Master of Public Health

The MPH program provides students with a strong foundation in the five core areas of public health:

• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Health Policy & Management
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Social & Behavioral Sciences

The MPH Program requires 43 credit hours. A practicum is required.

The curriculum for the degree program was designed to meet the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Core courses for the degree program will meet the professional standards of CEPH.

The curriculum provides a solid, educational foundation in approaches of analysis and interventions to prevent illness and injury and promote health. Through the core curriculum, students become knowledgeable about the U.S. health system to design public health interventions and policies. Required coursework trains students to identify problems (e.g., infant mortality rates, lack of access to affordable care, or chronic illnesses) that face population groups and communities. The curriculum provides students with the opportunity to learn how to conduct research that synthesizes contemporary social inequalities in health data related to race, social class, and gender to ensure the validity and reliability of health data.

In addition to core courses, students are required to take coursework in health equity to gain knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop and implement community needs assessments aimed at improving health disparities. Coursework in health equity focuses on examining socio-economic determinants of health and conducting research and analysis on inequities to define and devise community-engaged solutions. Students learn to use population-level data to conduct comparative analysis to influence public health programs and policies. The required coursework educates students in strategic planning and strategies to prepare for public health crises such as disease outbreaks and national environmental disasters in communities with vulnerable populations.

The required practicum provides an experiential learning experience to enhance the student’s knowledge and skills while working with health professionals (e.g., physicians and nurses), community leaders, and other professionals in a variety of public and private sector organizations. Since students in the degree program are practicing skills learned in the program, prior experience cannot be applied toward the practicum requirement.

The practicum includes a field-based experience in an approved public health organization under the direction of a preceptor and a faculty advisor. The practicum allows students to develop practical skills and competencies required of public health practitioners. The practicum requires a minimum of 200 clock hours per student that is focused on academic progress. Students are required to enroll in the practicum course in the spring semester of their second academic year in the program.

Admission to the Master of Public Health in Public Health degree program is accomplished by completion of an online application via the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) portal. All application materials must be submitted electronically via the SOPHAS portal.

If accepted for admission, prior to enrollment, official transcripts must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies through SOPHAS. When an applicant’s file is complete, the admissions committee will review the application, make a decision regarding admission, and the School of Graduate Studies will convey the decision in writing to the applicant.

Specific requirements include:

• Prior degree: Completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum GPA: 2.8 on 4.0 scale for conferred degrees (3.0 preferred)
• Tests: GRE, GMAT or MCAT not required
• Recommendations: Two (2) academic and/or professional  
• Essay: 500-word personal statement detailing reasons for interest in the MPH Program and health equity
• Transcripts: From all academic institutions attended 

If admitted, official transcripts are required by the deadlines established in the catalog. Official transcripts must be submitted electronically and requested directly via the SOPHAS portal.

International students who attended undergraduate school at a non-U.S. institution must submit an official, evaluated transcript from an approved agency such as the WorldEducation Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). WES reports must be submitted electronically and requested directly via the SOPHAS portal. All foreign applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate the necessary level of proficiency in English Language by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Application review will begin in February 2026. To ensure adequate time for processing prior to enrollment, the Graduate School must receive all required applications materials by May 1 for fall semester enrollment. 

Get started by Applying to NSU

An MPH from NSU opens doors to a wide range of careers in public health, including:

• Public Health Officer
• Epidemiologist
• Health Educator
• Community Health Program Manager
• Health Policy Analyst
• Environmental Health Specialist
• Global Health Professional

Graduates are prepared to work in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, community health centers, and research institutions.

Jamela M. Martin, PhD, RN
Interim MPH Program Director
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Nursing and Allied Health

Angela Mitchell, MPH, MBA, CHES®
MPH Program Coordinator
mph-program@nsu.edu