Academics

Students seeking the MPH degree must complete 45 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than "B;" and complete the degree requirements within six year. This coursework is distributed as follows:

18 CREDITS in core areas of public health: Students in all concentrations must take the following six core courses: Health Systems and Policy, Introduction to Biostatistics, Introduction to Environmental Health, Principles and Methods of Epidemiology, Public Health Essentials, and Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health. Students must take and pass a quantitative skills assessment before registering for the core courses in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. We have designed a quantitative skill assessment screening test to help identify students who may have a weak math background or lack quantitative preparation. The assessment reviews basic quantitative skills and logic that is required in both the Biostatistics and the Epidemiology core courses. Based upon performance on the quantitative skills assessment, each student will be advised if he or she needs additional preparation prior to registering for the courses.

15 - 18 CREDITS of courses required by the concentration: Students enrolled at the New Brunswick location may concentrate in one of the following areas: Biostatistics; Environmental Health Sciences; Epidemiology; Global Public Health; Health Systems & Policy; Public Health Nutrition; Occupational Safety & Health; or Social & Behavioral Health Sciences. Students enrolled at the Newark location may concentrate in Epidemiology, Public Health Nutrition; or Urban Public Health. To determine which courses are required for specific concentrations, please visit the Concentrations webpages. Because courses are specific for each concentration, it is essential that students meet with their advisors each semester to discuss specific course selections and to have their schedules approved. Please refer to the Academic Advisement section of the School of Public Health's catalog.

6 - 9 CREDITS of elective courses: Please refer to the concentration's description for specific recommended electives for each concentration. If a student identifies courses that do not appear in the Catalog, approval to take the course must be obtained from the faculty advisor prior to registration.

3 CREDITS of Practicum Capstone: This includes a research project, supervised by a faculty member, and a final written report.

0 CREDITS of Applied Practice Experience: This includes a public health project, conducted at an outside organization, and two deliverables created for the organization.

An Interprofessional Education Experience: This includes participating in an approved interprofessional education event held in conjunction with the RBHS Office of Interprofessional Programs.

These competencies are informed by the traditional public health core knowledge areas, (biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration and environmental health sciences), as well as cross-cutting and emerging public health areas.

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

Public Health & Health Care Systems
• Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels

Planning & Management to Promote Health
• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
• Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs

Policy in Public Health
• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

Leadership
• Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

Communication
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

Interprofessional Practice*
• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams

Systems Thinking
• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue

Students may complete the requirements for two of the concentration areas. For example, a student can combine Epidemiology with Social & Behavioral Health Sciences. To achieve this, the student typically has two advisors, one from each concentration. The double major consists of a student taking all required concentration courses from both disciplines, usually requiring 51-54 credits in total (as compared to the minimum of 45 credits for the MPH degree). The Applied Practice Experience and Practicum Capstone requirements are coordinated between the two advisors and reflects both disciplines. Students who wish to request a dual concentration must complete and submit a Dual Concentration form. Individual concentration areas may have limitations or requirements on double concentrations. Students should consult an advisor from each area for complete information.

Students may complete one or more Certificate programs alongside their MPH degree to further enhance their skills and expertise in a specialized area. No more than six (6) credits may be counted towards the curricular requirements for a degree and certificate program. Students who wish to request an internal certificate must complete and submit a Request for Internal Certificate form. The requested Certificate program will review the student's original admissions file and the student's transcript.

For physicians interested in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program is a two year postgraduate medical training program leading to eligibility for certification in Occupational Medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. The Rutgers OEM program is affiliated with both the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the Rutgers School of Public Health. Residents complete the MPH during this period. For further information contact: please contact the program coordinator, Rutgers Residency Program in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 | phone: (848) 445-6093.

For physicians interested in Preventive Medicine, the Preventive Medicine Residency Program is a two year postgraduate medical training program leading to eligibility for certification by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. The Program is coordinated by the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School on the Rutgers Health Sciences Campus at Newark. Residents complete the MPH during this period. Grant stipend support may be available to qualified applicants. For further information contact: please contact the director of the Preventive Medicine Residency, Dr. Pauline Thomas, Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, MSB F592, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07101 | phone: (973) 972-9384.