ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The MPH degree program provides a broad didactic experience in public health and preventive medicine. It is a rigorous curriculum with a quantitative focus, is sequenced to be completed within 12 months, and is primarily designed for individuals planning careers in Preventive Medicine and Public Health within the Uniformed Services. An MPH degree or its academic equivalent is a specific requirement for physicians seeking residency training and board certification in Aerospace Medicine, General Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and several other public health specialties. Matriculants may include physicians and other academically qualified health professionals, such as veterinarians, dentists, sanitary engineers, microbiologists, entomologists, environmental scientists, nurses, and pharmacists, who wish to apply the core disciplines of public health to their career field. Uniformed personnel with education or experience in a health-related discipline are given priority as candidates for admission.

Graduates are expected to use their acquired quantitative and analytical skills in biostatistics and epidemiology to identify and measure community health needs and to investigate the impact of biological, environmental, and/or behavioral factors to solve public health problems. Each graduate will understand the components, operations, and financing of healthcare delivery services, particularly those in the public sector, and have the administrative skills to plan, analyze, manage, and improve public health programs for the Uniformed Services. In addition, many graduates will complete an “area of concentration” with required and elective course work in a specific area of public health and demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate specialized knowledge and skills to their chosen field.

The MPH degree program consists of a minimum of 60 quarter credit hours. The MPH degree requires 35 credit hours in core courses in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences. The minimum credit load per quarter required for a full-time student is 12, the maximum allowed is 22, and the typical load is 16-18. The satisfactory completion of an independent project and a practicum experience is required, and the courses related to these requirements are part of the core curriculum. The independent project is the capstone of the program and should represent the synthesis, integration, and application of core public health concepts and principles to solve or advance our understanding of a public health problem.

 

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION

phone: (301) 295-9769
email: pmb@usuhs.edu

 

[embed video]

MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH GRAD, ERIKA SCHWARTZ

Hear from one of our grads, ADM Erika Schwartz, as she discusses the role of Chief Medical Officer in the Coast Guard. She's responsible for writing the Coast Guard's policy responses to some of the biggest challenges in the last decade including Ebola, Deep Water Horizon, and hurricane relief.

PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE TRACKS

  • Environmental & Occupational Health
  • Epidemiology & Biostatistics
  • Global Health
  • Health Services Administration & Policy
  • Public Health, General
  • Tropical Public Health

 

Program Highlights

Students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research that spans numerous possibilities: basic science, clinical research, global health, etc. Particular focus areas relevant to military medicine include traumatic brain injury, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, emerging infectious and neglected tropical diseases, combat casualty care, substance abuse, genomics and precision medicine.

Graduate Research

Faculty in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics have years of experience in areas such as force health protection, epidemiologic surveillance using DoD systems, field epidemiology, and an understanding of the unique population that includes Active Duty service members, Guard and Reserve, family members, and retirees, giving students a unique perspective on Preventive Medicine before leaving the classroom.

Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics