Graduate programs

The School of Community Health graduate programs are designed to prepare students for professional work in the fields of community health, health promotion, and aging in a wide variety of settings. Students may also complete a plan of study that prepares them to pursue a doctoral degree in a health-related area. 

The School of Community Health offers three graduate degrees and one certificate: 

1. A Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in Health Promotion as a partner in the Oregon Master of Public Health Program, a statewide collaborative of Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University; 

2. A Master of Arts/Master of Science (M.A./M.S.) degree in Health Studies. 

3. The Institute on Aging offers a graduate certificate in Gerontology. 

4. The doctoral program (PhD) in Community Health is an interdisciplinary course of study designed to provide students with advanced learning in conducting research and developing instructional skills in public health with a focus on community engagement and the social determinants of health.

Students with a wide variety of undergraduate degrees and professional experience are admitted to the School of Community Health.

Admission requirements

Health Promotion M.P.H.

Health Studies M.A./M.S.

Community-Health-PhD

Gerontology Graduate Certificate

Health Promotion M.P.H.

Requirements

Master of Public Health. Students pursuing the M.P.H. degree must complete at least 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher, including a core of 17 credits, 28 additional required credits, 6 credits of Graduate Field Experience, and 9 credits in an Area of Emphasis. The student’s academic advisor must approve the Area of Emphasis. All students must complete a graded culminating field experience and successfully pass a comprehensive examination.

The following courses are required:

OMPH Core Courses (17 Credits)

PHE 512Principles of Health Behavior I

3

PHE 530Epidemiology I

4

PHE 580Concepts of Environmental Health

3

PHPM 524
Introduction to Biostatistics

4

PAH 574Health Systems Organization

3

Health Promotion Required Courses (28 Credits)

PHE 511Foundations of Public Health

3

PHE 517Community Organizing

3

PHE 519Introduction to the Etiology of Disease

3

PHE 520Qualitative Research Design

3

PHE 521Quantitative Research Design and Analysis

3

PHE 550Health Promotion Program Planning

4

PAH 573Values and Ethics in Health

3

PAH 588Program Evaluation and Management In Health Services

3

 

PHE 540Mass Communication and Health

3

or

PHE 541Media Advocacy and Public Health

3

  

PHE 504Cooperative Education/Internship

0-15

Area of Emphasis (9 credits)

The student’s academic advisor must approve the 9 credits of Area of Emphasis courses.

Total Credit Hours:60