College of Public Health

Master of Public Health

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Home Public Health Overview

Course Delivery

100% online

Total Credits

Approximate Cost per Credit

$695 in state
$705 out of state

Time to Completion

Graduate in as few as 24 months

Program Overview

Admissions Requirements

Courses

Tuition and Financial Aid

Program Overview

Prepare for a career that makes a difference.

In Kent State’s online Master of Public Health (MPH) program, you’ll build and strengthen your expertise in advocacy, research and policy implementation. With your degree, you’ll be an authority who can shape each day’s events and influence response to them.

Program Details

46 credits, consisting of 14 courses, including the practicum
7-week-long courses, with one course per term and two terms each semester
A customizable, career-centered practicum experience
An optional global immersion seminar
Graduate in as few as 27 months (24 months, if you take two courses concurrently in the last two terms)
Three degree specializations:

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Epidemiology
Health Policy and Management
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Epidemiology

Kent State’s MPH in Epidemiology program prepares you to analyze the distribution and determinants of disease, disabilities and death in populations.

Our faculty are experts in epidemiology methods and biostatistics. Clinical partners provide expertise through web-based lectures and can also serve as research mentors. All faculty hold advanced degrees and have years of research experience in areas such as cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, neurological disorders, infectious disease, pharmacology and regulatory affairs.

MPH in Epidemiology Program Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

Investigate disease outbreak preparedness
Determine causal relationships between environmental and biological factors
Conduct studies to project health trends in populations

View Epidemiology Courses

Career Outcomes with an MPH in Epidemiology

The online MPH in Epidemiology equips you with the knowledge, skills and methodological approach to succeed in an array of roles in epidemiological investigation and policy. You’ll have the chance to benefit from your faculty members’ research focus in bio-preparedness, public health surveillance systems, chronic disease, cancer and infectious disease epidemiology.

Our graduates often pursue careers as:

Researchers in universities, medical schools, and pharmaceutical companies
Disease prevention specialists in hospitals
Surveillance managers in state and local health departments

Learn more about potential careers in public health.

Health Policy and Management

Our online MPH in Health Policy and Management (HPM) program delivers the necessary skills and advanced knowledge to help you make a difference in your community. You’ll build a portfolio of abilities that demonstrate your deep understanding and practical experiences—applicable in your current career and future professional opportunities.

Our faculty’s active research in identifying service gaps, developing evidence-based practices and implementing sound public health policies helps you succeed. You’ll graduate with strong skills in health services organization and management, able to provide alternative models of service financing and strategies for improving population health.

MPH in HPM Program Outcomes

After earning the MPH in Health Policy and Management, our students can:

Describe the legal and ethical bases for public health services
Discuss key elements of policy processes and apply them to public health issues
Apply the principles of planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs and effectively communicate outcomes
Evaluate the financial performance and management of public health organizations
Apply systems thinking for resolving organizational problems
Develop and demonstrate leadership skills related to health policy and/or management concerns

View MPH Courses

Career Outcomes with an MPH in HPM

The online MPH in Health Policy and Management program is designed to help students build the essential professional skills they need to become effective public health leaders.

Our graduates often pursue careers in:

Policy analysis in health planning organizations and governmental agencies
Health maintenance organizations
Emergency management
Health insurance companies
Occupational health and safety services
Health education
Administrative and management positions in:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- State and local health departments
- Nursing homes
- Mental health facilities

Learn more about potential careers in public health.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Kent State University’s online MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) program helps you understand individuals, their behavior and the environment, learning how these factors intersect in public health. You’ll build a portfolio of abilities that demonstrate your deep understanding and practical experiences—applicable in your current career and future professional opportunities.

Our faculty will help prepare you to develop programs that prevent disease, promote health and health equity, and manage chronic illnesses. This specialization is designed to teach you how to evaluate and intervene on a variety of health issues, locally and internationally, while integrating social factors that improve the quality of life for people in your community.

MPH in SBS Program Outcomes

After completing the program, our students can:

Evaluate and apply basic social, behavioral and biological theories that affect health behaviors
Analyze and appreciate the role of the social determinants of health in the onset of and solution to public health problems
Adopt and utilize the principles of ethics, social justice and advocacy in improving the health of diverse populations in a culturally competent manner
Analyze and apply methods of addressing emerging health, social and behavioral issues in public health

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Career Outcomes with an MPH in SBS

The online MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences program is designed to help you learn the skills to create community-based health behavior and population health improvement programs. Our graduates are able to design, implement and evaluate public health interventions in clinical and nonprofit organizations and public agencies, for families, communities, schools, the workplace, and law enforcement or criminal justice organizations.

