Master of Public Health

Temple University's Master of Public Health (MPH) was one of the first fully accredited programs by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in the Delaware Valley and has over 20 years of experience in training public health professionals. Temple's MPH program provides a credential that indicates competency in social, environmental, and behavioral aspects of health, the analytic sciences of epidemiology and biostatistics, and principles of health service management, including program planning, evidence-based practice, and evaluation.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a terminal, professional master's degree awarded for studies in areas related to public health. Public health carries out its mission through organized, interdisciplinary efforts that address prevention and the physical, mental, social, environmental, and global health concerns of communities and populations at risk for disease and injury.  The department offers four MPH concentrations to choose from:

MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)
This MPH program has a strong focus on addressing the behavioral, social and cultural factors related to individual and population health and the social and behavioral aspects of community health, health communication, program implementation and evaluation, and health education.

MPH in Environmental Health (EH)
MPH in Environmental Health is designed to prepare graduates for practice-oriented careers in environmental health and management, with an emphasis on examining environmental factors and environmental policy that affect the health and sustainable environments of communities.

MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (EBS)
The MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics is a terminal, professional degree for those students who desire to receive fundamental training in the public health sciences, epidemiological study design, chronic and infectious disease surveillance, and core biostatistical methods.

MPH in Global Health (GH)

This program is intended for students interested in exploring how globalization is affecting determinants of health, the health status of populations, health policy and the capacity of nation states to deal with health and disease. Temple University is an international institution with a global focus with Temple campuses in China, Japan, Rome, and London. This concentration builds upon departmental faculty strengths in global health training and research programs in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

The MPH curriculum includes the following core courses in the broad disciplines of public health: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Science, Health Policy and Management, Public Health Practice, and Social and Behavioral Sciences; as well as cross-cutting competencies such as cultural competency, leadership, and public health biology.

MPH degree requirements are:

Culminating Experience: MPH Fieldwork

Students have the opportunity to select an appropriate fieldwork experience to apply theory and skills in the classroom to public health practice. Fieldwork sites are selected based on individual student interest and competency requirements within the declared MPH program (SBS, EH, EBS or GH), and advisement from the MPH program faculty. Six hours of fieldwork coursework (a two course sequence) during the final year of the program enables students to reinforce guidelines for ethics, professionalism, skills development, and linkages between the domains and cross-cutting competencies of public health to essential service areas in public health practice.

The MPH culminating experience requires students to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experience, and to apply theory and principles in professional practice through an internship or independent project.

In the fieldwork practicum, students complete an in-depth community-based project in one of a wide range of approved local health agencies in order to gain experience in applying skills acquired in the academic program, including epidemiological assessment of health problems, program development, data management and analysis, and program evaluation.

 Particular skills targeted include: reviewing and critiquing research literature, managing background data, selecting appropriate interventions based on theory and previous evaluation activities, planning and implementation of a formal project, developing tools and systems necessary for project completion, collecting and analyzing data, time management, and interpersonal skills. International fieldwork opportunities are available in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Dual-degree Programs Offered in Public Health

The public health perspective is increasingly relevant to clinical fields, where population-based research and health behavior models assist in the application of preventive health services. Clinically trained professionals are discovering that the MPH degree opens new career options and enhances their mobility within their chosen fields.

Dual degrees with the MPH are now available in collaboration with the following schools:

• School of Medicine (MD-MPH)
• School of Podiatric Medicine (DPM-MPH)
• School of Social Work (MSW-MPH)
• Kornberg School of Dentistry (DMD-MPH)
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO-MPH)
  

Transfer Credit
A maximum of 9 semester hours completed at other institutions may be applied toward the MPH degree program with the approval of the MPH Advisor. Written requests for transfer credit will not be considered until a student has matriculated into the MPH program.