Earn Your Master of Public Health Online
Become a more effective and influential public health professional with Kent State University’s online Master of Public Health program. With an emphasis on real-world applications, our online MPH program provides you with the theoretical tools and frameworks you need to make a real difference in the field of public health. Study on your schedule in our flexible, accredited and affordable program.
$705 out of state
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Take your career to a higher level with our affordable, flexible online Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. Our 100% online programs allow you to keep up with your current responsibilities while you study. Find out how we can help you create the career and positive public health impact you want to have.
Download our guide to learn more about:
- Career Opportunities
- Customizing Your Degree
- The Student Experience
- Admission Requirements
- Tuition and Financial Aid
What can I expect from Kent State's online Master of Public Health?
Flexibility and Excellence.
The Kent State University College of Public Health offers a Master of Public Health online degree with three different specializations in a convenient, focused format that gives you the flexibility to keep up with your work and family responsibilities while you study.
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) accredit our online MPH program. These accreditations ensure that the program adheres to the highest educational standards while working to improve public health through education, research and policy.
Our Military Friendly Gold Designation recognizes Kent State University's outstanding service to the extended military community and all our students.
Program Overview
Our online MPH program offers these degree specializations:
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy and Management
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Each specialization begins with the same set of six core courses. Then you will take four or five courses specific to your chosen specialization, participate in a practicum course, and select the elective credits needed to complete your degree. Your online Master of Public Health includes 14 courses totaling 46 credit hours.
MPH with Epidemiology Specialization or MS in Clinical Epidemiology?
In addition to the MPH with a specialization in Epidemiology, Kent State is proud to offer a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. Our MPH online program with an Epidemiology specialization prepares you to thrive in an array of roles in different public health settings. If your interests are more focused on conducting epidemiological and biostatistical research, our MS in Clinical Epidemiology program can help you become a clinical research or analysis leader.
Get the Experience You Need to Lead
The best online MPH programs give you supervised real-world experience where you can implement theory and synthesize your approach to public health leadership. You can’t get the same level of real-world practice available through our program in 1-year MPH programs online. The insights you gain through our model incorporating joint supervision from the university and an approved external organization raise the value of your Kent State MPH degree and help make you leadership-ready.
Your Kent State online Master of Public Health can help you be more effective and influential, and earn a better salary, in this diverse and growing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates two public health occupational groups, healthcare support and community and social service, will grow significantly faster than the overall growth rate for all occupations.1 Additionally, a public health professional with a master’s degree can earn quite a bit more than one who has just a bachelor’s degree.2 Read more about typical career paths for our different online master of public health degree specializations below.
service managers
I could not afford to quit my job to work on a MPH program. As a member of the military I travel often and could not attend traditional courses. The MPH faculty has been very supportive of my military obligations and works with me when I must attend trainings.
Move Forward with Kent State
The Kent State online MPH program prepares you to move your career forward and increase your ability to make a difference in the public health area of your choice.
Our commitment to helping you move ahead in your public health career begins with admissions. In our online MPH program, no GRE is required. Instead, we rely on a holistic approach to enrollment. But that is just the beginning of the ways we’ve customized our program to serve working professionals. We also offer one of the most affordable programs in the state of Ohio.
An Extra Incentive
If you are a first-time enrollee in our Master of Public Health online program, we are delighted to offer a tuition offset as an extra incentive to help you complete the degree and reach your career education goal. Please read the full description of the offer and its conditions in the tuition section of this page.
We’ll Help You Rise to the Challenge
Continuing your education as a working professional is a challenge, especially if you also have family commitments. At Kent State University, we understand the time pressures you face and can help you overcome them to pursue your passion for public health and the career you’ve always wanted. That’s why our online MPH program offers:
- 3 annual start dates
- Focused 7-week courses
- No GRE requirement
- A powerful, user-friendly learning management system
Our online MPH program is designed to fit into your busy life, so you can get the education you need without putting your life on hold. And because our courses are focused and fast-paced, you can earn your degree in as little as two years. So if you're ready to rise to the challenge of earning your Master of Public Health online, we're here to help you make it happen.
I chose to pursue my MPH online because I wanted the flexibility to live where I wanted and to have the ability to continue to work simultaneously.
Make A Difference While You Make Your Living
Whether you want to help improve public health outcomes through education, advocacy, policy analysis, healthcare management or another avenue, our MPH online program is an excellent investment in yourself and your desire to serve. The skills and knowledge you will gain from the program can help you make a real impact and position you to earn a top salary.
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
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
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.
Build Your Skills With Recognized Experts
Kent State’s online MPH program is where public health practitioners learn how to make an impact in real life. The College of Public Health's faculty bring years of diverse professional experience with them to inform your education. In our virtual classrooms, these experts in applied public health use real-world experiences and examples to help you put theory into practice while you're still learning!
Tuition and Financial Aid
| Ohio Residents | Out of State | |
| Per Credit Hour | $695 | $705 |
| Approximate Program Cost | $31,970 | $32,430 |
An additional distance learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 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.
$3,000 Tuition Offset* Opportunity
A $3,000 tuition offset is available to new enrollees in the online MPH 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.
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.
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)
EHS 52018 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (3 CREDITS)
EPI 52017 FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 CREDITS)
HPM 52016 PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (3 CREDITS)
EPI/HPM/SBS 60192 APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE (3-6 CREDITS)
HPM 53010 COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (3 CREDITS)
SBS 54634 SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS (3 CREDITS)
PH 61199 INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE (1 CREDIT)
HPM Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)
HPM 63003 HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 63004 PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, LAW AND ETHICS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 63005 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 63006 COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 63007 PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATION (3 CREDITS)
SBS Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)
HPM 63007 PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION (3 CREDITS)
SBS 60002 QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)
SBS 60021 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THEORY (3 CREDITS)
SBS 63030 SEMINAR IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)
SBS 63008 GRANT WRITING IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)
Epidemiology Specialization Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credits)
BST 63014 APPLIED REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH DATA (3 CREDITS)
EPI 63014 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CHRONIC DISEASES (3 CREDITS)
EPI 63015 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (3 CREDITS)
EPI 63016 PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)
Electives
HPM and SBS Specializations (2 Courses, 6 Credits) | Epidemiology Specialization (3 Courses, 9 Credits)
For your remaining 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)
Practicum (3-6 credits)
Put theory into practice in the practicum course.
EPI/HPM/SBS 60192 APPLIED PRACTICE 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.
Technology 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.
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
- There is no GRE requirement
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.
Application FAQs
Begin your application by creating an account in the online application system to save your work and track the progress of materials submitted via the system.
I am a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
Graduate Admissions
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio 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?
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.
Build Your Career With a Degree Built Around You
Explore the immersive online experience, our faculty roster and some of the diverse post-graduation career options.
Immersive Online Curriculum
Award-Winning Faculty
MPH Career Potential
Advance Your Career With Kent State
- Retrieved August 9, 2022, from www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecopro.pdf
- Retrieved August 9, 2022, from www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/should-i-get-a-masters-degree.htm#
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:
View Courses
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:
Learn more about careers in public health.