Master of Public Health

Program Overview

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Master of Public Health in Public Health

The Master of Public Health (MPH) provides a strong foundation in primary public health fields and advanced knowledge in your area of interest. Concentration options include biomedical sciences, biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social behavior and community health.

Additional Program Information

• Program of Study
• Concentrations/Tracks
• MPH/JD Option
• Tuition Assistance
• Career Readiness
• Research Opportunities
• 4+1 Master’s
• Admission Requirements
• College of Integrated Health Sciences Home

Program of Study

The campus-based Master of Public Health program can be pursued full or part-time. There is also a part-time, online MPH program that’s designed for working professionals.

Core Courses (21 credits)

• Professional Practice in Public Health
• Biological Basis of Public Health
• Introduction to Environmental Health
• Principles and Methods of Epidemiology I
• Principles in Statistical Inference I or Introduction to the Theory of Statistics I
• Health Care Organization Delivery and Financing
• Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health

Professional Internships (9 credits)

Gain 720 hours of professional experience working in public health organizations. If you enter the program with significant experience in public health fields, you can apply to waive up to 6 credits of this 9-credit requirement.

Concentration Courses and Electives (21 credits)

Required and elective coursework in your area of interest, including the culminating Integrative Learning Experience.

Concentrations / Tracks

Biomedical Sciences

Study the molecular basis of disease and implications for public health programs. Master laboratory methods and apply your biomedical sciences knowledge to detect, treat, and prevent genetic and infectious human diseases.

• Sample course topics: Clinical Immunology Technology; Bioecology of Vector-Borne Disease; Virology; Microbial Pathogens; Neuroanatomy and Nervous System Disorders; Cancer Biology; Mammalian Molecular Genetics
• Sample job titles: Biomedical Research Scientist, Strategic Public Health Planning Consultant, Strategic Health Partner Development Manager
• Sample employers: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Providge Consulting, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Biostatistics

Gain expertise in statistical analysis of public health data, develop skills in problem definition and variable determination, learn when and how to use data in public health studies.

• Sample courses: Principles of Statistical Inference; Computer Programming for Data Management and Analysis in Public Health; Methods of Data Analysis I and II; Applied Statistics
• Sample job titles: Biostatistician, Data Analyst, Research Scientist
• Sample employers: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Pharmaceutical companies

Environmental Health

Deepen your knowledge of two relevant scientific fields (choose from chemistry, toxicology, and environmental and occupational health) and learn how to assess environmental quality and solve environmental health problems. Gain lab skills, collect and analyze environmental data, and conduct dose-response and risk assessments.

• Sample course topics: Environmental Chemistry; Toxicology; Risk Assessment; Geographic Information Systems and Public Health; Water Quality and Public Health; Global Environmental Health Policy; Industrial Hygiene; Environment and Cancer; Atmospheric Environment and Human Welfare
• Sample job titles: Safety Engineer, Environmental Health Associate, Research Scientist, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Project Coordinator
• Sample employers: Global Foundries, NYSDOH Bureau of Toxic Substance Assessment, New York State Department of Health, NYS Energy Research and Development, Schenectady County Public Health Services

Epidemiology

Prepare for a career in epidemiology by learning about practices such as surveillance, etiology, and prevention and intervention program evaluation. Gain experience collecting, interpreting, and managing epidemiologic data; selecting study populations; and reporting the results of epidemiological research.

• Sample course topics: Principles and Methods of Epidemiology; Communicable Diseases; HIV Transmission and AIDS; Diabetes; Cardiovascular Disease; Psychiatric Illness; Hospital-Acquired Infections; Public Health Informatics
• Sample job titles: Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist, Field Epidemiology Training Program Manager, Health Services Researcher, Data Manager, Director of Quality Improvement, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, Community Health Program Manager
• Sample employers: State Health Departments (Virginia, Texas, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming and more), Adirondack Rural Health Network, American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Health Policy and Management

Manage public health programs and lead organizations by motivating stakeholders and communicating effectively as a director, mentor, facilitator, and broker. Learn how to develop health policies, manage change, and monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and quality.