Our graduates often pursue careers in:

Health education and promotion programs
Clinical and nonprofit settings
Program design and evaluation
Curriculum development for state and local health departments, corporate wellness programs, hospitals, international health agencies, mental health centers, and nonprofit organizations
Public or government agencies
Occupational health and safety services
Individual health coaching and business ownership

Learn more about careers in public health.

Admissions Requirements

Completed online application
Complete bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), from an accredited university
Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers
Application fee: $45
Official transcripts
Goal statement
Resume/CV
The requirement for GRE scores has been temporarily waived

The application process is simple and we’re here to guide you through it.

Our Admissions Advisors are available to answer your questions regarding admissions requirements for the program. If you have questions, please email us at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.

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Important Dates

Apr

Priority Application Deadline

Summer 2021 Semester

May

Final Application Deadline

Summer 2021 Semester

May

First Day of Class

Summer 2021 Semester

Application Resources

Our step-by-step application checklist will help ensure the success of your application submission.

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Application FAQs

Each applicant is required to create an account in the online application system, which allows people to save their applications and track the progress of materials submitted via the application system. Our master’s degree in public health is offered in the College of Public Health.

I am a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required application materials should be sent to the Division of Graduate Studies at gradapps@kent.edu or by mail to:

Division of Graduate Studies
Kent State University
650 Hilltop Drive
Kent, OH 44242

Please be sure to include your full name and Kent State ID (9 digit number starting with 8) on all submitted documents. For questions, contact Graduate Admissions at +1 330-672-2661 or gradapps@kent.edu.

I am not a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required documents should be submitted to the Office of Global Education at intladm@kent.edu or by mail to:

Office of Global Education
Kent State University
106 Van Campen Hall
625 Loop Rd.
Kent, OH 44242
USA

For questions, contact International Admissions at +1 330-672-7970 or intladm@kent.edu.

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Courses

The 46-credit-hour MPH degree is comprised of four major components:

Six core courses (19 credits)
Five specific courses (15 credits)
Two or three elective courses (6-9 credits)
One Practicum (3-6 credits) and culminating exam

MPH Core Courses (7 Courses, 25 Credits)

BST 52019 BIOSTATISTICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (4 CREDITS)

Provides students with an understanding of basic statistical methods in public health research, as well as the skills to perform and interpret basic statistical procedures. Students learn how to use statistical analysis software to analyze real data from public health-related studies. They then learn how to interpret the analysis and present the results to public health professionals and educated lay audiences. Course will include lab component which will enhance student awareness and informed usage of SAS for public health analysis. Students will learn how to input, read, store, export and modify data in SAS and be able to use common SAS procedures to analyze public health data and conduct independent SAS programming.

EHS 52018 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (3 CREDITS)

Human beings may be the predominant form of life on Earth today, but our health, well-being and, indeed, survival depend on the quality and integrity of the environment in which we live. The course provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the major environmental health issues facing the world today. This course focuses on the present population-resources-pollution crisis and explains why human health, well-being and welfare depend on successful resolution of current environmental health challenges. Students will be exposed to the information on how current environmental problems and issues affect human health and well-being and learn practical examples of how specific environmental health problems could be resolved through more active individual participation and community involvement, socio-behavioral and healthy lifestyle changes, and more effective decision-making policies at local and national levels. The course reviews the latest developments on such environmental health issues and concerns as population growth and poverty, toxic environmental pollutants, indoor and outdoor air pollution, water contamination and wastewater treatment, solid and hazardous waste management, global climate change, and sustainable development.

EPI 52017 FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 CREDITS)

Introduces principles, methods and application of epidemiology. Covers the history of epidemiology, concepts of disease causation and prevention, measures of disease frequency and excessive risk, epidemiologic study designs, causal inference, outbreak investigation, and screening. Provides experience with calculation of rate standardization; measures of disease frequency, association and impact; and sensitivity and specificity of screening tests. Highlights applications of epidemiology to understanding of disease etiology, transmission, pathogenesis, prevention, evaluation and public policy development.

HPM 52016 PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (3 CREDITS)

Public health administration comprises efforts to improve the health of communities. Provides an overview for public health administration and practice, including organization, law, legislative relations, financing, workforce issues, leadership and surveillance.

EPI/HPM/SBS 60192 PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE (3-6 CREDITS)

Observation of and participation in public health activities of a public health agency, hospital or other approved organization. The student completes the field experience with joint supervision from the university and approved organization or agency.

HPM 53010 COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (3 CREDITS)

One of the core functions of public health, community assessment, facilitates problem-solving and policy development. It covers concepts and methods relevant to community health needs assessment, such as systems thinking, the use of quantitative and qualitative methods, primary and secondary data, and the role of community assessment in current national policy, including the Affordable Care Act, on community health improvement. Students will draw from multiple disciplines to assess health status and its determinants (social, behavioral and environmental), needs for health services, and the capacity and resources of the local community. Students will also learn to facilitate and evaluate the use of data for decision making by partnerships, organizations and policy makers.

