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Master of Public Health (MPH) with a Concentration in Urban Health

The MPH in Urban Health prepares students to address public health challenges within the unique socioeconomic, demographic, environmental, healthcare, and infrastructure characteristics of urban settings, and develop, implement, and evaluate interventions and policies to promote health. The program may be completed full-time (in four semesters) or part-time (completion varies) either on-campus or online. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the CPH exam.

About the Program

Students in the Urban Health program assess community health needs and develop effective health programs to improve the health outcomes and well-being of urban communities, considering the built and natural environmental ecosystems and their interplay with social determinants of health. Students can enhance their skills through graduate certificates in one of the following areas, or create their own plan in consultation with the academic advisor:

• Health analytics
• Population health informatics
• Health systems leadership
• Population health

Admission Information

• Completed SOPHAS application
• An undergraduate degree from an accredited university with a GPA of at least 3.0 preferred
• Personal statement on career interests in healthcare administration (less than 500 words)
• CV/Resume
• Two letters of recommendation
• International applicants:
  • Evaluated coursework from agencies certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or Association of International Credential Evaluators
  • Evidence of English language proficiency according to the University of Memphis Graduate School requirements
    • Citizen, having earned, or in the process of earning a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in one of the approved English-speaking countries
    • Baccalaureate or Master's Degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or in one of the approved English-speaking countries
    • Successful completion of an Intensive English Language course of study
    • English Proficiency Exams:
      • Duolingo English Test - 110 or higher on the overall score
      • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - 550 or higher on the paper version, 80 or higher on the internet-based test
      • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 or higher
      • PTE (Pearson Test of English) score of 59 or higher

Deadlines

• International applicants: May 15 for Fall Semester and October 15 for Spring Semester
• Fall Semester: August 15
• Spring Semester: January 15

Curriculum

The program requires a total of 42 credit hours as follows:

• 18 credit hours of core courses
• 12 credit hours of concentration courses
• 6 credit hours of elective courses
• 3 credit hours of applied practical experiences
• 3 credit hours of culminating experience

Core Courses (18 credit hours)

• HADM 7105 Health Policy and Organization of Health Services
• PUBH 7120 Environmental Health I
• PUBH 7150 Biostatistical Methods I
• PUBH 7160 Social and Behavioral Sciences Principles
• PUBH 7170 Epidemiology in Public Health I
• PUBH 7180 Foundations of Public Health

Urban Health Courses (12 credit hours)

• PUBH 7002 Community Health Assessment & Program Plan
• PUBH 7004 Interdisciplinary Approach to Population Health Challenges
• PUBH 7132 Health Program Evaluation
• PUBH 7335 Structural and Environmental Issues in Urban Communities
• Any one of the following:
  • ANTH 6571 Race and Health Disparities
  • PUBH 6131 Social Justice & Public Health
  • PUBH 7130 Social Determinants of Health

Electives (6 credit hours)

• Two 3-credit-hour graduate-level courses in consultation with a faculty advisor

Applied Practical Experience (3 credit hours)

• PUBH 7985 Practicum/Field Experience

Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)

• PUBH 7992 Master's Project Seminar
• PUBH 7996 Master's Thesis

Competencies

Foundational

• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice
• Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings
• Discuss means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and societal levels
• Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities' health
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
• Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs
• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
• Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
• Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision-making
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams
• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue

Urban Health

• Analyze the role of the built environment, socioeconomic status, and environmental exposures in determining the health status of urban populations
• Integrate the knowledge and experience of multiple disciplines to develop solutions to health problems in urban communities
• Apply the public health approach – problem identification, identify risk and protective factors, intervention, and implementation – to a specific urban health problem
• Create and apply a logic model for an urban health program serving vulnerable populations
• Apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate an urban health program