Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice for Health Professionals (MPH)

This degree provides knowledge of program evaluation and epidemiological methods to allow effective participation in interdisciplinary public health efforts.

This concentration trains current health professionals to develop a specialized skill set in understanding epidemiology to realize current disease patterns and impact health outcomes through program planning efforts, in-depth program evaluations, and appropriate communication of their findings.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health Exam.

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Each concentration identifies competencies for each degree offered. These competencies reflect the full range of knowledge, skills, and other attributes that a student will acquire as a result of completing the requirements for a particular degree.

Upon graduation, a student completing the MPH curriculum in Public Health Practice for Health Professionals will be able to:

• Critique epidemiologic literature, assess its strengths and weaknesses, and determine if conclusion(s) are supported;
• Use epidemiologic techniques to quantitatively assess patterns and changes in disease occurrence;
• Apply research methods to address a public health issue;
• Develop an evaluation plan, including process and impact evaluation approaches, for a population-based intervention, program, or issue; and
• Present program evaluation or research findings to professional audiences.

The MPH in Public Health Practice for Health Professionals degree is offered as both a full-time and part-time program for clinicians. Courses are available in-person, remote, and/or online. Students will complete a total of 42 credits, including a practicum experience and capstone research project.

Students seeking this degree must complete 42 credits* of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.0; earn no more than six (6) credits bearing grades less than “B,” and complete the degree requirements within six years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted and semester when each course is typically offered is noted parentheses. Students should review the Forward Schedule for long-term course planning and the Schedule-At-A-Glance for each semester to determine when, where, and how a course is offered.

If completing the program as a full-time student (nine or more credits per semester), the degree requirements may be completed in as little as two years (four to five semesters). Part-time students taking at least six credits per semester may expect to finish within four years. Taking courses in the summer may help expedite part-time students’ timing.

Students are also required to register for and complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation.

*The MPH in Public Health Practice for Health Professionals concentration is only available to students who are also eligible for the MPH Degree Option for Clinicians.

Fall Semester Start Date
January 15 (priority)
May 1 (regular)

Spring Semester Start Date
October 15 (priority)
December 1 (regular)

To be eligible for this program, health professionals must have completed an accredited undergraduate program in the United States or its equivalent, are currently licensed as a health care provider in the United States or its territory, and fulfill eligibility requirements for the MPH Degree Option for Clinicians.* Applicants who are Preventive Medicine Residents must have already been accepted as a resident at New Jersey Medical School.

*The MPH in Public Health Practice for Health Professionals concentration is only available to students who are also eligible for the MPH Degree Option for Clinicians. However, MPH Degree Option for Clinician students may pursue any Rutgers School of Public Health MPH Concentration.

A complete application includes:

• Completion of the online application
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Statement of goals, one-to-three pages in length, which addresses:
  • Interest in the program
  • Preparedness for the program
  • Goals and aspirations
• Two letters of recommendation with at least one letter from an academic reference if you are currently enrolled in a degree program or have graduated within the last four years.
• Resume or CV
• GRE General Exam (optional)
• TOEFL or IELTS score for applicants educated in a non-native English-speaking country

Applications are accepted on a rolling, space-available basis following the regular deadline.