SBS 54634 SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS (3 CREDITS)

Overviews the social determinants of health and the dynamic interplay between individual behaviors and community structures (systems orientation), including public policy, social and built environments, commercial messages, access to services, cultural norms, psychosocial hazards, and poverty, both as causal effects that either provide opportunity or constraints to health. Also examines systems approaches to preventing public health threats from issues including substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs), physical inactivity, poor dietary practices, unsafe sexual behaviors, violence and injury, and mental health.

HPM Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)

HPM 53003 HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS (3 CREDITS)

In this course, students will examine the conceptual basis for the U.S. healthcare system; its historical origins; the structures, resources and processes of care; how quality and costs are supported and constrained; and the impact of recent legislation.

HPM 53004 PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, LAW AND ETHICS (3 CREDITS)

This course explores the role of government in public health, and it focuses on ethics, law and policy. After reviewing key concepts relating to the public health “system” and introducing the concepts of public health ethics, law and policy, we overview basic theories of ethical decision making and their relevance to public health. We also discuss these theories in relation to specific kinds of public health issues. We then overview and discuss the nature of legal authorities relevant to the practice of public health law, including relevant constitutional provisions, the role of statutes, and various forms of direct and indirect regulation. We also define and discuss public sector institutions that are involved in making and administering laws relevant to public health and overview basic elements and theories of public policy making and analysis. We close the course by applying what we learn to specific forms of government intervention to address public health problems.

HPM 53005 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS (3 CREDITS)

Intended to provide students with an initial exploration and overview of whole systems approaches to organizational change in public health settings, a more detailed working knowledge of key whole systems methodologies, and a detailed working knowledge and practical experience with one of the most frequently used and favored whole systems approaches.

HPM 53006 COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS (3 CREDITS)

Provides an overview of cost-benefit analysis as applied to the evaluation of public health programs. Students apply principles of cost-benefit analysis and related cost-utility analysis to case studies in the public health sector.

HPM 53007 PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATION (3 CREDITS)

This course is a comprehensive overview of the practical and theoretical skills needed to plan, implement and evaluate health promotion programs. We will examine how public health programs can target different levels within a population, different determinants of health, and strategies and interventions. A substantial focus of this course will be on providing a hands-on, real-world applied approach to planning, implementing and evaluating a health program.

SBS Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)

SBS 50002 QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)

Introduces basic quantitative methods used in social and behavioral scientific research. First we focus on the measurement of socio-behavioral phenomena and the relationship between measurement and statistics. Next, we examine the interrelated roles of scientific theory and the design of socio-behavioral research studies. Last, we focus on building appropriate multiple linear regression and/or analysis of variance statistical models to provide valid analysis of data collected in socio-behavioral research.

SBS 50030 SEMINAR IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)

Explores case studies in the social and behavioral sciences on topics that address the leading health indicators, including substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs), obesity (physical activity and nutrition), HIV and STIs, mental health, injury, immunization and access to health care, and social determinants of health.

SBS 53008 GRANT WRITING IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)

Students learn the basics of grant writing for federal and non-federal funding agencies with a particular emphasis on the components of most proposals for funding. This includes rationale for seeking funds, collaborations with community organizations, and working with consultants and subcontractors. Participants also learn about the basic sections of grant writing such as specific aims and hypotheses, developing a literature review, background and significance, research design and methodology, developing a budget and conducting research with human subjects. Participants have an opportunity to write sample grant proposals, learn about the review and scoring process and post-award grant management.

HPM 53007 PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION (3 CREDITS)

Overview of developing, implementing and evaluating public health programs. Examines how public health programs can target different levels within a population, different determinants of health and strategies and interventions.

SBS 50020 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THEORY (3 CREDITS)

Provides an overview of the science of prevention and intervention research for graduate students in the social and behavioral sciences in public health. Examines prevention and intervention science, ethics, and principles of community-based research and evaluation.

Epidemiology Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)

BST 63012 SURVIVAL ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (3 CREDITS)

Introduction in survival analysis for graduate students in public health. Covers survival functions, hazard rates, types of censoring and truncation. Methods of focus include life tables, Kaplan-Meier plots, log-rank tests, Cox regression models and parametric survival models. Inference for recurrent event and competing risks models are also covered.

BST 63014 APPLIED REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH DATA (3 CREDITS)

(Cross-listed with BST 83014) Focuses on developing student proficiency in building and evaluating various regression models for public health studies. Topics covered include exploratory and descriptive methods, simple and multiple linear regression models, predictor selection, binary and multinomial logistic regression models, survival analysis, repeated measures and generalized linear models.

