Program Overview
Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree
A Flexible Degree for Your Future
The MPH degree at Yale School of Public Health provides a comprehensive education over two years, including four semesters and an applied practice experience. Students can explore one of six academic departments or the Health Care Management program, with the option to add one of six concentrations or tracks.
How is the MPH Curriculum structured?
The Yale School of Public Health Master of Public Health (MPH) 2-year curriculum is designed to give students the breadth of skills and perspectives essential to careers in public health. The curriculum includes:
- 20 course units (two years)
- The MPH core curriculum
- The 2-part Professional Skills Seminar
- Departmental courses
- Electives and/or concentrations and tracks
- The Applied Practice Experience (APE)
- Master's thesis or capstone course
What does the MPH Core Curriculum consist of?
The core curriculum for the MPH program consists of four courses, two Professional Skills Seminars, and the Applied Practice Experience. The core courses include:
- Public Health Primer
- PUBH 505 - Biostatistics in Public Health (not required for BIS)
- PUBH 507 - Social Justice and Health Equity
- PUBH 508 - Foundations of Epidemiology and Public Health
- PUBH 510 - Health Policy and Health Care Systems
- PUBH 100 - Professional Skills Seminar
- PUBH 101 - Professional Skills Seminar
- Applied Practice Experience
Departments and Programs
Each student applies to one of six departments or the Healthcare Management Program. These courses of study may be further customized by the addition of one of six concentrations or tracks.
Biostatistics
The Department of Biostatistics (BIS) offers dynamic, cutting-edge faculty whose methodological and analytic work is shaping the future of public health research and practice. The MPH in biostatistics emphasizes training in the application of statistical principles and methods to problems in health sciences, medicine, and biology.
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
The Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology (CDE) advances the health of the public by promoting a research-based approach to the prevention and management of chronic diseases while educating future leaders in the field. The faculty's interdisciplinary research methods for students emphasize the fields of cancer, cardiovascular disease, perinatal and reproductive epidemiology, psychosocial epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, aging, and genetic epidemiology.
Environmental Health Sciences
The Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) prepares students to examine the complex factors that impact human health from a variety of cutting-edge interdisciplinary approaches. YSPH students participate in many opportunities to collaborate with faculty and peers in public health, the Yale School of the Environment, and more.
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
The MPH curriculum in the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases (EMD) is designed to train students to understand the epidemiology of major infectious agents, the diseases they cause, and the host response to those diseases. The interaction of the agent (parasite, bacterium, or virus) with the host and the influence of the environment are studied.
Health Care Management Program
The Health Care Management Program is singular in that it combines courses at the renowned Yale School of Management (SOM) with courses at the School of Public Health. This longstanding, unique partnership between YSPH and SOM develops exemplary expertise in both public health and management.
Health Policy
The Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) trains leaders who can be effective agents for change. Health Policy students apply through the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM).
Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) teaches students about the social and structural factors that interact with behavioral and biological factors to influence health, illness, and recovery. SBS faculty offer innovative approaches to social and structural factors in epidemiology and public health.
Concentrations and Tracks
The following concentrations and tracks are available for students to customize their elective courses in the MPH program. They are 3-5 courses each and are added once students have begun the MPH program.
Climate Change and Health Concentration
Climate Change and Health has emerged as one of the most pressing public health issues of the century. Students in any MPH program may pursue the Climate Change and Health Concentration to add depth and perspective to their public health specialization.
Global Health Concentration
Here at YSPH, we believe that Global Health is Public Health. This means that it is not just one department of study but rather an important theme that is woven throughout the program. Students in any department may also participate in the Global Health Concentration.
Public Health Modeling Concentration
YSPH Public Health Modeling (PHM) faculty is on the cutting edge of developing and assessing public health through mathematical modeling. Students in any department may also pursue the modeling concentration.
U.S. Health Justice Concentration
Vast, persistent, and avoidable health inequalities by race, geography, class, gender identity, and sexual orientation are well-documented. YSPH USHJ faculty realizes that addressing these inequalities is both a critical challenge and a critical objective for public health researchers and practitioners.
Implementation Science Track
Implementation science has recently emerged as a novel interdisciplinary field for developing and applying methods and strategies to promote the delivery of proven health interventions in routine clinical and public health practice. YSPH Implementation Science Faculty teaches students how to employ diverse tools to produce generalizable knowledge about intervention delivery.
Maternal and Child Health Promotion Track
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Promotion track is a cutting-edge promotion-education program that takes a multidisciplinary approach to implementing evidence-based practices to improve outcomes. The MCH Promotion Track faculty trains students on the importance and application of implementation science to maternal-child health promotion.