• Sample course topics: Health Policy Analysis; Health Organization Management; Strategy and Leadership; Financial Management of Health Care Institutions; Program Evaluation; Health Law; Long-Term Care Administration; Health and Human Rights
• Sample job titles: Managed Care Policy Analyst, Director of Quality Assurance, Regional Health Services Administrator, Patient Safety and Risk Management Analyst, Director of Public Policy, Community Health Program Manager, Performance Management Coordinator, Government Affairs Coordinator
• Sample employers: Southeast Georgia Health Systems, MVP Health Care, Capital District Physicians Health Plan, American Red Cross, Adirondack Medical Center, NYS Association on Independent Living, New York State Department of Health (various units)

Social Behavior and Community Health

Explore the ways population health is affected by individuals, groups, and culture. Learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of strategic public health interventions and design and improve community health programs to reduce the prevalence of risk behaviors and improve health service delivery.

• Sample course topics: Community-Based Public Health; Program Development in Health Promotion; program Evaluation; Research Design; Social and Behavioral Aspects of Chronic Illness; Poverty, Behavioral Health, and Health Policy
• Sample job titles: Director of Education, Wellness Manager, Healthy Schools Program Evaluation and Reporting Director, Outreach and Care coordinator, Health Insurance Navigator, LGBT Youth Specialist, Substance Abuse and Tobacco Prevention Specialist
• Sample employers: National Institute for Health Care Management, American Cancer Society, Health Federation of Philadelphia, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Fidelis Care New York, Long Island Minority AIDS Coalition, NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council

Population Medicine (for physicians, veterinarians, nurse practitioners and midwives)

The Population Medicine concentration is open only to licensed physicians and other advance healthcare professionals through the Fellowship in Applied Public Health (FAPH).

In conjunction with the FAPH, you will receive individualized training, mentoring, professional development and networking opportunities to support the transition from clinical to public health practice.

Prepare for leadership roles in state and local health departments and other settings. Explore and analyze public health systems, research methods, communications, policy priorities and surveillance systems, as well as the application of evidence in public health practice and decision-making.

• Sample course topics: Population Medicine and Public Health Practice; Public Health Leadership; Epidemiology of specific areas of public health; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Statistics and Computer Programming; Health Policy Analysis. Through elective coursework, this concentration offers opportunities to explore a wide range of topics tailored to your interests.
• Sample job titles: State Health Department Medical Director, Bureau Director, or Division Director (wide range of organizational units/program areas); County Commissioner of Health; Associate Medical Director for University Student Health Services; Clinical Informatics Specialist; Medical Director, regional managed care organization.
• Sample employers: New York State Department of Health (multiple units), Albany and Schenectady County Health Departments, Capital District Physicians Health Plan, MVP Health Care, Albany Medical Center, Food and Drug Administration, Novartis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) University.

Public Health Practice (Online)

The Public Health Practice interdisciplinary track is available only via online study.

Learn to develop, implement, and evaluate public health interventions through a fully online, flexible MPH program with a concentration in public health practice.

You can earn your degree part-time from anywhere, receiving the same rigorous education you’d receive on our campus.

Accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, the online MPH offers diverse electives that support career advancement.

• Sample course topics: Professional Practice in Public Health, Basic Principles of Statistical Inference, Biological Basis of Public Health, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health, Introduction to Environmental Health, Public Health Leadership, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Grant Writing for Public Health, Emergency and Public Health Preparedness, Community-Based Health Disparities
• Sample job titles: Director of Public and Environmental Health; Immunization Program Coordinator; Physician Advisor; Research Coordinator; Epidemiologist; Health Promotions Specialist; Consumer Safety Officer; Vaccine Researcher; Senior Emergency Planner; Data Quality Reviewer; Director of County Health Planning and Promotion; and Senior Policy Associate
• Sample employers: Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and county health departments, insurers, nonprofits, and NGOs

MPH/JD Option through Albany Law School

Secure your MPH while attaining your law degree. You can earn your Master of Public Health and Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) in only 3.5 years, through UAlbany’s collaborative agreement with Albany Law School.

You'll gain a solid substantive foundation and practical experience in areas including public health core disciplines, bioethics, lawyering skills, and policy development, ensuring a vast understanding of the issues confronting health-care lawyers today. You will graduate with the skills to make a significant impact on the health of communities and populations.