EPI 63014 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CHRONIC DISEASES (3 CREDITS)

(Slashed with EPI 83014) With a life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology, this course focuses on cardiovascular, respiratory, cerebrovascular diseases and cancer. Health and disease are addressed from a multicausal perspective, which includes individual behaviors; psychosocial issues; and sociodemographic, biological and physiological factors. Time points for prevention and intervention are identified.

EPI 63015 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (3 CREDITS)

(Slashed with EPI 83015) Surveys the history, principles, methods and practice of infectious disease epidemiology, by (1) defining and understanding infectious disease epidemiology surveys, (2) collecting and measuring surveillance data, (3) interpreting epidemiology data and (4) predicting evidence-based outcomes. Primarily a course in epidemiology, students learn some infectious disease microbiology as well.

EPI 63016 PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)

(Slashed with EPI 83016) Course builds upon EPI 52017 to explore deeper the concepts and methods in epidemiologic research. Reviews the measures of disease frequency; association and impact; epidemiologic reasoning and causal inference; and methods and techniques for designing, implementing, analyzing and interpreting various epidemiologic study designs. Discusses advantages and limitations of various study designs. Explores threats to validity, precision and generalizability of epidemiologic studies.

Electives (2 Courses, 6 Credits)

For your remaining six credits, you may take elective courses across all disciplines of public health, so you are better prepared to face any challenge that may come your way. Each elective is offered on a rotating basis and is not available every semester. Choose from the following:

Biostatistics Courses (BST 50000 or 60000 level)
Environmental Health Sciences Courses (EHS 50000 or 60000 level)
Epidemiology Courses (EPI 50000 or 60000 level)
Health Policy and Management Courses (HPM 50000 or 60000 level)
Social and Behavioral Sciences Courses (SBS 50000 or 60000 level)

Course Requirements

To participate in this online program, you will need a computer and broadband Internet connection. Your program may have further requirements that include the ability to record video and audio. If you have questions regarding technology requirements for the program, please contact your Admissions Advisor at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.

Once you are admitted to the program, your Admissions Advisor will craft your personalized degree plan, giving you a clear course sequence and path to graduation.*
*Students are responsible for taking courses in the prescribed sequence. Any deviation from the prescribed sequence that leads to a delayed graduation is the responsibility of the student.

Exclusive Opportunity for KSU Undergraduates: The Accelerated MPH Degree Option

Launch your career sooner than you expected to. In Kent State’s public health program, juniors and seniors with qualifying GPAs can apply up to 12 credit hours of coursework toward the public health bachelor’s and master’s degrees. By earning double credits, you’ll earn your online MPH earlier than anticipated, save money on tuition and fees, and be prepared to dive into your career ahead of your classmates and ahead of schedule. For more information, please contact your Admissions Advisor at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Ohio Residents		Out of State
Per Credit Hour	Approximate Program Cost	Per Credit Hour	Approximate Program Cost
$695	$31,970	$705	$32,430

An additional distance learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $12 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change. For comprehensive tuition information, please refer to the tuition rates posted on the Bursar’s website.

We recognize that pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment. Your Admissions Advisor can answer your questions on program costs, discuss how a Kent State degree compares to others and connect you with financial aid representatives when you are ready to discuss your financial options.

Please contact an Admissions Advisor for more information on tuition and fees either by email at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or toll-free at +1 844‑234‑4073.

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$3,000 Tuition Offset* Opportunity

A $3,000 tuition offset is available to new enrollees in the online clinical epidemiology program. It is awarded when the student completes the final academic term of the program.

*A $3,000 tuition offset offer is available only to new (first-time) enrollees, not current or returning students. To utilize this tuition offset offer, the prospective student must identify the offer and request that it be applied. Tuition offset funds are not payable directly to recipients; funds will be credited exclusively toward tuition in the student's final academic term of the program. If a student receives financial assistance, the student's financial assistance may require modification to account for the tuition offset by preventing any "over-award," such that the financial assistance received does not exceed the cost of attendance, as defined and determined by the Office of Financial Aid of Kent State University. Recipients of the tuition offset must remain continuously enrolled in the program through completion (or obtain a university-approved leave of absence) and must maintain satisfactory academic progress at all times for tuition offset to remain in effect. This tuition offset offer may be revised, rescinded, or terminated at any time. This tuition offset offer cannot be combined with other offers or tuition offsets. All admissions and tuition offset decisions of Kent State University are final.

Immersive Online Curriculum

Designed for busy working professionals and students seeking to expand their career options.

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Award-Winning Faculty

Study with authorities who are at the forefront of health research and policy.

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MPH Career Potential

Gain expertise in mitigating public health risks through advocacy, research, and policy implementation.

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