Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice

This degree provides a strong foundation in both the biological, environmental, and social determinants of diseases as well as methods courses; and seeks to prepare students to work in state and local health departments and other public health-related organizations.

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 will be able to:

• MPH-PHP1: Critique epidemiologic literature, assess its strengths and weaknesses, and determine if conclusion(s) are supported;
• MPH-PHP2: Use epidemiologic techniques to quantitatively assess patterns in disease occurrence;
• MPH-PHP3: Interpret results of quantitative research methods in the analysis of health services data;
• MPH-PHP4: Develop objectives and a logic model for program evaluation; and
• MPH-PHP5: Prepare program evaluation or research findings for a professional audience.

The 100% Online MPH in Public Health Practice degree is offered as both a full-time and part-time program. Students will complete a total of 45 credits, including a practicum experience and capstone research project.

Students seeking this degree must complete 45 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 (approximately 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.

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

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

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.

Core Courses (21 credits): 

• PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
• PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
• PHCO 0503 - Introduction to Environmental Health
• PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
• PHCO 0505 - Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health
• PHCO 0513 - Leadership and Management Essentials for Public Health
• PHCO 0515 - Understanding the Intersection of Biology, Social Determinants, and Public Health (new course expected to be first offered in Fall 2025)

Required Concentration Courses (15 credits):

• HBSP 0600 - Health Behavior and Policy Research Design and Methods
• HBSP 0652 - Program Planning and Evaluation
• UGPH 0580 - Social Determinants of Health
• UGPH 0521 - Culture and Health
• UGPH 0605 - Qualitative Research Methods

Recommended Electives (6 credits)

Electives may be chosen from the below list of recommended courses; from other courses offered across the School of Public Health, including the School’s global courses (INTL courses); or with approval of the academic advisor. An Independent Study may also be done for up to 3-credits, with approval of the academic advisor and an SPH faculty member. Students interested in taking a graduate course at another Rutgers school must consult with their academic advisor and complete appropriate cross-registration forms in advance of registration. When choosing electives, students should consider the prerequisite requirement(s) and the location or teaching modality of the course. (Courses below are offered online asynchronous or online synchronous.)

• ENOH 0560 - Public Health Biology and Physiology
• ENOH 0621 - Sustainability: Planetary and Human
• ENOH 0620 - Climate Change: Planetary and Human Health
• EPID 0621 - Survey Research Methods in Epidemiology
• HBSP 0602 - Long-Term Effects of Child Inequality and Early Life Adversity
• HBSP 0603 - Mental Health and Aging
• HBSP 0623 - Cross-National Comparisons of Health Systems
• HBSP 0682 - Understanding Suicide
• UGPH 0515 - Global Communicable and Noncommunicable
• UGPH 0560 - Maternal and Child Health
• UGPH 0600 - Introduction to Global Public Health
• UGPH 0648 - Public Health Aspects of HIV Prevention and Care

Online MPH in Public Health Practice Degree program students cannot register for campus-based courses at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Online students are eligible to participate in short courses offered in collaboration with the school's Office for Global Programs and with advisor approval, online students may register for online-synchronous courses.

The Online MPH in Public Health Practice is a fully online degree program. Robust courses and engaging learning experiences will be delivered through Canvas, a learning management system, which can be accessed using your computer from your own home or other preferred location with suitable internet connection and bandwidth speeds.

Students will digitally interact with their professors and classmates through various opportunities, such as discussion boards, interactive lessons, engaging group activities, and collaborative projects throughout each semester. Students will also be able to review and access course materials, recorded lectures, and other forums online at any time.

Like traditional classroom courses, Online MPH in Public Health Practice courses will start and end on specific days and have assignment deadlines that are the same for all online students.

The Online MPH in Public Health Practice courses are developed by subject matter experts in public health and instructional designers in online learning. Each program is designed to deliver relevant, applicable course outcomes that will help prepare you to succeed in public health practice. 

All students are required to possess a personal laptop, no older than approximately two years, which must meet the computing requirements outlined here. Additionally, students must have a headset with a microphone and an internet connection with a bandwidth of 100mbps.