This collaborative program prepares you for extensive career opportunities in law, healthcare, and public health. You’ll be equipped to address public health problems through the lens of the law, providing valuable insight into how our legal system may help or hinder public health efforts.

Tuition Assistance for Public Health Employees

If you work in a county health department in New York State or for the NYS Department of Health, you may be eligible to receive tuition assistance through the Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow program at UAlbany.

Career Readiness

The MPH program at the University at Albany includes a renowned professional internships component that prepares you to succeed in your public health career.

Through placement with two different organizations, you complete at least 720 hours of practical experience – more fieldwork than any other public health program in the nation.

Choose from ample internship opportunities and work on high-impact projects in state and county health departments, hospitals, community clinics, nonprofits, and non-governmental organizations in the Capital Region.

Research Opportunities

Professors in the College of Integrated Health Sciences conduct research in community settings and scientific labs. More than 75% of the faculty hold appointments with the NYS Department of Health, which makes it easy to obtain public health internships in labs of the internationally recognized Wadsworth Center.

As a graduate student, you learn in advanced labs on UAlbany’s Health Sciences Campus and can participate in research projects in the Cancer Research Center, Prevention Research Center, Public Health Preparedness Center, Cardiac Quality Improvement Initiative, and Center for Health Workforce Studies.

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options

If you’re a current UAlbany undergraduate student with at least a 3.2 GPA, you can save time and money by beginning your MPH graduate degree coursework as early as your junior year. Up to 24 academic credits, of which 12 credits are billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you can complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately.

Admission Requirements

Ready to pursue your MPH at the University at Albany? Here's what you'll need to get started.

Deadlines

• Priority: January 15 – First consideration for scholarship funding
• General: March 1 – Second consideration for scholarship funding
• Final: Rolling until August 1 on space available basis

MPH Degree Application

The application and all supporting materials for the Master of Public Health must be submitted through SOPHAS.

Application Requirements

• Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing
• Grade point average of 3.00 or better
• One semester of social sciences required for all concentrations
• One college level course in mathematics (algebra or pre-calculus) or statistics with a grade of B or higher (high school AP courses do not count towards this prerequisite)
• Epidemiology requires an undergraduate statistics course or equivalent
• Biostatistics requires Calculus I, Calculus II, and linear algebra
• Biomedical Sciences and Environmental Health require two semesters of biology
• Biomedical Sciences and Environmental Health require two semesters of chemistry
• Population Medicine is open only to physicians in the New York State Fellowship in Applied Public Health and to other licensed healthcare professionals by permission of the fellowship director. Note: GRE not required for admission.

International Requirements

• International students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 98, IELTS score of 7.0, or Duolingo score of 125. We will only accept official scores sent by the testing institution.
• UAlbany SOPHAS TOEFL code is 5688. We do not use department codes.
• Official Duolingo scores must be sent to the University at Albany (SOPHAS does not accept Duolingo scores). Students may include unofficial scores in their SOPHAS application, but official scores must be received by the University at Albany.
• The TOEFL or IELTS is not required for international students who have completed at least four semesters of full-time study within a four-year time frame from time of application, and maintained at least a B average at a college or university in the United States or a country from an approved list. For questions regarding English Language Proficiency waivers, please email Soha Acosta at sacosta@albany.edu.
• International students must request a transcript evaluation from World Education Services (WES). The WES evaluation must be sent directly to SOPHAS, NOT the University at Albany or the College of Integrated Health Sciences.

Required Application Materials

• Official Transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement
• CV/Resume

Accepted Student Profile

• Average GPA: 3.35

Special Notes

Please note: This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

MPH Foundational Competencies

• Apply epidemiologic 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
• Public Health & Healthcare Systems
• Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels
• Planning and Management to Promote Health
• 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
• Policy in Public Health
• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy making process, including roles of ethics and evidence
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholder and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health for diverse populations
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
• Leadership
• 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
• Communication
• 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
• Inter-professional Practice
• Perform effectively on inter-professional teams
• Systems Thinking
• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue