

College of Public Health
Master of Public Health
Course Delivery
Total Credits
Approximate Cost per Credit
$705 out of state
Time to Completion
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:
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.
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.
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?
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.
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)
HPM Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)
HPM 53003 HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 53004 PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, LAW AND ETHICS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 53005 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 53006 COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS (3 CREDITS)
HPM 53007 PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATION (3 CREDITS)
SBS Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)
SBS 50002 QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)
SBS 50030 SEMINAR IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)
SBS 53008 GRANT WRITING IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)
HPM 53007 PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION (3 CREDITS)
SBS 50020 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THEORY (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)
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 $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.
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.