Master of Public Health

Master of Public Health Curriculum

A key feature of the Master of Public Health degree is the emphasis on applied knowledge. Public health students engage in coursework and practical training to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform successfully as public health professionals in Michigan, throughout the United States, and internationally. Explore the courses you will take as a Spartan in Public Health with three MPH concentrations to select from: Generalist, Rural Public Health, and Public Health Data Management and Analytics.

Course Delivery Platform

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 .

MPH student wearing scrubs and stethoscope

Dual Enrollment

Are you interested in cross-disciplinary work in public health? Consider dual enrollment.

Graduate or professional students can share up to 9 credits between the MPH and another MSU graduate or professional program. Click the "Read more" link to view curriculum options.
Undergraduate students can share up to 9 credits from the MPH with their undergrad program.

Students interested in pursuing dual enrollment must apply to and be admitted to each of the programs separately.

MPH graduates holding a 'spartans in public health' sign

Culminating Experience

The Culminating Experience of the MPH degree consists of a public health practicum experience: HM 892 Public Health Applied Practice Experience (APE) and a capstone paper: HM 893 Public Health Integrative Learning Experience (ILE).

The APE aims to provide students with opportunities to apply public health concepts and theories in practical settings and improve their learning related to the program’s public health competencies. The ILE is designed to allow students to demonstrate their abilities in written form and to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired from their coursework and competencies developed during the program of study.

International Opportunity

Michigan State University (MSU) has a long history of international engagement and has led the nation in study abroad participation among public universities for the last six years. Each year, close to 3,000 students are transformed by their educational experiences outside of the United States and can be found in classrooms, research labs, field stations, and internships sites throughout the world.

The Office for Education Abroad's experienced staff is available to support, assist and guide MSU faculty, staff, students, and advisors, as well as our colleagues from across the globe, in developing programs and services that maximize a student's learning experience abroad.