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Curriculum-COMHE
Public health professionals in the twenty first century will need to understand and work with other disciplines and demonstrate proficiencies in technical, managerial, communications and advocacy skills. To prepare our students for these positions, we have developed an innovative curriculum in which students from all three tracks take required public health (PH) courses together, in addition to community health education and elective requirements. Students have the option to take elective courses in other departments such as urban planning, anthropology, nursing, geography and sociology
Courses emphasize both the theoretical foundations of public health and its practical application. Urban Public Health faculty have graduate degrees in different disciplines. In addition to teaching, faculty are actively involved in research and community work, enabling them to to familiarize students with diverse approaches to studying and solving public health problems. Faculty also assist students to develop the writing and computer skills needed for professional achievement.
Courses meet once a week. Students can attend full-time (12 or more credits per semester) or part-time. Each course is 3 credits. Most students complete the degree in 2 to 4 years, depending on their work schedule. Students must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing.
The COMHE MPH program consists of 16 courses (48 credits) and a non-credit Capstone Seminar or, for qualified students, master's essay. The MPH design of study:
- 18 credits in Public Health: one year of biostatistics & epidemiology, one semester of health care administration, environmental health and safety, and principles of urban public health, and a seminar in public health and public policy.
- 15 credits in Community Health Education: community health assessment, community health interventions, community organizing for health, health program planning and funding,
- 9 credits in electives, including courses in infectious diseases, immigrant health, women's health, nutrition, reproductive health/sexuality, occupational/environmental health, health care administration, gerontology, international health, GIS.
- 6 units (the equivalent of three months full time) of supervised fieldwork.
- Culminating seminar in which students complete a project based on their fieldwork and knowledge and skills attained through coursework. The project may include policy development, research, development of training or community program, etc. There is an option to do a master's essay in lieu of the Capstone for students with a 3.8 GPA or higher. The essay and capstone are not credit bearing.
