Academics

Clinicians eligible for the 42-credit degree option include clinicians who have completed an accredited undergraduate program in the U.S. or its equivalent -AND- are currently licensed as a “health care provider” in a U.S. state or territory. Health care providers include: doctor of medicine or osteopathy, podiatrist, dentist, physician assistant, chiropractor, clinical psychologist, optometrist, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, pharmacist, registered dietician, or clinical social worker who is authorized to practice by a State and is performing within the scope of their practice as defined by State law.

• Public Health Core Courses (18 credits)
• Applied Practice Experience (0 credits)
• Practicum Capstone (3 credits)
• Concentration Required Courses (15-18 credits)
• Electives (3-6 credits)*
• Interprofessional Educational Experience

*The difference between the traditional MPH degree (45-credits) and the MPH option for clinicians (42-credits) is the elimination of one elective course (3 credits).

The 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.

The MPH option for clinicians is available in all MPH concentrations and the competencies for each concentration of the MPH degree is listed on the School’s website at: https://sph.rutgers.edu/admissions/concentrations.html

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 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.