Program Overview

Master of Public Health Overview

The mission of the Department of Public Health at San Francisco State University is to promote health and health equity at the individual, community, and structural levels through transformative education, research, scholarship, and service, all of which value diversity, engage communities and are grounded in cultural humility.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Public Health and Master of Public Health (MPH) degree provide foundational and professional preparation in the growing field of public health. These programs prepare students for entry and master's level positions in a range of professions to influence and support the health of communities and broader populations through health advocacy, public health research, community health or health care programs.

Curriculum

Students engage with a curriculum grounded in public health competencies of:

• Social determinants of health
• Epidemiology
• Health policy
• Community organizing
• Health and power inequities
• Public health programming and practice in the field

Educational Approach

The department engages students through exposure to applied scholarship, active engagement in participatory learning, and the critical integration of theory, research, and practice.

Career Outlook

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Science program use their public health training in a variety of career pursuits. Results from a recent survey of program graduates indicate that they hold positions as:

• Health educators
• Program planners
• Public health researchers
• Assistant administrators
• Assistant personnel directors
• In-service education coordinators
• Community outreach workers
• Health counselors
• Health writers
• Environmental health advocates
• Pharmaceutical-medical detail professionals Employers include:
  • Hospitals
  • Community organizations
  • Government agencies
  • School districts
  • Private industries
  • Some individuals are self-employed

Graduates of the B.S. in Public Health program also select careers outside the health field. The professional skills and critical thinking developed in the degree programs have numerous applications in non-health employment settings. Additionally, many health education graduates continue graduate studies in public health, administration, social services, dentistry, medicine, and law.

Master of Public Health Graduates

Graduates of the Master of Public Health program are prepared for advanced-level public health professional positions in diverse settings, such as:

• A variety of community-based organizations
• Government agencies including public health departments
• Academic and research institutions
• Health maintenance organizations
• Hospitals
• Medical centers
• Private consulting firms

The critical importance of prevention and population-based health with an eye on creating greater health equity makes the professional skills of community health education and public health a societal priority.