Graduate programs

The School of Public Health graduate programs are designed to prepare students for professional work in the fields of community health, health promotion, health management, health policy 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 Public Health offers three graduate degrees, two doctoral programs and one certificate: 

1. A Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in Health Promotion.

2. A Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in Health Management and Policy.

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

4. The Institute on Aging offers a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. 

5. 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.

6. The doctoral program (PhD) in Health Systems and Policy is an interdisciplinary course of study designed to provide students with advanced knowledge, analytic skills, and competencies in conducting research and developing teaching and learning skills in health systems and policy.

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

Admission requirements

Gerontology Graduate Certificate

Health Management and Policy M.P.H.

Health Promotion M.P.H.

Health Studies M.A./M.S.

Gerontology Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology provides multidisciplinary specialized training for postbaccalaureate and graduate students interested in acquiring or upgrading skills appropriate to working with or on behalf of elders in a variety of settings. Students need not be enrolled in a degree program to receive the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.

The certificate program consists of a six-course format (18 credits minimum) made up of a three-course multidisciplinary core, two elective courses, and an internship or independent research project. The coursework will provide students with a general multidisciplinary overview of the field of aging, while the internship or independent project will allow a student to acquire experiential learning in a community-based aging services organization.

Course requirements for the Graduate Certificate program:

Three required classes

PHE 556Health Aspects of Aging

4

PHE 558Perspectives on Aging

3

Psy 562Psychology of Adult Development and Aging

4

Soc 569Sociology of Aging

4

For MSW students the three (3) required courses are:

PHE 558 - Perspectives on Aging 

SW 544 - Mid-life and Beyond 
SW 574 - Social Work with Frail Older Adults

Electives

Two electives are required for ALL students from the following, or other aging-specific courses, as available.

A good rule of thumb in determining if a course is aging-specific, is if aging, elderly, lifecourse or older adult are in the title.

PHE 516Families and Aging

4

PHE 523Business and Aging

4

PHE 557National Long-term Care Policy

3

PHE 556Health Aspects of Aging

4

PHE 559Economics of Aging

3

PHE 560Mental Health and Aging

3

PHE 561Cultural Variations in Aging

3

PHE 562Global Aging

3

PHE 563Service Learning in Nicaragua: Enhancing Communities for an Aging Society

3

SW 544Mid-Life and Beyond

3

SW 569Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care

3

SW 574Social Work with Frail Older Adults

3

USP 564Political and Administrative Issues in Aging

3

USP 585Housing and Environments for the Elderly

3

Note: PHE 556 is an elective option for MSW students only.

There may be other approved classes – they will be listed on the web each quarter at www.pdx.edu/ioa/class-schedule

Students may select only one 510 course per certificate program. 510 courses may be used only as electives.

Internship Requirements

In addition, students are expected to undertake either an internship in an aging-services program or an independent research project; this typically takes place during the last term of certificate work.
PHE 501Research

1-6

PHE 504Cooperative Education/Internship

0-15