Upgrade Your Career and Improve Public Health
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Upgrade Your Career and Improve Public Health

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.

Course Delivery
100% online
Total Credits
46
Approximate Cost per Credit
$695 in state
$705 out of state
Time to Completion
Graduate in as little as 2 years
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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.

New enrollees can save $3,000 on your total degree cost.

Program Overview

Our online MPH program offers these degree specializations:

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.

View Courses

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.

Learn more about the online MS in Epidemiology

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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.

Earn More, Do More With A Kent State Online MPH

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.

30%
Social and community
service managers
29%
Medical and health services managers
33%
Statisticians
Chris T., MPH ’22
The Kent State MPH program gave me the knowledge, confidence, and connections I needed to make the big first leap into my career in public health and I truly believe that I am far beyond where I would have been if I had not pursued my MPH.
Chris T. MPH ‘22

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.

Talk to an Admissions Outreach Advisor

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.

See the Details

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.
Jann K. MPH ‘18

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.

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Choose Your Path to Impact

Learn more about the Kent State specialization that can help you hone the skills for your most impactful career. Select from the options here.

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.

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!

Learn More About Our Experts

Tuition and Financial Aid

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

*Tuition and costs effective as of February 5, 2024. Tuition rates are not inclusive of textbooks and fees. Tuition and costs are subject to change and should be confirmed on the University’s official tuition listing at onlinedegrees.kent.edu/tuition-costs#grad.

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

Schedule a Call Download Application Checklist

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$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 Outreach 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:

  • Eight core courses (22 credits) including one practicum (3 credits)
  • Five specialization courses (15 credits)
  • Two or three elective courses (6-9 credits)
  • Culminating exam

MPH Core Courses (8 Courses, 22 Credits)

BST 52019 BIOSTATISTICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (3 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 a 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.

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.

PH 61199 INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE (1 CREDIT)

Students complete an integrative learning experience that demonstrates a synthesis of foundational and concentration competencies. Students in consultation with faculty select foundational and concentration-specific competencies appropriate to the student’s educational and professional goals.

EPI/HPM/SBS 60192 APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE (3 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 Specialization Courses (5 Courses, 15 Credits)

HPM 63003 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 63004 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 63005 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 63006 COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN 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 63007 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)

HPM 63007 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 60002 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 60021 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.

SBS 63030 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 63008 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.

Epidemiology Specialization Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credits)

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

HPM and SBS Specializations (3 Courses, 9 Credits) | Epidemiology Specialization (4 Courses, 12 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 credits)

Put theory into practice in the practicum course.

EPI/HPM/SBS 60192 APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE (3 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 outreach advisor at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.

Once you are admitted to the program, your admissions outreach 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 outreach 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.

Schedule a Call    Download Application Checklist

Important Dates

Apr
1
Priority Application Deadline
Summer 2024 Term
May
6
Final Application Deadline
Summer 2024 Term
May
20
First Day of Class
Summer 2024 Term

Application Resources

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

Download Checklist

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?

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:

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?

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.

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

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

Award-Winning Faculty

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

MPH Career Potential

Gain expertise in mitigating public health risks through advocacy, research, and policy implementation.
Admissions and Application Deadlines
Apr
1
Priority Application Deadline
Summer 2024 Term
May
6
Final Application Deadline
Summer 2024 Term
May
20
First Day of Class
Summer 2024 Term