A defining characteristic of the area of public health is its focus on population groups rather than individuals. Public health professionals are concerned with the health of communities, relying heavily on collaboration with local, state, and national entities to improve the health status of their targeted populations. With the current interest in health care reform, bioterrorism and preparedness, concerns over managed care, and other factors impacting the nation’s health care system, the need for highly trained public health professionals is increasing. The College of Public Health offers the Master of Public Health degree. The MPH is an applied professional/graduate degree designed for highly motivated students who have either a previously earned professional degree or a baccalaureate degree and substantial interest in public health. Unique sequencing of courses, community-based program activities, and field/laboratory research provide students with multiple opportunities to define their course of study in the four areas of concentration, , Epidemiology, Environmental/Occupational Health, Health Behavior, or Health Systems & Policy Analytics. The MPH. degree is designed to prepare graduates for entry and advancement in public health careers in public, non-profit and proprietary health care organizations.
Professionals with the MPH. hold important roles in a variety of public and private settings, e.g., local, state, and national health departments, health care facilities, military service, social service agencies, private industry, universities, and community-centered health education facilities. In these positions, they can be involved directly with the development, implementation and assessment of efforts to improve the health of the public and prevention of disease. The curriculum is designed to provide skills and knowledge upon which to build or enhance a career in public health. Unique sequencing of courses, community-based program activities, and field/laboratory research provide students with multiple opportunities to define their public health specialty and provide a broad overview of the disciplines of public health.
The Master of Public Health degree requires a minimum of 42 credit hours of study for completion. All students must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours of required core course work and at least 18 hours of specialty work in one of the four areas of concentration. In addition, a three credit-hour field practicum course (CPH 609), and a three credit-hour final integrative Capstone Project (CPH 608) are required. The dual MD/MPH. and PharmD/MPH. degrees are currently available.
Admission Requirements
Admission into the MPH program is competitive, and consideration is given to academic background, a history of service, interest in the field, a personal statement, career plans, and letters of recommendation. Applicants must also have achieved an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission test (GMAT). Applicants must complete a UK Graduate School Application and make a separate application through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS.org), the centralized application process for accredited schools/colleges of public health. Applications will not be reviewed until the SOPHAS application is completed. For additional information concerning the University of Kentucky, College of Public Health and its degrees, call (859) 218-2096, send e-mail to ukcph@uky.edu or go to http://www.uky.edu/publichealth/
Degree Requirements
The MPH Program is a total of 42-44 graduate-level credit hours. Students are also required to complete a non-thesis option capstone project.
Each student is required to pursue at least one concentration area from the following: Preventative Medicine and Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Behavior and Society, Health Systems and Policy Analytics. See concentration requirements for course requirements.
The program curriculum consists of the following core courses, required courses and concentration courses:
MPH Core Courses (required credit hours) - 24 to 25 Total Required Credit Hours
*CPH 663 is NOT required for students who have a Bachelor of Public Health degree from a CEPH accredited program.
Concentration Requirements (required credit hours) - 8 to19 Total Required Credit Hours
Each student is required to pursue at least one concentration area. Requirements are listed for each concentration below:
Environmental Health Concentration - 18 Required Credit Hours
Epidemiology Concentration - 18 Required Credit Hours
Health Behavior and Society Concentration - 19 Required Credit Hours
Health Systems and Policy Analytics - 18 Required Credit Hours
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