Health Public Health with a Concentration in Epidemiology (MPH)
For information about the MPH Program:
mph@odu.edu
Website: https://www.odu.edu/academics/programs/masters/public-health
Students can complete this program in a traditional (classroom) format or online.
The Master's of Public Health (MPH) is designed to prepare students for entry and/or advancement in public health careers. The program provides students with an understanding of the public health sciences and with knowledge and skills that can be utilized in healthcare management, population-based research, and the community practice of public health. The MPH is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree from all academic disciplines within and outside of the health disciplines. The graduates of the program will be ready to serve as invaluable professionals and leaders in the realm of public health.
Epidemiologists are public health professionals that focus on the causes, patterns and control of diseases and injury in populations. Epidemiology is a fundamental science of public health and is essential to the reduction of risk and the occurrence of negative health outcomes. The epidemiology curriculum provides rigorous training in the knowledge and skills for analyzing community health problems, with emphasis on how to measure and describe the health of populations.
Admission
The Master of Public Health program evaluates applicants using a holistic review process. All components of an application are reviewed prior to making an admission decision. Consideration may be given for appropriate work experience in a health-related field.
All applications are made through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), the centralized application service for schools and programs of public health.
Application Checklist:
- Completion of Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited US institution or Foreign institution with a GPA of 2.8 or higher.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from academic sources or employment supervisor. Additional letters of recommendation are encouraged, if available.
- Unofficial transcripts from all degree-granting programs listing the dates of program completion or attendance.
- A personal essay of approximately 500 words explaining your public health career goals, reasons for interest in the Public Health program, specialty concentration selected with reasons for this selection, and any relevant work experience
- TOEFL (minimum 79 IBT or 550 paper)/IELTS (minimum 7.0) is required for International Applicants.
There are no pre-requisite courses or specific undergraduate degrees required to be eligible to apply. Previous coursework in statistics and research methods is encouraged but not required. Applicants will be formally notified of admission decisions within two weeks of receipt of a completed application. Applicants need to confirm their spot in the program within 2 weeks of receiving a decision. Admitted students will be assigned a faculty advisor in their concentration area.
Curriculum Requirements
Recommended Prerequisites
Our faculty strongly recommend that students applying to the epidemiology track have a minimum of two college-level math courses at the level of algebra or above. A statistics course is acceptable for one of the math courses. It is also recommended that students have at least two college-level biology courses.
Full-Time Course Sequence
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Fall Term | 10 | |
| Introduction to Public Health Practice | ||
| Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health | ||
| Social and Behavioral Sciences for Public Health | ||
| Health Management and Systems Thinking | ||
| Spring Term | 9 | |
| Principles of Epidemiology | ||
| Research Methods in Public Health | ||
Elective | ||
| Summer Term | 6 | |
| Statistical Software for Public Health | ||
| Epidemiology Methods I | ||
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Term | 9 | |
| Biostatistics II | ||
| Epidemiologic Methods II | ||
Elective | ||
| Spring Term | 9 | |
| Environment and Public Health | ||
| Applied Practice Experience | ||
Elective | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 43 | |
Elective Options
Please see your faculty advisor for additional options and for information on when courses are offered.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MPHO 626 | Effective Information Technology for Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| MPHO 627 | Data Visualization | 3 |
| MPHO 634 | Health Law and Ethics | 3 |
| MPHO 690 | Leadership | 3 |
| MPHO 706 | Categorical Data Analysis | 3 |
| MPHO 707 | Survival Analysis | 3 |
| MPHO 715 | Current Issues in Epidemiology | 3 |
| MPHO 727 | Organizational Management | 3 |
| MPHO 736 | Conflict Analysis and Negotiations | 3 |
| MPHO 737 | Infectious and Chronic Disease Epidemiology | 3 |
| MPHO 772 | International Health Exchange Program | 3 |
Additional Requirements
Sequence of Course Offerings
A full-time student should be able to finish the program in five (5) academic terms. The study plan is designed to both accommodate typical student program time-to-completion needs and ensure a successful path through the coursework to program completion. Most courses are offered once per academic year in a specific semester for both online and on-campus students. Please review the course sequence carefully. Students interested in attending the program in a part-time capacity should contact their academic advisor for an individualized plan.
Graduation Requirements
Requirements for graduation include a minimum 43 graduate credit hours, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 overall and in the concentration.
Financial Assistance
Financial aid is available to graduate students at Old Dominion University. In addition to the financial aid offered by the University, graduate students may be eligible for aid and student loans administered by other agencies. For information please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
For additional information on the MPH curriculum or admission requirements, or if you’re interested in taking courses as a non-degree seeking student, please contact the Graduate Program Director (mph@odu.edu).