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A key feature of the Master of Public Health degree conferred by the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University is the emphasis on applied knowledge. Public health students engage in coursework and practical training to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully as public health professionals.
The Master of Public Health degree is a rigorous, terminal, professional degree accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
All Required Courses and Advising are Online
Studies may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. All courses are delivered in an online learning environment. There are no on-campus courses offered by the Master of Public Health program at Michigan State University. However, students may request prior approval to enroll in public health-related on-campus courses as electives, although there is no guarantee of approval.
Courses are not self-paced. Students have the flexibility to access the coursework at the time of day that suits their schedule; however, they are expected to participate in courses on a regular basis throughout each week of the semester.
For detailed information, please visit the Master of Public Health Program page.
MPH Generalist for students admitted fall 2024 and after:
28 credits- Core Courses
9 credits- Generalist Concentration Courses (3 courses)
3 credits - Applied Practicum Experience
3 credits - Integrated Learning Experience (Capstone)
MPH Rural Health Public Health:
28 credits- Core Courses
9 credits- Rural Health Concentration Courses (3 courses)
3 credits - Applied Practicum Experience
3 credits - Integrated Learning Experience (Capstone)
MPH Public Health Data Management and Analytics:
28 credits- Core Courses
9 credits- Data Management Concentration Courses (3 courses)
3 credits - Applied Practicum Experience
3 credits - Integrated Learning Experience (Capstone)
MPH Generalist for students admitted prior to fall 2024:
25 credits- Foundation and Core Courses
3 credits – Selective (1 course)
9 credits- Electives (3 courses)
3 credits - Applied Practicum Experience
3 credits - Integrated Learning Experience (Capstone)
Michigan State University utilizes the D2L Brightspace learning management system as the platform for delivering online courses. Within each course space in D2L, students have access to course information, recorded lectures, discussion forums, course assignments, and other resources. Instructors and students interact through D2L discussion forums, chats, e-mail, and Zoom video conferencing .
D2L Resources
Interested in What Course Space Looks Like in D2L?
Videos on How to Navigate D2L
Brightspace Learner Community
D2L Help
The MPH program offers courses in accordance with the semester schedule noted on the MSU Academic Calendar . We offer our MPH core courses and MPH foundational courses each semester, and elective courses on a varying schedule. Course offering schedules along with the course descriptions can be found on the MSU Course Descriptions page.
| Semester | Length of Semester in Weeks |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
15 |
| Spring Semester |
15 |
| Summer Semester |
14 |
Program Completion
The Master of Public Health program offers courses each semester of the academic year (fall, spring, and summer). If an MPH student enrolls in courses full time (the Graduate School considers full-time enrollment as nine credits in one semester), they can complete the degree requirements in five semesters or just under two years. Enrollment each semester is flexible, and students can work with their advisor to create a curriculum plan to best suit their scheduling needs. Students have a maximum of six years to complete the requirements for the MPH degree.
| Credit Enrollment Per Semester |
# of Semesters to
Complete Degree
|
Approx. # of Years to
Complete Degree
|
|---|
| Full Time: Enrolled in ~9 Credits |
5 |
1.6 |
| Part Time: Enrolled in ~6 Credits |
8 |
2.6 |
| Part Time: Enrolled in ~3 Credits |
14 |
4.6 |
As many of our students are non-traditional students who are currently employed or are concurrently pursuing post-bachelor degrees, our MPH students have, on average, completed their degree requirements in just over two and a half years.
Coursework Time Commitment
MPH students are expected to participate in their courses regularly throughout each week while having the flexibility to access the coursework at the time of day that best suits their schedule. The rigor of our coursework is such that students cannot be successful if they do not attend to their coursework on a regular basis. Instructors monitor course activity and students may be dropped from their course if they do not actively participate on a regular basis. Additionally, our coursework requires study time outside of the time spent within the course. MPH students can expect to spend an average of 12 hours per course per week on coursework, studying, and completing assignments, quizzes, and exams. Please keep in mind, time commitments may vary by course and by student.
Interested in an Epidemiology or Biostatistics Focus?
The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics offers public health training through Master of Science and doctoral degrees as well as a dual undergraduate degree program for academically motivated MSU undergraduate students. They provide a unique and stimulating environment for students and faculty to contribute to the improvement of public health. Their programs offer students a unique interdisciplinary training curriculum. Opportunities include monthly seminars with visiting scholars, training in innovative statistical and epidemiologic methods, supportive faculty mentorship, peer-to-peer discussions of contemporary issues across epidemiology and population health, and events sponsored by the Department’s vibrant graduate student organization, GEMS.
