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Master of Public Health (MPH)

Program Location
Distance Education/Online
Program Credits
36 Credits
Program Length

3 Trimesters, 48 Instructional Weeks or 

6 Trimesters, 96 Instructional Weeks
Time to Complete

12 Months or

24 Months

WCU distance education programs may not be available to residents in all states.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 11-9111.00, 29-9011.00, 11-9161.00, 21-1091.00

A total of 36 trimester credits are required to earn the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. 

Program Mission: We seek to cultivate academic and healthcare leaders who create and apply evidence-based knowledge through learning, discovery, and communication to enhance the health of individuals and communities.

Program Philosophy: The Public Health program intends to prepare graduates who will protect and improve the health and well-being of communities as an important part of building a safer and healthier world.  This program is designed to provide a broad perspective on the science and practice of community-based approaches to promoting health and preventing diseases.  Courses focus on health promotion, environmental health, epidemiologic research methods, health leadership, and health policy, culminating in a capstone project intended to integrate essential concepts, attitudes, and behaviors.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, MPH graduates will possess the knowledge, skills and aptitude to:

  1. Assess the elements to improve health outcomes and systems through planning, implementation and evaluation of health programs for individuals and populations.
  2. Analyze essential services that public health programs provide to protect and improve the health of populations.
  3. Apply research tools and analytical methods to critically analyze, monitor and assess the health status of populations, utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methodology.
  4. Determine the impact of policies and legislation on individual and population health; while navigating the legal, regulatory and organizational impact they have on the health care system.
  5. Construct public health, cross-cultural community-based programs, using behavioral science and health promotion methods.
  6. Create communication approaches for lay and interprofessional audiences using epidemiologic methods to analyze patterns of disease and injury.
  7. Justify the relationship between environmental factors and community health; and plan solutions for environmental health problems.  
  8. Assemble a network of professional alliances to address social determinants of health and health disparities.  

Attendance Policy:  The maximum percent of absences allowed in Public Health courses is 20% per class.  

 

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Master of Public Health Program must:

  1. Have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution recognized by the United States Department of Education with a cumulative grade-point average (CGPA) of 2.7 or higher.
    1. Applicants with an undergraduate degree CGPA of 2.5-2.69 may be admitted on a conditional status. Applicants conditionally admitted must:
      1. Maintain a 3.0 CGPA in their coursework for the first trimester in order to be moved to a regular status.  
      2. If the student does not achieve the expected 3.0 GPA, he or she will be dismissed from the program.  
    2. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.3-2.49 may be considered for conditional admission at the Program Dean's discretion.  If approved by the Program Dean, these applicants must:
      1. Provide a letter of intent.
      2. Receive approval through an interview. 
      3. Maintain a 3.0 CGPA in their coursework for their first trimester in order to be moved to a regular status or be dismissed from the program.
    3. Applicants submitting non-U.S. or non-English transcripts will be required to have their coursework evaluated by a transcript evaluation service to determine the equivalency to a U.S. degree/coursework.If the transcript evaluation is unclear as to the equivalency to a U.S. degree/coursework, the Program Dean will review the transcript (translated if necessary) and transcript evaluation to determine if a minimum of 3 academic years of undergraduate coursework has been met for admission.
    4. Applicants submitting advanced degrees will be reviewed by the Program Dean to determine if a minimum of 3 academic years of undergraduate coursework has been met for admission.
    5. Official transcripts must be received prior to the end of the add/drop period of the first term.

Master of Public Health Transfer Credit Evaluation

Only graduate level courses in which a grade of "B" (3.0) or better was received, taken in a program similar to West Coast University's Master's in Public Health will be evaluated for transfer credit.  A maximum of nine (9)  credit hours will be considered for transfer, and must reflect the same content and course credit as the course for which transfer credit is being requested.  

Public Health Curriculum

Master of Public Health Curriculum

PH 500Foundations of Public Health

3
PH 536Environmental and Occupational Health

3
PH 515Cultural Diversity & Health Disparities in Public Health

3
PH 560Infectious Diseases

3
HA 535Health Research Methods

3.0
PH 521Biostatistics

3
PH 511Health Promotion and Social & Behavioral Health Sciences

3
HA 530Managerial Epidemiology

3.0
HA 500Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care Management

3.0
PH 551Global Family Health

3
PH 546Leadership Principles and Policies in Public Health

3
566 PHPublic Health Capstone

3
Total Credit Hours:36.0

MPH Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees section.